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Forde Abbey

Forde Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery in Dorset, England, on the borders of Somerset and Devon, founded in 1136 by Richard fitz Baldwin at Brightley in Devon and relocated to its current site near the River Axe in 1141 due to unsuitable land for agriculture.^[1]^[2] The abbey served as a monastic house for nearly 400 years until its dissolution in 1539 during the reign of Henry VIII, after which it was converted into a private residence.^[3]^[4] The site retains significant medieval architecture, including monastic quarters, refectories, a chapter house, and a cloister, with later 17th- and 18th-century modifications by owners such as Sir Edmund Prideaux, who purchased it in 1649 and adapted it into a mansion house featuring ornate plaster ceilings and a great hall.^[3]^[2] Notable abbots included Baldwin (1168–1181), who later became Archbishop of Canterbury, and John (1191–1220), a theologian whose works include sermons and a biography of the hermit Wulfric.^[1] The abbey founded daughter houses such as Bindon in 1172 and Dunkeswell in 1201, reflecting its influence within the Cistercian order.^[1] In modern times, Forde Abbey has been owned by the Roper family since the early 20th century and passed to the Kennard family in 2009, serving as a private home while opening its 30 acres of Grade II* listed gardens—featuring formal terraces, a Millennium Fountain, and woodland areas—to the public seasonally.^[3]^[2]^[4] The estate, designated Grade I for its buildings, preserves elements like Mortlake tapestries and has hosted philosophical figures such as Jeremy Bentham in the 19th century, underscoring its enduring cultural significance.^[3]^[4]

History

Founding and Monastic Establishment

Forde Abbey originated as a Cistercian monastery founded in 1136 at Brightley in central Devon by Richard fitz Baldwin, lord of Okehampton and sheriff of Dorset, who was a kinsman of the founder of Waverley Abbey.^[1] The new house was established as a daughter institution of Waverley Abbey in Surrey, the first Cistercian abbey in England, with monks dispatched from there to form the initial community.^[1]^[5] The Brightley location soon revealed itself inadequate, hampered by environmental challenges such as poor drainage and insufficient endowment to sustain the monastic operations.^[1] In 1141, the community relocated, abandoning the site; while en route back to Waverley, the monks were met near the southeastern Devon border by Adelicia, sister of the founder, who provided temporary quarters at Westford.^[1] The permanent move that year was to a more viable site at Thorncombe near the River Axe, renamed Forde after a nearby ford, where the abbey could access better resources and land grants.^[1]^[5] Following Adelicia's death in 1142, the monks persevered in consolidating their establishment at Forde, securing further patronage and expanding holdings despite early setbacks.^[1] By the late 12th century, the abbey had emerged as a significant Cistercian center, reflecting the order's emphasis on self-sufficiency through agriculture and isolation from worldly distractions.^[1] Early leadership included Abbot Baldwin (1168–1181), who later ascended to Archbishop of Canterbury, and Abbot John of Ford (1191–1220), a noted theologian whose works contributed to the intellectual life of the house.^[1]

