Buckland Abbey | Historic Devon Buckland Abbey ? Buckland Abbey Buckland Abbey was founded in 1278 by the Cistercian order of monks, the last Cistercian foundation in England. As with most Cistercian foundations, the abbey is located in a secluded spot, making it one of the more enjoyable historic houses to visit in Devon. After the monastery was disbanded by Henry VIII in the English Reformation, Buckland was purchased by Sir Richard Grenville, former Marshal of Calais. Sir Richard intended Buckland as a prestigious country estate for his son Roger. Roger, however, did not live long enough to enjoy his new property; he died a few years later while commanding the warship Mary Rose. The Elizabethan Garden The estate passed to Sir Richard's grandson, also named Richard. At that time it was common among gentry who aquired former monastic buildings to create their new homes from the domestic ranges of the property. Grenville decided instead to convert the abbey church into a house, in the process creating a cosy and intimate home. He retained the church tower and inserted three floors in the church interior.

The result is a comfortable Elizabethan house, though the interior decorative elements can be startling; Grenville was reputed to be quite eccentric, and the plaster and wooden carvings are not to everyone's taste. View from the garden Just four years after completing Bucklands, Grenville sold it to his great rival, Sir Francis Drake. Drake had just returned from his voyage around the world, and his pockets were flush with rewards bestowed upon him by Queen Elizabeth. As well as Bucklands he purchased about 40 properties around Devon. Although he lived there on and off for 14 years, Drake did not make any major changes to the property. The house stayed in the Drake family until 1948 when it passed to the National Trust. The chapel contains stained glass rescued from Reims Cathedral after World War I. In 1988 four stained glass windows were installed in the windows of the stairwell to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the defeat of the Spanish Armada. A special video presentation and displays within the house trace Drake's career and accomplishments, and there is a regular programme of events and historical re-enactments.

An Elizabethan garden has been established at Bucklands, as well as an aromatic herb garden, and there are enjoyable walks through the secluded estate. The abbey Great Barn has also been restored to its medieval splendour. About Buckland Abbey BUCKLAND ABBEY - 1163369| Historic England BUCKLAND ABBEY List Entry Summary This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest. Name: BUCKLAND ABBEY The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority. County: Devon National Park: Not applicable to this List entry. Grade: I Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry. Legacy System Information The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system. Legacy System: LBS UID: 92635 Asset Groupings This list entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the official record but are added later for information. List entry Description Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

Reasons for Designation Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. History Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. Details BUCKLAND MONACHORUM BUCKLAND ABBEY SX 46 NE 3/43 Buckland Abbey 14.6.52 GV I Built as a Cistercian Abbey, converted into a house and at present used principally as a museum. The abbey was founded in 1278 by Amicia, Countess of Devon. At the Dissolution it was acquired by Sir Richard Grenville in 1541 and it was converted by his famous grandson of the same name, into a house with various additions in c.1576. Further alterations were made in the C18 and the building was extensively renovated in the mid C20. Rubble walls with granite dressings. Gable ended slate roof with coping stones. Numerous rubble stacks some with moulded granite caps dating from C16 and C17. The original abbey church had a cruciform plan of nave with north and south transepts and 2 adjoining chapels each side. There was a central tower over the crossing.

The accompanying abbey buildings appear to have been situated mainly to the north, some fragments still survive. Sir Richard Grenville probably demolished a large part of these buildings but a C18 print portrays the building as extending further to the north-east than it now does. When Sir Richard converted the abbey church into a mansion house he incorporated a large part of the medieval fabric, adapting it to his own uses. The transepts were demolished and the nave divided the eastern end being converted into a single storey great hall with a screens pasage to the east. This room was sumptuously fitted out and a fireplace inserted with the overmantel dated 1576. To the south of the hall a stair wing was added to the west of the former transept. Grenville also built on a large kitchen and service wing at the rear of the screens passage with 2 large fireplaces in the kitchen. 2 further floors were inserted, subdivided into smaller rooms. Other, more minor late C16 alterations were made by Sir Francis Drake, who bought the property in 1581, including probably the addition of a porch in front of the hall.

In the later C18 a staircase was inserted in the service wing at the rear of the screens passage, the gothic refenestration and dormer windows at the east end of the building probably date from this period. Few major alterations then seem to have been made until after the 1st World War when Lord and Lady Seaton excavated the former Chancel of the Abbey Church - then the servants hall - to discover the position of the High Altar; they then converted the room into a chapel. In 1938 a severe fire damaged the west end of the house which was afterwards restored. The next major work took place in 1949-51 when an extensive restoration and modernisation programme was undertaken in preparation for opening the property to the public by the National Trust and Plymouth City Museum. Main block is 3 storeys with basement and an extra storey in the tower. South wing is 3 storeys with attic. Asymmetrical and crenellated north entrance front of 8 windows with single storey projection to left and single storey porch at centre. The plain square tower over the original crossing is to the left of centre.

On the lower ground floor level are 3 single light granite framed windows to right of centre, the centre one is very narrow with a trefoil head, probably C15; the right-hand one has a depressed 4- centred arched head and may be early C16. The left-hand one is square-headed and later C16. Above it is another single light window with a late C16 3-light mullion to its right and a similar 2-light mullion to the far right with a hoodmould. Between these 2 is a circa late C15 2-light mullion with cinquefoiled heads and square hoodmould. On the 1st floor are late C16 granite mullion windows, predominantly 4-light but also some with 3-lights with a 2-light and single light window towards the left-hand end. The far left-hand window on this floor has clearly been built into the pointed arch of an original window and there is evidence of original windows over some of the other windows on this floor.

