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Forde Abbey and Gardens

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Forde Abbey and Gardens Summary

 

Forde Abbey and Gardens Description

There is little doubt that religious foundations had a good eye for a site when it came to locating their monasteries. Common sense dictated tranquillity, water, shelter and an estate as being high on the priority list for their grand designs, and the Cistercian group which was given the location close to the River Axe by Adelicia de Brioniis in 1141 were perhaps fortunate in having a well informed patron.

The present house owes much of its form to Abbot Thomas Chard who began rebuilding the monastery between 1521-1539 but was beaten to it by the Dissolution. Successive additions have been made since, including work believed to have been to the design of Inigo Jones, and the house that welcomes visitors today is not only a family home but also the centre of a thriving estate, both much cherished by the family whose forbears bought it in 1863.

As with so many ancient houses the history of Forde Abbey can be read in the architecture and structure of the house and garden, and whatever changes may have taken place it has always retained its original entity. In places one could be looking at an Oxbridge college or a city Guild Hall. The quality of the Hamstone is superb and the Abbey's location would be hard to match.

Within are ranges of rooms that could be broadly divided into monastic and State. Most of the former are visibly religious residential in original purpose and the Great Hall and Chapel are outstanding. The Undercroft was a place of industry with each activity in its own space and the earliest Cistercian figure painting in England, going back to between 1270 and 1320, survives in the Undercroft. Nowadays the southern part of this evocative space serves as a restaurant. The 160ft long Monk's Dormitory has been reduced in width but it is still perfectly possible to see how these intensely religious men lived in their small sparse cells.

Prominent amongst the State Rooms is the Saloon, now a shadow of its former size, but still impressively large and lined with the much celebrated Mortlake Tapestries, based on the cartoons by Raphael now on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum. This set of tapestries was made around 1620 at the London based Mortlake Factory. The original tapestries were created for the Sistine Chapel at the behest of Pope Julius II and were first woven in Brussels in 1520.

Forde Abbey’s set of tapestries are possibly the best (in unrestored condition) of the five Mortlake tapestries in this country. The panels have wonderfully detailed borders and the colours are remarkably vibrant, which can be attributed to the fact that they were kept rolled up for 70 years in Whitehall, having been confiscated by the Crown from Sir Edmond Prideaux, owner of Forde Abbey (from 1659-1702) and the son of the first Sir Edmond who commissioned the tapestries. The tapestries were eventually returned to Forde Abbey by Queen Anne towards the end of her reign.

The Oak Room contains a four poster bed of huge proportions – 7 x 7 x 9ft, believed to date from 1830 and rescued from the estate sawmills for restoration during 1997/98. The Upper Refectory was built for the meat-eating monks following a relaxation of their vegetarian rule during the time of Henry VII.

Nowadays it is by no means uncommon for historic houses to be licensed for civil wedding ceremonies and Forde Abbey is no exception. In fact because of its monastic background and understanding conversion it is better suited than many, combining to give a setting that offers romance, elegance, grandeur and beauty, and is unique.

Offering a wonderful background for visitors, be they wedding guests, passers-by or those interested in the range of events at Forde Abbey, are the gardens, some 30 acres in extent and contributed to by each generation, starting with the monks who grew vegetables on the grand scale. To say they are truly beautiful is to be guilty of understatement. The combination of landscape and more formal garden could only be created by the passing of the centuries and a linking of different minds and outlooks.

The latest, and in some ways most magnificent addition is the Centenary Fountain, formally opened in 2005, and celebrating 100 years of the Roper family at Forde Abbey. At a maximum height of 160 feet it is the highest powered fountain in England. It is greatly to the credit of the Roper family that they open the gardens every day of the year from 10am until 6.30pm, with last entries at 4.30pm.

At Forde Abbey they do well what country estates always used to do, namely to thrive on the surrounding land and property. 1,600 acres may not sound all that much land, but it is intensively cultivated and used. Visitors are able to see the herd of Ruby Red Devons established in 1981 and with great success in the Show Ring to its credit since.

In the 1960s the Forde Abbey Fruit Farm was established and in 2007 moved into pick-your-own table top grown strawberries alongside its other varieties of fruit. PYO pickers of a certain age find this a most attractive come-on!

As a not altogether dispassionate observer of what is sometimes known as "the stately home scene" I must say that given the unbridled choice of any one home in the country, Forde Abbey would be very high indeed on my list, find out why I feel like that on their Website.

Opening Times - 2011

House:

  • 1st April - 31st October: Tuesday - Friday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays, 12 noon - 4 pm (last admission)

Garden:

  • All year: daily, 10 am - 6.30 pm (last admission4.30 pm)

Tearoom / Shop / Nursery:

  • 1st March - 31st October: Daily, 11 am - 4.30 pm

Shop / Nursery:

  • 1st March - 31st October: Daily, 10 am - 5 pm

Admission Prices - 2011

House & Gardens:

  • Adult - £10.50
  • Seniors - £9.50
  • Child (under 15 years) - Free
  • School groups - £3.50
  • Groups (15+) - £7.50
  • Guided House Tour plus Garden - £9.00

Gardens only:

  • Adult - £8.50
  • Seniors - £7.50
  • Child (under 15 years) - Free
  • Groups (15+) - £6.50

Season Tickets:

  • Single - £24.00
  • Double - £39.00
  • Guest Tickets £4.50

Further information including opening times and prices

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Additional Info for Forde Abbey and Gardens

  • YesOpen All Year
  • YesGardens
  • YesDogs allowed
  • YesWeddings
  • YesDisabled Access
  • YesRefreshments
  • YesPicnics
  • YesGuides
  • YesMeals Available
  • YesConferences
  • YesFilming
  • YesGifts
  • YesNursery
  • YesShop
  • YesCar Parking

Heritage Groups

  • YesHistoric Houses Association

Credit Cards Accepted

  • YesMastercard
  • YesVisa
  • YesSwitch

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