Period of Monastic Prosperity

Forde Abbey, relocated from the infertile site at Brightley in Devon to more fertile lands along the River Axe in 1136, rapidly expanded its holdings through donations and purchases, establishing a foundation for economic self-sufficiency typical of Cistercian houses.^[6] These acquisitions, meticulously documented in the abbey's cartulary, encompassed arable fields, pastures, and woodlands across Dorset, Somerset, and Devon, enabling large-scale agriculture and sheep farming that generated revenue from wool and grain production.^[7] By the 14th century, the estate had grown to approximately 30,000 acres, positioning Forde among England's wealthier monasteries and funding monastic expansions such as granges for remote management of demesne lands.^[8] The abbey's prosperity fostered a scholarly environment, with abbots and monks contributing to theological and administrative advancements. Abbot Baldwin, the third abbot in the late 12th century, exemplified this influence by rising to become Archbishop of Canterbury following Thomas Becket's martyrdom in 1170, leveraging his monastic experience in ecclesiastical politics.^[9] Similarly, Abbot John (1191–1220), the fifth abbot, gained recognition as a theologian and author, underscoring Forde's role in Cistercian intellectual networks.^[1] In 1171, Forde's monks colonized Bindon Abbey in Dorset as a daughter house, reflecting the community's maturity and ability to propagate the order amid regional growth.^[9] This era of affluence, spanning the 12th to early 15th centuries, saw Forde emerge as one of the richest and most learned Cistercian institutions in England, with net spiritual and temporal revenues supporting communal self-reliance and occasional involvement in national affairs by its leaders.^[3] The abbey's emphasis on manual labor and isolation from lay influences, as per Cistercian statutes, sustained productivity without evident corruption scandals that plagued some contemporaries, though precise income figures from medieval taxations remain sparse in surviving records.^[6]

Decline and Dissolution

By the early 16th century, Forde Abbey's monastic community had contracted significantly, numbering only the abbot and 12 monks at the time of its surrender, reflecting broader trends of diminishing vocations and resources among English Cistercian houses amid economic pressures and secular influences.^[10] Despite this numerical decline, Abbot Thomas Chard, who held office from approximately 1521 to 1539, pursued an ambitious restoration program, including the construction of a new abbot's lodging and renovations to the church starting around 1503, indicating that the abbey retained sufficient wealth to fund such works rather than facing acute financial collapse.^[11] ^[12] Chard's tenure, however, coincided with escalating royal scrutiny under Henry VIII, as the Crown's campaign against monastic institutions intensified from 1536 onward through visitations that documented alleged moral and financial shortcomings to justify suppressions.^[13] Unlike some abbeys accused of specific improprieties, Forde Abbey under Chard avoided documented scandals, with the abbot delaying formal compliance but ultimately prioritizing a non-confrontational approach amid the dissolution of larger houses in 1539.^[8] On March 6, 1539, Abbot Chard surrendered Forde Abbey to the Crown without resistance, marking the end of its monastic era as part of Henry VIII's systematic dissolution, which targeted institutions with annual revenues exceeding £200, such as Forde's estimated £184.^[14] ^[3] Following the handover, Chard received a pension and later served as vicar of Thorncombe, while the monks dispersed with modest pensions, underscoring the relatively orderly closure compared to violent suppressions elsewhere.^[6]

Post-Dissolution Ownership Transitions

Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539, Abbot Thomas Chard surrendered Forde Abbey to the Crown without resistance, after which he served as vicar of Thorncombe until his death in 1543.^[3] ^[15] In 1540, the abbey buildings and lands were leased by the Crown to Richard Pollard, a commissioner involved in the dissolution process, for an annual rent of £49 6s. 6d.^[16] ^[3] Pollard, who died in 1542, held the lease briefly, after which the property passed through a series of absentee landlords over the subsequent century, during which the structures were partially dismantled for building materials and the site fell into disrepair.^[6] ^[3] In 1649, the estate was purchased by Edmund Prideaux, a Member of Parliament for Lyme Regis and Attorney General under Oliver Cromwell, marking the beginning of its adaptation into a private residence.^[3] ^[6] Prideaux initiated repairs and conversions of monastic buildings for domestic use until his death in 1659, after which his son, also named Edmund Prideaux, inherited the property.^[3] The younger Prideaux hosted the Duke of Monmouth at the abbey in 1680 and was later implicated in the 1685 Monmouth Rebellion, resulting in his arrest, a £15,000 fine imposed by Judge Jeffreys, and temporary imprisonment in the Tower of London before a pardon; he died in 1702 without male heirs.^[6] ^[3] The estate then passed to Prideaux's daughter Margaret and her husband Francis Gwyn, who served as Secretary at War under Queen Anne; the Gwyn family occupied and improved the abbey throughout the 18th century, including early garden developments.^[3] ^[6] By 1815, John Fraunceis Gwyn, a descendant, rented the property to philosopher Jeremy Bentham, who used it for writing; Gwyn died without heirs in 1846, leading to an auction of contents and eventual sale of the house.^[3] ^[6] In 1863, the abbey was acquired by Mrs. Bertram Evans, whose family continued ownership into the early 20th century, with subsequent transitions to her son William Herbert Evans and then cousin Elizabeth Roper by 1905, followed by management under her son Geoffrey Roper and wife Diana until 2009.^[3]