The 2nd floor windows occur only to the right of the tower; they are granite mullions in hipped dormers incorporated in the crenellation; 3-light to the left, the 2 right-hand ones have 4 lights. The 1-room projection to the left on the ground floor was originally a chapel adjoining the chancel and transept - the blocked transept arch is clearly visible at its right-hand end, inserted into which is a late C16 3-light mullion window. On its front wall three 2-light mullion and transomed windows were inserted probably in the C17, the right-hand of which has had a stone arched doorway built into it in the C19 or early C20. The projection has probably original granite ashlar buttresses between the windows and diagonally on the corners. The central late C16 porch also has diagonal buttresses. At its front is a heavily moulded granite segmental headed doorway with leaf design to spandrels. C19 double doors part-glazed with gothic tracery in the fanlight.

Above the doorway are 3 plaques bearing various Drake heraldic symbols; the left-hand one has an upraised glove, the right-hand one a Knight's helmet and the central one carries the Drake arms. If Drake himself did not build the porch then he probably added these designs when he bought the house. The right-hand wall of the porch has a similar but simpler doorway, now a window. The main front of the house also has buttresses - the 3 to the right are of rubble and were probably added by Grenville; the 2 left-hand ones, now partially obscured by the former chapel, are of ashlar and may be original. On the north face of the tower the position of the steeply gabled transept roof is evident with the blocked transept arch below. The fenestration of the south front dates mainly from Grenville's time apart from 2 window with Perpendicular tracery to the left.

The principal features are Grenville's stair projection to the left of centre, the blocked transept arch to its right (the infilling and hall windows are early C20) and Grenville's kitchen wing to the far right which shows evidence on the ground floor of 2 blocked arches to the south chapels from the transept. The east front has arched windows with gothic tracery inserted probably in the later C18). Interior features reflect the status of the building with some evidence of its original function still visible. In the chapel, originally the chancel, the shafts of its original pillars are visible in the corners. 2 piscinas have also been revealed. The former north chapel retains its stone cross vaulted roof. On the 2nd floor at either side of the partially exposed chancel arch are 2 carved corbels at the point of the springing. On the 3rd floor the crossing of the abbey church can be clearly distinguished with all 4 arches surviving. The chancel arch was lower and directly above it was a Decorated window of which the head with its tracery and rear arch can still be seen although it has had a door inserted beneath.

Much more survives of the late C16 domestic conversion and modernisations carried out by Sir Richard Grenville and then Sir Francis Drake. The great hall is the most impressive result of this and remains little altered. Its north, south and west walls are lined with ornate high quality panelling. The top panels are arcaded each with a carved lion's head at the apex. The panels are divided verticlaly by fluted pilasters with Corinthian capitals. Above each pilaster are figures, some grotesque, in high relief. The frieze is inlaid with arabesques and has a modillion cornice above. It is arguable however that this may be the later work of Drake as stylistically it is more typical of c.1600. A decorative plaster frieze above has a running foliage and flower motif. At the east end of the hall are 4 fluted pillars with inlaid frieze running above, the screen may have been open at this end. On the north wall of the hall is a large moulded granite fireplace with the heavy roll moulding rising to an ogee at the top with a ball motif underneath. The fireplace back is constructed of slates in a herring- bone pattern.

The granite framing is enclosed by a probably C18 wooden surround. Above is a plaster overmantle depicting the figures of Justice, Temperance, Prudence and Fortitude with the date 1576 at the top in Roman numerals. Elaborate narrow moulded rib plaster ceiling in geometric design of interlaced squares and lozenges with 2 pendant finials. The ceiling curves downwards to meet the plaster frieze and on this curve are 4 moulded plaster corbels with satyrs on them holding scrolled shields. At the west end of the hall is an allegorical plaster frieze depicting a knight seated under the tree of life with his war eauipment beside him, his shield hung in the tree and his unsaddled horse resting nearby. A skull and hourglass are beside him. The corresponding frieze at the east end is purely decorative. The floor may also be contemporary and is laid with triangular slabs of red tile and white limestone. The C16 kitchen has 2 very large fireplaces. One in the gable end wall had a segmental arched lintel inserted below. The lateral fireplace has a square opening with chamfered lintel and 2 stone ovens.

Partly obscuring this fireplace are four C16 charcoal burning ovens. The high ceiling with simple plaster cornice is probably C18. Adjoining the lateral fireplace is a 4-centred arched granite doorway, chamfered with pyramid stops. Grenville's original staircase has been replaced by a C20 one but the C16 roof of the stair wing survives consisting of substantial principal rafters with morticed curved collars, all richly moulded, purlins and wall plate are also moulded. The room on the first floor at the west end was probably a parlour in the late C16. It is also panelled, in a very similar style to the hall except the panels are not arcaded. There is a small depressed 4- centred arched granite fireplace with decorated spandrels and moulded jambs. A similar fireplace survives in the adjoining room. Beyond it is a room refitted in the C18 with a fielded panel dado and doorcases with projecting frieze and cornice. A bolection moulded wood surround with projecting cornice frames an earlier granite fireplace.

The back of one panel bears the inscription "Mr Tho.Rowe, April 1st 1772, Master of this job and foreman of the Sawyers" - presumably this refers to the C18 joinery in the room although the panelling and fireplace surround are of a slightly earlier style. The C18 staircase is however fairly typical of this date being open well with cut string and 3 turned balusters to each step, carved scrolled thread ends and wreathed handrail. Fielded dado panelling to stairs incorporates fluted pilasters opposite the newels. There are also 2 good dog gates both of open fretwork with inverted segmental tops. In the tower room is one of the few features definately attributable to Drake. It is a granite framed moulded fireplace with plaster overmantel bearing Drake's arms with the Latin inscription "Sic Parvis Magna". (Thus great things from small). Alterations appear to have been made, however, as one side of the overmantel bears the date 1655 and initials R.N. This building has an unusual historical background. It is one of the few medieval abbeys to undergo conversion into a house, incorporating much of the medieval fabric.