Modern Stewardship and Preservation Efforts

In 1959, Mark Roper inherited Forde Abbey from his father Geoffrey, continuing the Roper family's custodianship that began in 1905, and undertook extensive efforts to secure its financial and physical viability. Collaborating with architect Richard Tyler, Roper repaired the building's fabric while preserving its monastic integrity, including safeguarding the rare Mortlake tapestries from sale. To fund maintenance, he expanded public access from six days annually to several days weekly, introduced commercial ventures such as pick-your-own soft fruits, a Sitka spruce nursery, goat milking operations, and a plant nursery, and enhanced the gardens, which earned the Historic Houses Association's Garden of the Year award in 1992. In 2005, he installed a 35-meter-high Centenary Fountain, which increased visitor numbers by 10% in its first year and remains a key attraction.^[17] In 2009, Roper transferred stewardship to his daughter Alice Kennard and her husband Julian, who maintain the property as both a private family residence and a public venue. Under their management, ongoing restoration addresses the 900-year-old structure, including its 16th-century great hall and 17th-century interiors with moulded-plaster ceilings, while practical upgrades such as replacing oil and gas boilers with a biomass system in a dedicated shed reduce environmental impact and fire risks.^[18]^[3] The Kennards have broadened public engagement to support preservation, opening the 30-acre gardens year-round and the house from April to October plus select December periods, alongside hosting events like supper clubs, wreath-making workshops, summer fairs, and classical concerts in the great hall. Julian oversees a farm producing 8% of the UK's goat milk, echoing historical monastic agriculture, while Alice manages operations including a plant nursery, shop, and tea room in the 12th-century undercroft. These initiatives sustain the estate without reliance on public trusts, preserving its private character amid visitor-funded conservation.^[18]^[3]

Architecture and House

Surviving Monastic Structures

Forde Abbey retains significant portions of its original Cistercian monastic complex, founded in 1136 and dissolved in 1539, making it one of the most complete surviving monastic houses adapted for domestic use in England.^[19] The abbey church was demolished post-dissolution, but key domestic and communal buildings from the 12th to 16th centuries persist, integrated into the present structure.^[14] These include the chapter house, dormitory (dorter), refectory walls, and partial cloisters, reflecting Cistercian austerity with later Gothic enhancements.^[3] The chapter house, dating to the mid-12th century, features two bays of cross-rib vaulting supported on recessed responds with scalloped capitals; its upper sections were rebuilt in the 16th century and altered in the late 17th, with an early 16th-century east window.^[19] Converted to a chapel around 1650, it served as the monks' administrative center.^[20] The adjacent dorter, a 13th-century dormitory, spans 13 bays of ribbed vaults on polygonal central columns, preserving the monks' sleeping quarters above an undercroft.^[19]^[9] Lower walls of the 13th-century frater (refectory) survive, alongside a 15th-century kitchen fireplace, indicating the scale of monastic dining and preparation areas.^[19] The cloisters preserve one side of the original quadrangle from the 13th century, constructed with Purbeck marble and Bath stone, including an exposed lavatorium; renovations around 1520 by abbot Thomas Chardin added a Ham stone frieze with heraldic arms but remained unfinished.^[21] A 15th-century gateway and 1528 porch with a three-centered arch and oriel window to the abbot's hall further attest to late medieval additions.^[19] Partial walls of the abbot's 16th-century lodging also endure, underscoring the site's layered architectural history.^[19]

Post-Medieval Alterations and Interiors

Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539, Forde Abbey saw limited immediate structural alterations, with the property leased to lay tenants such as Richard Pollard in 1543 for an annual rent of £49 6s. 6d., preserving much of the late-medieval fabric initiated by Abbot Thomas Chard.^[15] ^[11] The abbey church was largely demolished, but surviving monastic ranges, including the great hall, refectory, and lodgings, underwent gradual adaptation for private use without extensive reconfiguration during the 16th century.^[11] Significant post-medieval transformations occurred after Sir Edmund Prideaux purchased the estate in 1649, converting the monastic complex into a grand 17th-century mansion while retaining its ecclesiastical outline. Prideaux added state apartments over the former cloisters and refitted key spaces, including Abbot Chard's lodgings and the great hall, to serve domestic functions; the misericord became a library, and the chapter house was repurposed as a chapel.^[20] ^[11] These changes emphasized interior embellishment over external modifications, with the addition of the Prideaux Rooms—a suite of elegant reception chambers—enhancing the house's residential capacity. Interiors from this period feature extensive oak paneling and lavish decorative plasterwork, particularly ten ornate plaster ceilings dating to 1650, which are noted for their uniqueness in Britain.^[20] The great hall retains a fine oak-panelled ceiling, blending monastic austerity with Jacobean opulence, while the grand saloon houses Mortlake tapestries woven from Raphael's cartoons, originally presented by Queen Anne to Sir Francis Gwyn in the early 18th century.^[20] ^[3] The dormitory range was adapted into a bedroom suite around this time, concealing its 14th-century oak roof beneath a plaster ceiling.^[20] Subsequent owners, including the Gwyn family from circa 1700, made few alterations to the house itself, focusing instead on landscaping, which spared the interiors from the neoclassical overhauls common in 18th- and 19th-century country houses.^[6] ^[3] Financial difficulties of later proprietors, such as sales in 1846, further prevented unsympathetic renovations, preserving the 17th-century scheme amid a mix of restored monastic chambers and added staterooms.^[6]

Key Architectural Features and Artifacts

Forde Abbey retains several surviving elements from its Cistercian monastic origins, including the mid-12th-century chapter house, now converted into a chapel with two bays of cross-rib vaulting.^[19] The 13th-century undercroft features ribbed vaults and serves as a contemporary restaurant space, while the dorter range includes 13 bays of ribbed vaults and a 14th-century oak roof.^[19]^[20] Additional monastic remnants encompass a 15th-century kitchen fireplace, an early 16th-century Abbot's Hall, and a porch dated 1528.^[19] The structure is built primarily of rubble walls with Ham stone ashlar dressings and slate or lead roofs.^[19] In the 17th century, Sir Edmund Prideaux undertook significant alterations starting in 1649, transforming monastic spaces into a country house with state apartments above the cloisters and remodeled principal rooms.^[20] These include ten ornate plaster ceilings dating to around 1660, noted for their decorative plasterwork possibly unique in Britain, and a grand staircase featuring carved wooden flower urns, a Spanish balustrade, and intricate plastering.^[20]^[14] The Great Hall, originally enhanced under Abbot Thomas Chard in the 16th century with oak paneling and a grand fireplace, incorporates a minstrel gallery in the upper refectory.^[14]^[20] Notable artifacts include the Mortlake tapestries in the Grand Saloon, woven around 1620 from Raphael's cartoons depicting scenes with St. Peter and St. Paul, which were presented to the abbey by Queen Anne after earlier confiscation.^[23]^[14] The Great Hall houses two religious statues salvaged from the demolished abbey church, representing the sole surviving elements from that structure.^[14] The chapter house chapel features a carved oak screen and pulpit added post-conversion in 1650.^[14] These elements collectively preserve a rare blend of monastic austerity and Baroque opulence.^[20]