It has also passed through the ownership of 2 illustrious Elizabethan sailors and adventurers and remained in the Drake family for over three hundred years. It is the combination of these historical associations with the preservation of so much of the early fabric and high quality internal features of the later C16 which give this building its importance. Sources: Country Life March 11th 1916; G W Copeland: Buckland Abbey - An [Architectural Survey] Listing NGR: SX4885866812 Copeland, G W , Buckland Abbey An Architectural Survey 'Country Life' in 11 March, (1916) National Grid Reference: SX 48725 66783 Map © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900. © British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2017. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006. Use of this data is subject to Terms and Conditions . The above map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale.

For a copy of the full scale map, please see the attached PDF - 1163369 .pdf The PDF will be generated from our live systems and may take a few minutes to download depending on how busy our servers are. We apologise for this delay. This copy shows the entry on 18-Jan-2017 at 03:50:06. End of official listing Buckland Abbey an historic house in Yelverton, Devon, to visit | tourUK.co.uk Visit Their Website This austere house, set among sloping green lawns and exotic trees on the edge of the Tavy Valley, was the last Cistercian foundation in England. Buckland Abbey was established in 1278 and the order continued to live and work here until 1539 when Henry VIII had the monks evicted during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Within two years of being surrendered to the Crown the property was sold to Sir Richard Grenville. He did little to convert the monastic buildings and it was his grandson, Sir Richard Grenville, captain of the Revenge and the most famous of the Grenvilles, who remodelled Buckland Abbey as a country house.

Sir Richard chose to convert the 13th century church into his house rather than use the domestic buildings of the monastery. He used the nave, the crossing and the chancel and retained the square tower, which is such a prominent feature of Buckland Abbey. Between the soaring walls of the church Sir Richard inserted three floors. Here he created his living rooms including a one-storeyed great hall with a fireplace dated 1576. There are numerous features of the ancient church to be found in the house including vaults, arches, blocked and unblocked windows and mouldings. In 1581 the house was purchased by Sir Francis Drake. He had recently returned from his circumnavigation of the globe and was considered a national hero. Sir Francis required a house that reflected his newly acquired status and ironically chose the property which had been so recently converted by his great rival, Sir Richard Grenville. The only complete interior surviving from this time is the fine 16th century great hall. It has an elaborate ceiling and a holly and box frieze adorned with carved figures. Contemporary plasterwork on the end walls shows Sir Richard Grenville's shield hanging on a tree.

The Drake family remained at Buckland Abbey until 1813 and during this time the house continued to be associated with the sea. As late as the second half of the 18th century the Drakes produced two vice-admirals. Sir Francis left little trace of his occupation and the abbey-house remained little changed until about 1770 when a Georgian dining room and the elegant main staircase, which curls up through four floors, were added. After 1813 Buckland Abbey passed through more remote branches of the family until 1948 when the property was acquired by the National Trust. The building now houses the Drake, Naval and West Country Folk Museum. The long gallery running the length of the top floor has displays outlining the history of the abbey from medieval times to the present day. On the floor below is the Drake Gallery. Here the exhibits include colourful naval flags, Elizabeth I's commission of 5 March 1587 giving Sir Francis Drake command of the fleet that 'singed the King of Spain's beard', Armada medals and relics from the Spanish ships that sank off Ireland. The hall where Sir Francis planned the tactics that defeated the Spanish Armada is also the fitting home for Drake's Drum.

The age-worn drum, with his coat of arms painted on one side, was with Sir Francis on his circumnavigation of the world and when he died of dysentery off Panama in 1596. It is said to sound if England is ever in danger. Next to the house is a picturesque group of granite outbuildings. These include an ox-shed introduced by William Marshall, the agricultural improver, who spent four years at Buckland Abbey between 1791-4. Within in a few yards of the house is a heavily buttressed, medieval tithe barn. At almost 160 feet long the monastic barn is one of the largest in Britain and reflects the wealth of the Cisterician abbey. In the grounds box hedges border a little herb garden. There are also craft workshops and country walks. Buckland Abbey (The Gatehouse Record) Description Buckland Abbey was one of the last Cistercian houses to be founded in England and it was also the most westerly. The Great Barn is one of the largest medieval barns remaining in the country. The presence of quarries from which stone was derived for the construction of the abbey is also an unusual feature.

The abbey was converted into an Elizabethan mansion by Sir Richard Grenville and subsequently became the home of Sir Francis Drake, two important figures in the history of Elizabethan England who have acquired an heroic and legendary national identity. Drake also has international historical connections. Grenville's adaptation of the abbey church into a dwelling, rather than the more usual adaptation of part of a claustral range, is of interest. In particular, the conversion of the presbytery, the most sacred part of the abbey, into a serving area between the hall and kitchens, demonstrates an aggressive invasion of the secular into a sacred space which gives an insight into the emergence and growth of rationalism and sectarianism following the Reformation, and Grenville's understanding and interpretation of these trends in thought. The monument includes much of the surviving remains of Buckland Abbey which are situated between the village of Buckland Monachorum and the hamlet of Milton Combe on the eastern side of the valley of the River Tavy some six kilometers above its confluence with the Tamar. It lies within a small sheltered cleave on the south side of a small tributary stream of the Tavy, on ground sloping down to the north west.

The monument includes the upstanding and buried remains of an abbey of the Cistercian Order in occupation from c.1278 until 1539. The abbey conforms to the traditional monastic plan in which a church and three ranges of buildings were grouped around the central open square court of the cloister, with ancillary buildings farther from the nucleus. The visible remains exist as a number of adapted structures, consisting of substantial parts of the abbey church incorporated into a later mansion, part of the cloister, a barn, a farm building (guesthouse), part of the abbot's lodgings incorporated into a later structure, part of a precinct wall, and two main areas of earthworks. The buried remains are extensive and include the claustral ranges, graveyard, a gatehouse, buildings forming the home farm, and the water management system. The walls are constructed of random rubble utilising shillet, with the moulded stone and most quoins in granite. In general the buildings were terraced into the higher ground to the south east. The abbey church is of late 13th-early 14th century date, of cruciform plan, aligned ENE-WSW.