Gardens and Grounds

Historical Development of the Gardens

The gardens at Forde Abbey began evolving significantly after the monastery's dissolution in 1539, with initial post-Dissolution efforts focused on adapting monastic lands for private use following Edmund Prideaux's purchase of the estate in 1649, though major landscape formalization occurred later.^[2] In 1702, the property passed to Margaret Prideaux and her husband Francis Gwyn, under whose stewardship an early 18th-century formal scheme was implemented, featuring lawns, topiary yews and limes, a canal (now the Long Pond), a cascade, and an axial vista extending through the parkland; these elements were documented in 1727 estate drawings and influenced subsequent designs, possibly with input from landscape expert Monsieur Beaumont, known for similar topiary work at Levens Hall.^[2]^[24]^[6] By the mid-19th century, after sales to G. F. W. Miles in 1846 and then Mrs. Bertram Evans in 1864, the gardens adopted a characteristic Victorian style under the Evans family, incorporating extensive shrubberies, a walled garden for seasonal produce and summer bedding displays, and terraced areas that built upon the surviving 18th-century framework; this period required up to 10 full-time gardeners by the onset of World War I to maintain the labor-intensive plantings.^[2]^[24] In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, ownership transitioned to Herbert Evans and later Mrs. Freeman Roper in 1906, during which additional topiary was added in the late 1800s and a rock garden established in the early 1900s; the Roper family, continuing stewardship into the mid-20th century, restored the canal under Geoffrey Roper and introduced further features such as the Bog Garden, Park Garden, and an arboretum with over 350,000 trees planted, preserving and expanding the layered historical scheme into a 30-acre pleasure ground.^[2]^[24]^[6]

Notable Landscape Features and Plantings

The Centenary Fountain stands as a prominent landscape feature at Forde Abbey, recognized as England's tallest powered fountain, reaching a height of 160 feet and powered by gravity from the historic Great Pond.^[25]^[24] It erupts multiple times daily for 15-minute displays, drawing from a cascade of lakes and ponds that include three lower ponds and the monastic-era Great Pond, which also historically powered a mill.^[25]^[24] The Bog Garden features a specialized collection of Asiatic primulas adapted to wet conditions, complemented by running water and soggy soil suitable for moisture-loving plants.^[25] Adjacent, the Rock Garden hosts a fine array of specialist plants, including trials of perennial tulips that naturalize in informal drifts.^[25] Striking herbaceous borders line the long pond, showcasing vibrant summertime displays of varied perennials.^[25]^[4] An arboretum encompasses magnificent specimen trees, with 350,000 trees planted under Geoffrey Roper's oversight, providing glorious autumn colors and integrating with 18th-century yews and limes in topiary-lined vistas.^[24]^[25] Early spring bulbs and camellias punctuate the grounds, while a working walled kitchen garden produces vegetables sampled in the estate's tearoom.^[24]^[25] Additional elements include a recently planted Wild Flower Maze and a Winter Garden for year-round interest.^[4]

Contemporary Management and Access

Forde Abbey's gardens are privately managed by Alice Kennard (née Roper) and her husband Julian Kennard, who represent the fourth generation of the Roper family to steward the estate since its inheritance in 1905.^[18]^[26] The family maintains the 30-acre gardens as part of their ongoing preservation efforts for the historic property, funding upkeep through public admissions, events, and facilities such as a café and plant centre.^[27]^[4] This approach echoes the entrepreneurial initiatives of previous owner Mark Roper (1935–2021), who ensured the estate's financial viability by opening the gardens to visitors while residing there as a family home.^[17] Public access to the gardens is seasonal and ticketed, operating daily from 1 March to 31 October, 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last entry at 4:00 p.m.), with advance purchase required.^[28] Winter openings occur from 5 November to 21 December on Wednesdays to Sundays, 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (last entry at 3:00 p.m.).^[29] Admission for gardens only is £15 for adults and £6 for children aged 5–15, with free entry for children under 5; family tickets and annual memberships provide unlimited access, starting at £43.50 for singles and £87 for couples.^[28]^[30] These arrangements support garden maintenance while limiting access to preserve the site's integrity as a private residence surrounded by formal parterres, water features, and woodland plantings.^[31] The Kennards oversee daily operations, including seasonal displays like the annual planting of 50,000 tulips, which draw visitors and contribute to the gardens' award-winning status from bodies such as the Royal Horticultural Society.^[32]^[31] Accessibility features include paths suitable for wheelchairs in main areas, though some sections remain uneven due to the historic terrain; designated parking and facilities accommodate visitors with mobility needs.^[33] Events such as garden tours and plant fairs enhance public engagement without compromising private management.^[29]

Significance and Legacy

Burials and Memorials

Forde Abbey, as a medieval Cistercian monastery, accommodated burials of its monks primarily in the cloister garth or adjacent cemetery, in keeping with the order's practices of simple interment without elaborate monuments. Specific monastic graves have not survived intact owing to post-Dissolution demolitions and subsequent repurposing of the site. Among lay patrons, several members of the Courtenay family, feudal lords of Okehampton with rights over the abbey, were interred there; Robert de Courtenay, Baron of Okehampton, died on 26 July 1242 at Iwerne Courtenay, Dorset, and was buried at Forde Abbey three days later.^[34] Sir Hugh Courtenay, a knight who died shortly after Easter 1348 at age 21, was likewise buried at the abbey.^[35] Edward de Courtenay, 3rd Earl of Devon (c. 1357–1419), stipulated in his will burial at Forde Abbey, where he was interred following his death on 5 December 1419.^[36] Following the abbey's conversion to a private residence after the Dissolution in 1539, it continued as a burial site for subsequent owners. Edmund Prideaux (1608–1659), Attorney-General under Oliver Cromwell and a key figure in acquiring the property, was buried at Forde Abbey. Francis Gwyn (c. 1648/9–1734), Secretary of State under Queen Anne and a later proprietor through marriage into the Prideaux line, died at the abbey on 14 June 1734 and was interred in its chapel.^[37] In the modern era, under the stewardship of the Roper family—who acquired Forde Abbey in 1905 via inheritance—the grounds have hosted family burials outside traditional ecclesiastical structures. Mark Roper (1935–2021), who managed the estate from 1969 and oversaw its restoration and public opening, was buried in the arboretum planted by his father, Geoffrey Roper, after the Second World War; he died on 20 September 2021 at age 86.^[17] No prominent memorials or effigies from these burials are publicly documented, reflecting the site's evolution from monastic precinct to private domain.

Cultural and Economic Impact

Forde Abbey preserves significant aspects of England's monastic and post-Dissolution heritage, serving as a tangible link to Cistercian traditions established in 1136 and subsequent adaptations into a country house.^[38] Its Grade I listing underscores architectural and historical value, with public tours and displays fostering appreciation for medieval stonework, tapestries, and interiors altered across centuries.^[3] The estate has hosted cultural events that promote historical engagement, including seasonal workshops like wreath-making and garland decoration, alongside exhibitions such as the 2025 Wolf Hall costume show featuring artifacts from its use as a filming location for period productions like Far from the Madding Crowd.^[39]^[40] These activities extend cultural influence by attracting historians, families, and garden enthusiasts to explore 900 years of layered history, from monastic prayer to 19th-century philosophical gatherings.^[3] Annual heritage-linked events, such as charity Christmas fairs with local artisans showcasing pottery, jewelry, and crafts within the abbey's historic spaces, enhance community ties and public access to preserved artifacts.^[41] Economically, Forde Abbey functions as a key tourist draw in Dorset and Somerset, with its 30-acre award-winning gardens, house interiors, coffee shop, pottery exhibition, plant center, and gift shop accommodating groups, coaches, and day visitors year-round.^[29] Revenue from admissions, on-site sales, and facilities like the plant nursery—offering seasonally grown perennials—supports estate maintenance and operations. Events such as pumpkin rolling and Christmas markets further stimulate local spending, drawing crowds that benefit nearby accommodations and traders while providing seasonal employment in hospitality and event management.^[39] The surrounding estate's agricultural activities contribute additional income, aligning with sustainable land use in the rural economy.^[6]