The most substantial remains are those of the tower over the crossing which forms the focal point of the later mansion and survives to a height of over 18m beneath a modified parapet. The tower retains the moulded piers and arches of the crossing incorporated into its walls. Those of the nave, chancel and north transept are visible within the mansion, and those of the south transept form a decorative feature in the external wall face. The chasing of the high pitched roof lines of the transepts are visible in the wall faces. The walls of the nave and presbytery exist almost to roof height with the remains of some window arches and windows incorporated into the later structure. The transepts were each of two bays, aisled on their east sides to contain two chapels. In the southern chapel of the north transept the ribbed vaulted ceiling remains intact. The existing remains of the church are about 37.6m in length, with a width across the transepts of 28m. The nave and presbytery were 10.1m in width, and were apparently unaisled.

The presbytery had two bays, and retains the remains of the east window, with the springing for the vaulted ceiling visible on the second floor of the mansion. The area of the high altar was excavated early in the 20th century. The length of the existing nave is 17.9m, with four bays, although the dimensions of the cloister indicate that the original nave may have been longer by two or three bays. The monastic graveyard was sited to the south west of the abbey church; five burials were revealed in this area in 1993 during work to improve drainage. The cloister stood to the north of the church and was about 30m square, terraced into the natural ground slope. The south wall of the north range of the cloister acted as a retaining wall and has been incorporated into the later property boundary. The medieval wall is some 30m in length and stands to a height of 3.3m. The 16m length forming the eastern half includes five blocked windows with wide splays on the inside.

The north face of this section has an inset for a floor below the windows, and beneath that includes sections of six arches. It appears that due to the ground slope, access into this range from the cloister would have been, unusually, at first floor level. Excavations in 1984 on the north side of the west end of the wall revealed a complex sequence of medieval activity in the form of floor levels and wall footings. The north range would have contained the refectory (dining hall) and kitchens. In the traditional Cistercian layout the refectory was positioned with its long axis at right-angles to the north range so that it would have projected from the cloister. Some 20m north of the existing wall of the cloister is the Cider House, an extensively modernised dwelling which includes some medieval features in its southern end. The position of this building suggests that it probably incorporates the northern end of the refectory. To the east of the Cider House stands a modernised building incorporating part of the abbot's lodgings in the form of a three storeyed tower of 15th century date, known as Tower House.

This building is illustrated in an engraving dated 1734. The tower appears to have formed the north east corner of a larger building. It has angled buttresses on its outer corners and another buttress on the north side. At second floor level the north and east faces are framed in unique decorative friezes that include small flowers. The tower has a pentagonal stair turret projecting from the south side and extending above the embattled roof to form a turret. The ground floor is set into the rising ground to the south east. It has a blocked door on the north side and, internally, a blocked arch leading eastward into an underground space of unknown extent. Access to the tower and stair is now gained from the stables adjoining the east side of the tower. Some 20m to the east of the church stands the monastic Great Barn, a complete, free-standing rectangular structure of early 14th century date, with some later modifications, measuring 50m by 19m overall. It is buttressed all around, has slit windows splayed internally with rounded arches, and a wooden roof of 20 bays, now slate covered.

In the centres of its longest sides there are substantial external porches, with doors set in large pointed arches in moulded stone matching those of the church. Both porches have an upper floor. Some 20m to the east of the barn stands a farm building (guesthouse), a complete, free-standing rectangular structure of early 14th century date, with many later modifications, measuring 33.4m by 7.4m overall. The building is two storeyed and slopes downwards markedly from east to west. The ground level on its south side has been raised so that access on that side is now at first floor level. Excavations and an analysis of the standing structure in 1987 revealed that the building was intended for storage and housing animals, with an upper floor only at each end and the central bays open to the roof. In the mid-15th century the west end of the building was converted into accommodation through the addition of an internal dividing wall, a fireplace and larger windows. An essential part of the design of all abbeys was the provision of a supply of fresh running water. At Buckland the main water source was the stream to the north of the claustral ranges.

The stream feeds a small pond which is retained by an earth dam and held within vertical stone rubble retaining walls of some 2m depth. Water from the dam is then culverted in the area where the kitchens and reredorter buildings (latrines) were situated. The land forming the monastic precinct was traditionally enclosed behind a wall, and contained, in addition to the nucleus of the church and cloister, all the buildings and structures, both agricultural and industrial, associated with the degree of self sufficiency that the abbey was capable of sustaining. At Buckland part of the line of the precinct has been identified with two short lengths of walling. Adjacent to the south east corner of the barn there is a substantial wall some 10m in length and 4.5m high which includes two slit windows, internally splayed with round headed arches. There is an inset beneath the windows that probably indicates a floor level. A longer section of walling survives to the east of the Linhay, it has four slit windows of identical design, but no inset. Both sections of wall contain putlog (scaffolding) holes.

In a field in the valley to the west of the abbey there are extensive low earthworks associated with the stream which include terraced areas, the site of a large pond retained by a dam, and drainage channels with stone revetted sections of their banks. The southern edge of the field is bounded by a track leading to the river. To the east of the abbey, a field contains earthworks in the form of terraced areas and a linear bank, and archaeological excavations in this area in 1987 revealed medieval and Iron Age activity. To the north east of the abbey church the rising ground contains three quarries from which shillet (Upper Devonian slate) was derived in the construction of the abbey. The western quarry is the lowest; it is roughly circular, some 30m across, with a flat floor, and a vertical face of some 6m height to the north, sloping down on both sides to a wide entrance to the south west. Small areas of exposed bedrock remain visible in the north and west faces.

The middle quarry is elongated, of some 40m length and 20m width, and is at its greatest depth of some 6m to the north, sloping down on both sides to ground level to the south west. A small area of bedrock remains visible in the lower part of the west face. The floor is uneven, sloping up to the north, with substantial spoil tips at the entrance to the south west. The east quarry is the highest and smallest, defined by a vertical rockface forming its northern limit. The quarry face is about 16m across and 3.5m high, and consists, in plan, of two clearly defined rectangular cuts, the east cut being deeper and extending farther north. The floor of the west cut is obscured by spoil tips. Beyond the spoil tips the southern extent of the quarry is obscured; a visible depression further down the slope may be the course of a hollow way. The abbey was founded in c.1278 by Amicia, Countess of Devon following her grant to the Cistercian Order of the adjoining manors of Buckland, Bickleigh and Walkhampton, together with the east Devon manor of Cullompton.

The abbey was colonised by monks from Quarr Abbey in the Isle of Wight, and dedicated to St Benedict. Buckland was the last rural Cistercian foundation in England and owned a substantial tract of land in south west Devon. The episcopal registers of the bishops of Exeter attribute five granges to Buckland in addition to the home farm at the abbey. The registers refer to the grant of a market and fair at Buckland and Cullompton in 1318, and the impoverishment of the abbey following the Black Death in 1349. They state that in 1337 Edward III granted the abbey a licence to crenellate, and in 1522 refer to the existence of a west gate furnished with an upper room. The registers also give an insight into a number of local disputes. At the dissolution there was an abbot and 12 monks in residence. The Abbey was dissolved in 1539 when the largest and wealthiest religious houses were surrendered to Henry VIII.

The inventory of the property includes (in addition to the church and claustral ranges), houses, buildings, barns, tenements, burial ground and pools, within and near to the precinct. A condition of the subsequent sale of these sites was that the buildings were to be rendered unfit for monastic use, and this was greatly assisted by the crowns sequestration of the roofing lead. In 1539 the abbey and home farm were leased to George Pollard and in 1541 sold by the Crown to the Grenville family. The inventory of the sale includes a list of the fields adjoining the abbey in which 'Quarry Park' is named, and this field is referred to again in relation to two small meadows said to lie adjacent to it. By 1576 Sir Richard Grenville had completed the conversion of the church into an Elizabethan mansion. The west end of the nave was shortened by two or three bays and converted into a great hall with a large fireplace, panelling and decorative plasterwork, and a screens passage at the east end in the crossing of the church.

Both transepts were removed, although three of the side chapels were retained, and the church tower remained standing to its full height. A staircase was added to the west of the south transept leading to two floors of apartments above the hall. A service wing was added, extending southwards from the south side of the presbytery, and this contained a kitchen with two large fireplaces and four charcoal burning ovens. The serving area occupied the former presbytery. The service wing also contained two upper floors of apartments. In 1581 the property was sold to Sir Francis Drake and remained with that family until 1946. In the later 18th century a staircase was inserted in the service wing and the windows throughout the house replaced in gothic styling. An engraving of 1734 shows the mansion with the north transept of the church intact and abutted by a series of roofed structures standing on the alignment of the east claustral range of the abbey. These structures remained standing until 1769.

In the early 19th century an excavation was undertaken in the former presbytery which revealed the base of the high altar; this area was subsequently converted into a chapel. In 1938 the two upper floors of the west wing were severly damaged by fire and were extensively restored. In 1949 the house was given to the National Trust. (Scheduling Report) Buckland Abbey - 1018366| Historic England Buckland Abbey List Entry Summary This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Name: Buckland Abbey The monument may lie within the boundary of more than one authority. County: Devon National Park: Not applicable to this List entry. Grade: Not applicable to this List entry. Date first scheduled: 03-Nov-1950 Date of most recent amendment: 23-Apr-1998 Legacy System Information The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System: RSM UID: 24846 Asset Groupings This list entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the official record but are added later for information. List entry Description Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. Reasons for Designation From the time of St Augustine's mission to re-establish Christianity in AD 597 to the reign of Henry VIII, monasticism formed an important facet of both religious and secular life in the British Isles. Settlements of religious communities, including monasteries, were built to house communities of monks, canons (priests), and sometimes lay-brothers, living a common life of religious observance under some form of systematic discipline. It is estimated from documentary evidence that over 700 monasteries were founded in England. These ranged in size from major communities with several hundred members to tiny establishments with a handful of brethren. They belonged to a wide variety of different religious orders, each with its own philosophy. As a result, they vary considerably in the detail of their appearance and layout, although all possess the basic elements of church, domestic accommodation for the community, and work buildings.

Monasteries were inextricably woven into the fabric of medieval society, acting not only as centres of worship, learning and charity, but also, because of the vast landholdings of some orders, as centres of immense wealth and political influence. They were established in all parts of England, some in towns and others in the remotest of areas. Many monasteries acted as the foci of wide networks including parish churches, almshouses, hospitals, farming estates and tenant villages. Some 75 of these religious houses belonged to the Cistercian order founded by St Bernard of Clairvaux in the 12th century. The Cistercians - or "white monks", on account of their undyed habits - led a harsher life than earlier monastic orders, believing in the virtue of a life of austerity, prayer and manual labour. Seeking seclusion, they founded their houses in wild and remote areas where they undertook major land improvement projects. Their communities were often very large and included many lay brethren who acted as ploughmen, dairymen, shepherds, carpenters and masons. The Cistercians' skills as farmers eventually made the order one of the richest and most influential.

They were especially successful in the rural north of England where they concentrated on sheep farming. The Cistercians made a major contribution to many facets of medieval life and all of their monasteries which exhibit significant surviving archaeological remains are worthy of protection. Buckland Abbey was one of the last Cistercian houses to be founded in England and it was also the most westerly. The Great Barn is one of the largest medieval barns remaining in the country. The presence of quarries from which stone was derived for the construction of the abbey is also an unusual feature. The abbey was converted into an Elizabethan mansion by Sir Richard Grenville and subsequently became the home of Sir Francis Drake, two important figures in the history of Elizabethan England who have acquired an heroic and legendry national identity. Drake also has international historical connections. Grenville's adaptation of the abbey church into a dwelling, rather than the more usual adaptation of part of a claustral range, is of interest.