Recent Events and Public Engagement

In recent years, Forde Abbey has enhanced public access through guided tours of its historic house and 30 acres of gardens, alongside amenities including a tearoom, gift shop, plant nursery, and pottery exhibition, accommodating group visits and providing facilities suitable for disabled visitors.^[42]^[29] The estate hosts seasonal public events to foster engagement, such as the Autumn Plant and Gardening Fair on September 6, 2025, featuring specialist nurseries and demonstrations, and annual pumpkin-related activities including harvesting displays and rolling events in October.^[43] The abbey served as a key filming location for the BBC/PBS adaptation of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, with production occurring between November 2023 and April 2024; its cloisters depicted scenes involving King Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, contributing to the series' historical authenticity.^[44]^[45]^[46] To capitalize on this exposure, Forde Abbey mounted an exclusive costume and props exhibition from June 1, 2025, for eight weeks, showcasing BAFTA-winning elements from the production inside the house.^[40] Public engagement extends to charitable and therapeutic initiatives, notably through the on-site Forde Abbey Carriage Driving Group, a registered charity offering recreational carriage driving sessions for disabled children and adults to promote therapy, learning, and enjoyment via volunteer-led activities.^[47]^[48] On May 13, 2025, The Princess Royal visited the group in Chard to present an award recognizing volunteers' commitment to supporting the disabled community.^[49]^[50] A notable incident occurred on October 1, 2023, when a large bronze statue of a rearing horse was stolen from the gardens, prompting a police investigation and highlighting security challenges for historic estates open to visitors.^[51] The abbey continues to organize community-oriented events, including its inaugural Charity Christmas Fair on November 22–23, 2025, and floral workshops such as wreath-making sessions, to support local causes and attract families.^[52]^[39]