In particular, the conversion of the presbytery, the most sacred part of the abbey, into a serving area between the hall and kitchens, demonstrates an aggressive invasion of the secular into a sacred space which gives an insight into the emergence and growth of rationalism and sectarianism following the Reformation, and Grenville's understanding and interpretation of these trends in thought. History Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. Details The monument includes much of the surviving remains of Buckland Abbey which are situated between the village of Buckland Monachorum and the hamlet of Milton Combe on the eastern side of the valley of the River Tavy some six kilometers above its confluence with the Tamar. It lies within a small sheltered cleave on the south side of a small tributary stream of the Tavy, on ground sloping down to the north west. The monument includes the upstanding and buried remains of an abbey of the Cistercian Order in occupation from c.1278 until 1539.

The abbey conforms to the traditional monastic plan in which a church and three ranges of buildings were grouped around the central open square court of the cloister, with ancillary buildings farther from the nucleus. The visible remains exist as a number of adapted structures, consisting of substantial parts of the abbey church incorporated into a later mansion, part of the cloister, a barn, a farm building (guesthouse), part of the abbot's lodgings incorporated into a later structure, part of a precinct wall, and two main areas of earthworks. The buried remains are extensive and include the claustral ranges, graveyard, a gatehouse, buildings forming the home farm, and the water management system. The walls are constructed of random rubble utilising shillet, with the moulded stone and most quoins in granite. In general the buildings were terraced into the higher ground to the south east. The abbey church is of late 13th-early 14th century date, of cruciform plan, aligned ENE-WSW. The most substantial remains are those of the tower over the crossing which forms the focal point of the later mansion and survives to a height of over 18m beneath a modified parapet.

The tower retains the moulded piers and arches of the crossing incorporated into its walls. Those of the nave, chancel and north transept are visible within the mansion, and those of the south transept form a decorative feature in the external wall face. The chasing of the high pitched roof lines of the transepts are visible in the wall faces. The walls of the nave and presbytery exist almost to roof height with the remains of some window arches and windows incorporated into the later structure. The transepts were each of two bays, aisled on their east sides to contain two chapels. In the southern chapel of the north transept the ribbed vaulted ceiling remains intact. The existing remains of the church are about 37.6m in length, with a width across the transepts of 28m. The nave and presbytery were 10.1m in width, and were apparently unaisled. The presbytery had two bays, and retains the remains of the east window, with the springing for the vaulted ceiling visible on the second floor of the mansion. The area of the high altar was excavated early in the 20th century.

The length of the existing nave is 17.9m, with four bays, although the dimensions of the cloister indicate that the original nave may have been longer by two or three bays. The monastic graveyard was sited to the south west of the abbey church; five burials were revealed in this area in 1993 during work to improve drainage. The cloister stood to the north of the church and was about 30m square, terraced into the natural ground slope. The south wall of the north range of the cloister acted as a retaining wall and has been incorporated into the later property boundary. The medieval wall is some 30m in length and stands to a height of 3.3m. The 16m length forming the eastern half includes five blocked windows with wide splays on the inside. The north face of this section has an inset for a floor below the windows, and beneath that includes sections of six arches. It appears that due to the ground slope, access into this range from the cloister would have been, unusually, at first floor level.

Excavations in 1984 on the north side of the west end of the wall revealed a complex sequence of medieval activity in the form of floor levels and wall footings. The north range would have contained the refectory (dining hall) and kitchens. In the traditional Cistercian layout the refectory was positioned with its long axis at right-angles to the north range so that it would have projected from the cloister. Some 20m north of the existing wall of the cloister is the Cider House, an extensively modernised dwelling which includes some medieval features in its southern end. The position of this building suggests that it probably incorporates the northern end of the refectory. To the east of the Cider House stands a modernised building incorporating part of the abbot's lodgings in the form of a three storeyed tower of 15th century date, known as Tower House. This building is illustrated in an engraving dated 1734. The tower appears to have formed the north east corner of a larger building. It has angled buttresses on its outer corners and another buttress on the north side.

At second floor level the north and east faces are framed in unique decorative friezes that include small flowers. The tower has a pentagonal stair turret projecting from the south side and extending above the embattled roof to form a turret. The ground floor is set into the rising ground to the south east. It has a blocked door on the north side and, internally, a blocked arch leading eastward into an underground space of unknown extent. Access to the tower and stair is now gained from the stables adjoining the east side of the tower. Some 20m to the east of the church stands the monastic Great Barn, a complete, free-standing rectangular structure of early 14th century date, with some later modifications, measuring 50m by 19m overall. It is buttressed all around, has slit windows splayed internally with rounded arches, and a wooden roof of 20 bays, now slate covered. In the centres of its longest sides there are substantial external porches, with doors set in large pointed arches in moulded stone matching those of the church. Both porches have an upper floor.

Some 20m to the east of the barn stands a farm building (guesthouse), a complete, free-standing rectangular structure of early 14th century date, with many later modifications, measuring 33.4m by 7.4m overall. The building is two storeyed and slopes downwards markedly from east to west. The ground level on its south side has been raised so that access on that side is now at first floor level. Excavations and an analysis of the standing structure in 1987 revealed that the building was intended for storage and housing animals, with an upper floor only at each end and the central bays open to the roof. In the mid-15th century the west end of the building was converted into accommodation through the addition of an internal dividing wall, a fireplace and larger windows. An essential part of the design of all abbeys was the provision of a supply of fresh running water. At Buckland the main water source was the stream to the north of the claustral ranges. The stream feeds a small pond which is retained by an earth dam and held within vertical stone rubble retaining walls of some 2m depth.

Water from the dam is then culverted in the area where the kitchens and reredorter buildings (latrines) were situated. The land forming the monastic precinct was traditionally enclosed behind a wall, and contained, in addition to the nucleus of the church and cloister, all the buildings and structures, both agricultural and industrial, associated with the degree of self sufficiency that the abbey was capable of sustaining. At Buckland part of the line of the precinct has been identified with two short lengths of walling. Adjacent to the south east corner of the barn there is a substantial wall some 10m in length and 4.5m high which includes two slit windows, internally splayed with round headed arches. There is an inset beneath the windows that probably indicates a floor level. A longer section of walling survives to the east of the Linhay, it has four slit windows of identical design, but no inset. Both sections of wall contain putlog (scaffolding) holes.

In a field in the valley to the west of the abbey there are extensive low earthworks associated with the stream which include terraced areas, the site of a large pond retained by a dam, and drainage channels with stone revetted sections of their banks. The southern edge of the field is bounded by a track leading to the river. To the east of the abbey, a field contains earthworks in the form of terraced areas and a linear bank, and archaeological excavations in this area in 1987 revealed medieval and Iron Age activity. To the north east of the abbey church the rising ground contains three quarries from which shillet (Upper Devonian slate) was derived in the construction of the abbey. The western quarry is the lowest; it is roughly circular, some 30m across, with a flat floor, and a vertical face of some 6m height to the north, sloping down on both sides to a wide entrance to the south west. Small areas of exposed bedrock remain visible in the north and west faces.

The middle quarry is elongated, of some 40m length and 20m width, and is at its greatest depth of some 6m to the north, sloping down on both sides to ground level to the south west. A small area of bedrock remains visible in the lower part of the west face. The floor is uneven, sloping up to the north, with substantial spoil tips at the entrance to the south west. The east quarry is the highest and smallest, defined by a vertical rockface forming its northern limit. The quarry face is about 16m across and 3.5m high, and consists, in plan, of two clearly defined rectangular cuts, the east cut being deeper and extending farther north. The floor of the west cut is obscured by spoil tips. Beyond the spoil tips the southern extent of the quarry is obscured; a visible depression further down the slope may be the course of a hollow way. The abbey was founded in c.1278 by Amicia, Countess of Devon following her grant to the Cistercian Order of the adjoining manors of Buckland, Bickleigh and Walkhampton, together with the east Devon manor of Cullompton.

The abbey was colonised by monks from Quarr Abbey in the Isle of Wight, and dedicated to St Benedict. Buckland was the last rural Cistercian foundation in England and owned a substantial tract of land in south west Devon. The episcopal registers of the bishops of Exeter attribute five granges to Buckland in addition to the home farm at the abbey. The registers refer to the grant of a market and fair at Buckland and Cullompton in 1318, and the impoverishment of the abbey following the Black Death in 1349. They state that in 1337 Edward III granted the abbey a licence to crenellate, and in 1522 refer to the existence of a west gate furnished with an upper room. The registers also give an insight into a number of local disputes. At the dissolution there was an abbot and 12 monks in residence. The Abbey was dissolved in 1539 when the largest and wealthiest religious houses were surrendered to Henry VIII.

The inventory of the property includes (in addition to the church and claustral ranges), houses, buildings, barns, tenements, burial ground and pools, within and near to the precinct. A condition of the subsequent sale of these sites was that the buildings were to be rendered unfit for monastic use, and this was greatly assisted by the crowns sequestration of the roofing lead. In 1539 the abbey and home farm were leased to George Pollard and in 1541 sold by the Crown to the Grenville family. The inventory of the sale includes a list of the fields adjoining the abbey in which `Quarry Park' is named, and this field is referred to again in relation to two small meadows said to lie adjacent to it. By 1576 Sir Richard Grenville had completed the conversion of the church into an Elizabethan mansion. The west end of the nave was shortened by two or three bays and converted into a great hall with a large fireplace, panelling and decorative plasterwork, and a screens passage at the east end in the crossing of the church.

Both transepts were removed, although three of the side chapels were retained, and the church tower remained standing to its full height. A staircase was added to the west of the south transept leading to two floors of apartments above the hall. A service wing was added, extending southwards from the south side of the presbytery, and this contained a kitchen with two large fireplaces and four charcoal burning ovens. The serving area occupied the former presbytery. The service wing also contained two upper floors of apartments. In 1581 the property was sold to Sir Francis Drake and remained with that family until 1946. In the later 18th century a staircase was inserted in the service wing and the windows throughout the house replaced in gothic styling. An engraving of 1734 shows the mansion with the north transept of the church intact and abutted by a series of roofed structures standing on the alignment of the east claustral range of the abbey. These structures remained standing until 1769.

In the early 19th century an excavation was undertaken in the former presbytery which revealed the base of the high altar; this area was subsequently converted into a chapel. In 1938 the two upper floors of the west wing were severly damaged by fire and were extensively restored. In 1949 the house was given to the National Trust. The mansion and Great Barn are Listed Grade I, the guesthouse Listed Grade II*, the Cider House, Tower House and garden wall are each Listed Grade II. Two sets of gate piers, the Linhay, Calf Pens, kitchen garden wall, cart shed and Place Barton House, all structures of post medieval date, are Listed Grade II.

A number of features are excluded from the scheduling; these are the mansion, the Great Barn, Place Barton House, the Calf Pens, the Cart Shed, the Linhay, the Cider House, and the northern part of Tower House (which is in use as a residence, known as Tower Cottage), the lean-to stable and shed which abut Tower House, all free-standing post medieval structures, all post medieval garden walls, road surfaces, driveways, and paths, all fence and gate posts, and the cottages associated with the Cider House are excluded; although the ground beneath all of these features is included. The farm building (Monk's guesthouse) and the ground beneath it which has been totally excavated are totally excluded from the scheduling. MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Selected Sources Barber, B, Buckland Abbey, (1984) Bettley, T, Buckland Abbey Guesthouse Report, (1988) Oliver, G, Monasticon Diocesis Exoniensis, (1846) Pevsner, N, Cherry, B, The Buildings of England: Devon, (1989), 227-229 Gaskell-Brown, C, 'Devon Religious Houses Survey' in Buckland Abbey Devon, (1987) Watts, M, 'Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit Report' in Archaeological Investigations at Buckland Abbey 1993, , Vol. 93.85, (1993) Other Pye, A, Buckland Abbey excavations (Cider House) 1984. A Summary., 1984, National Grid Reference: SX 48707 66811 Map © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900. © British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2017. All rights reserved.