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[28]
Plan your visit to Forde Abbey, a South West gem waiting to be ...
Become a member of Forde Abbey and enjoy unlimited access during normal opening hours. Membership cards are great value, with a couple only needing to visit ...Historic Gardens In Somerset · Coffee Shop · Café · AboutMissing: contemporary management
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Membership | Forde Abbey
This allows you unlimited access to the house and gardens during our opening hours. Single Membership: £43.50. Double Membership: £87.00. Family Membership: £ ...Missing: contemporary management
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Forde Abbey & Gardens - RHS
With 900 years of history encapsulated in this elegant former Cistercian monastery, it boasts 30 acres of award-winning gardens and ponds. In spring, the tulip ...Missing: contemporary management ownership
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Forde Abbey & Gardens - Tripadvisor
Rating 4.4 (903) WE ARE OPEN DAILY! 10:30AM - 4:00PM A 900-year-old Abbey set within 30 acres of award winning gardens with a spectacular display of 50,000 tulips.
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Access Statement - Forde Abbey
Feb 1, 2023 · Forde Abbey is a beautiful former Cistercian monastery and has been a family home since 1649. It is surrounded by 30 acres of award-winning gardens.Missing: contemporary management ownership
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Robert (Courtenay) de Courtenay (abt.1184-1242) - WikiTree
Jul 26, 2025 · Robert de Courtenay died 26 July 1242 at Iwerne, Dorset, and was buried on 28 July 1242 at Ford Abbey, Devon. Epitaph:.
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COURTENAY1 - Tudor Place
Hugh COURTENAY (Sir). Born: 22 Mar 1326/27, Exeter, England. Died: BEF 2 Sep 1349. Buried: Forde Abbey, Dorsetshire, England. Notes: Knight of the Garter. One ...
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Sir Edward de Courtenay (1357-1419) - Find a Grave Memorial
Edward Courtenay directed in his will that he be buried at Forde Abbey. It is highly unlikely that his wishes as outlined in the will were not followed. The ...
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Francis Gwyn 1648/9-1734 - Book Owners Online
Oct 29, 2021 · He died on 14 June 1734 at Forde Abbey and was buried in the chapel there. He was succeeded by a son, Francis Gwyn, who died childless.Missing: burials crypt
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Forde Abbey, Thorncombe - 1002347 - Historic England
Summary. Part of Forde Abbey. Reasons for Designation. From the time of St Augustine's mission to re-establish Christianity in AD 597 to the reign of Henry ...Missing: primary | Show results with:primary
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Events - Forde Abbey
What's on at Forde Abbey · PUMPKIN ROLLING · CHARITY CHRISTMAS FAIR · WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP - with Amy from Abbey Farm Flowers · Table Decoration and Garland ...Missing: heritage | Show results with:heritage
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Wolf Hall Costume Show | Events - Forde Abbey
Jul 16, 2025 · Step into History at Forde Abbey and Gardens – Wolf Hall Costume & Filming Display From 1st June for 8 weeks only, discover the world of ...
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Charity Christmas Fair - Visit Dorset
Wander through the historic Abbey filled with local traders and their handmade treasures – from pottery and paintings to jewellery, metalwork, cosmetics, ...Forde Abbey And Gardens · What's Nearby · Dorset Nectar Cider Farm And...<|control11|><|separator|>
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Groups | Forde Abbey
Groups and coaches are always welcome at Forde Abbey, where the house, gardens, tearoom, plant centre and gift shop provide activities for a full day out.Missing: engagement | Show results with:engagement
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Autumn Plant & Gardening Fair | Events - Forde Abbey
Sep 6, 2025 · PUMPKIN ROLLING. October 27th ; CHARITY CHRISTMAS FAIR. November 22nd - November 23rd 2025 ; WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP - with Amy from Abbey Farm ...Missing: 2020-2025 | Show results with:2020-2025
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Wolf Hall's Dorset location filming secrets revealed - BBC
Nov 30, 2024 · Forde Abbey was chosen as the location for Hampton Court in the series. Another Dorset location was Forde Abbey, near Chard, chosen as the ...
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Where was Wolf Hall filmed? - Drama - Radio Times
Dec 15, 2024 · Forde Abbey, Dorset The cloisters (seen above) were used to film the scenes in which King Henry VIII prepares for his new bride, Jane Seymour. ...
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Forde Abbey in west Dorset a location for Wolf Hall - Bridport News
Dec 11, 2024 · Filming in the two Dorset locations took place between November 2023 and April 2024, with the first episode broadcast on November 10. Medieval ...
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FORDE ABBEY CARRIAGE DRIVING RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ...
We are a group of volunteers who offer the sport of Carriage Driving to disabled children and adults for their recreation, therapy, learning and fun.
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FORDE ABBEY CARRIAGE DRIVING GROUP | Every Body Moves
Club features. Staff experience: We have a lot of experience working with disabled people, and have undergone specialised training ...
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Princess Anne presents award to riding volunteers at Chard
Jun 9, 2025 · Volunteers from a riding group were presented with an award by Princess Anne for their commitment to helping the disabled community.
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The Princess Royal visits the Forde Abbey Carriage Driving for the ...
May 13, 2025 · The Princess Royal visits the Forde Abbey Carriage Driving for the Disabled in Chard, Somerset today Ben Birchall/PA #britishroyalfamily # ...
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Forde Abbey theft: Large bronze horse disappears from gardens - BBC
Oct 1, 2023 · A large bronze statue of a rearing horse has been stolen from the grounds of a historic estate. Dorset Police said the ornament was taken ...
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CHARITY CHRISTMAS FAIR | Events - Forde Abbey
Nov 22, 2025 · Step into the festive spirit at the magical Forde Abbey and Gardens for our inaugural Charity Christmas Fair! Wander through the historic Abbey ...Missing: 2020-2025 | Show results with:2020-2025