Licence number 102006.006. Use of this data is subject to Terms and Conditions . The above map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full scale map, please see the attached PDF - 1018366 .pdf The PDF will be generated from our live systems and may take a few minutes to download depending on how busy our servers are. We apologise for this delay. This copy shows the entry on 16-Jan-2017 at 09:38:16. End of official listing Buckland Abbey, Garden and Estate Exhibitions Buckland Abbey, Garden and Estate 700-year-old home of Elizabethan seafarers Drake and Grenville In the 13th century, Buckland Abbey was home to the Cistercian monks who built the abbey and the incredible Great Barn and farmed the then vast estate. The Abbey, now a house with a combination of furnished rooms and interactive museum galleries, tells the story of how two seafaring adventurers - Sir Richard Grenville and Sir Francis Drake - changed the shape of the house and the fate of the country.

Discover the Buckland estate, the newly acquired Cider House Gardens, the meadows, the orchards and the late spring bluebells. Enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the Tavy Valley and the far-reaching views. Visit website Self-portrait, wearing a White Feathered Bonnet by Rembrandt A Dutch painting expert has identified what could be a lost Rembrandt hanging in our dining room. Our portrait of Rembrandt was previously thought to have been painted by his pupils but it could soon be verified as being the work of the Dutch master himself. PHOTO: Steve Haywood Sir Francis Drake statue Made by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm, RA (Vienna 1834 - London 1890) A dramatic figure in it's own right, this plaster cast was used for the making of bronze statue in Tavistock and on Plymouth Hoe. Stained glass window in the chapel The coloured glass from this window is said to be from Rheims Cathedral and was rescued from the bombed cathedral by Lord Seaton after the first world war and brought back for Lady Seaton. Harmonium in the chapel A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ.

Sound is produced by air, supplied by foot or hand operated bellows, being blown through a set of reeds resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion. Puzzle Jug in Drake Chamber A yellow glazed earthenware puzzle jug, with birds and flowers in sgraffito decoration, with pin pricked spiralling patterns in rine around the base and similarly on the pulled handle. Admission & prices 16 Feb-8 Mar daily 12-4 9 Mar-3 Nov daily 11.30-4.30 8 Nov-1 Dec FriSatSun 12-4 6 Dec-22 Dec daily 12-4 Estate, gardens, restaurant, shop & Ox Yard Gallery* 16 Feb-3 Nov daily 10.30-5.30 8 Nov-1 Dec FriSatSun10.30-5.30 6 Dec-22 Dec daily 10.30-5.30 * Last admission into the Abbey building is 30 minutes before closing. Ox Yard Gallery opening times may vary, please phone ahead. Entire property closed from 23 December to mid February.

Prices: National Trust members FREE Gift Aid [Standard Admission prices in brackets] Abbey and grounds: £9.50 [$8.55], child £4.75 [£4.25], family £23.50 [£21.15], Family with one adult £14.25 [£12.80]. Groups [15+] £8, child £4. Grounds only: £5 [£4.50], child £2.50 [£2.25]. Vouchers to tea-room or shop for those arriving by bicycle or public transport. Free admission to visitors only wishing to visit the shop, restaurant or gallery. Dogs free [limited access to countryside]. Find us Turn off A386, ¼ mile south of Yelverton Information The property is on steep slopes. Ramped entrance into abbey. Ground floor has steps, ramp available. Stairs to other floors. 119 steps on normal visitor route. One other floor accessible via different door. Ring for more details.

DON'T MISS Re-enactors made the place special - Buckland Abbey, Yelverton Traveller Reviews - TripAdvisor “Re-enactors made the place special” Reviewed 17 September 2011 Buckland Abbey looked like an interesting place to visit with a tie to such an important historical figure...Sir Francis Drake. The buliding was a little disappointing. With the exception of one room, there isn't much original in terms of furnishings. The place is more like a museum of artifacts that Drake brought back from the New World. It's OK. What was absolutely outstanding was the talk and demonstration by the young man who was re-enacting as a fletcher. He was so knowledgable not only about how to make different arrows, but discussed the different types of bows as well. My husband and I must have spoken to him for over an hour and for every question we asked him, he asked us another question about why we thought arrows were made with different shapes and tips.He not only demonstrated his craft, but he was a wonderful teacher. He taught us about the kinds of feathers that are use and the different ways the feathers were trimmed and attached to the arrows to make them fly faster, or slower.

His work name was Irwin the Buckland Archer, and if he is there when you are, don't miss him, It was truly a highlight of our trip to England. There was a falconer there also, and his demonstration with a kite, harris hawk and owl was very good. He also was very willing to answer questions about the habits of the birds. Visited August 2011 “Nice Surprise” Reviewed 13 September 2011 We visited the National Trust property of Buckland Abbey having crossed Dartmoor on a very wet day, not having read up on it prior to getting there and were really pleasantly surprised with the way the Abbey`s history had been incorporated into `interactive `rooms each giving an insight into the house over the years from it`s time as an Abbey to Grenville +Drake owning it, through to the last owners before the Trust took it over. We did not have time to do any of the Estate walks as we had left it rather late in the day- also it was very wet-- but will return earlier next time ! Very enjoyable. Visited September 2011

Question: Buckland Abbey was the home of which historical figure?
Answer: SIR FRANCIS DRAKE