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Buckfast Abbey (Buckfastleigh, South Devon)

Description: Buckfast Abbey in Buckfastleigh, Devon is one of a small number of active monasteries in Britain today. It was founded ... more

Buckfast Abbey (Buckfastleigh, South Devon) ... in 1018, dedicated to Saint Mary, and run by the Cistercian order from 1147 until the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Today it is a Benedictine foundation. Between 1536, when it was dissolved, and 1882, the abbey lay in ruins. Then a group of Benedictine monks arrived, lived among the ruins, and gradually re-built the abbey much as it had been. The church itself was restored by the monks themselves, in 1907–1908, under Abbot Anscar Vonier.

Newest Review: ... Chapel. although still open to the public during this time it is requested that people be as quiet as possible, or else you ... more

... will have to answer to the 'Monk Police' (na, only joking !) Church opening times : 9am (Fridays 10am) to 6pm, Sundays Noon to 6pm. The Gardens There are a number of small gardens next to the Church, The 'Lavender' garden has 150 varies of the species, the Physic garden has been planted with many of the herbs you would find in the middle ages whilst the 'Sensory' garden combines plants with water features. Audio Visual Information Hut If you are visiting buck fast Abbey for the first time it is helpful to ha...more

Read Reviews for Buckfast Abbey (Buckfastleigh,...

Buckfast Abbey (Buckfastleigh, South Devon): Hey, Hey, We're the Monkies (1867 words)
by - written on 25/03/09 (Very useful, 475 readings)
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Buckfast Abbey is located in 'Buckfast' South Devon. It's the home to a group of Benedictine monks who are probably best known for making tonic wine and honey. Buckfast is right on the edge of Buckfastleigh which is one of the 'gateways' to Dartmoor and the Abbey sits amidst picturesque scenery on the banks of the river Dart. I've been both a visitor and an employee ( Retail worker, not a monk :-) of Buckfast Abbey. It will cost you nothing to park and wander the grounds (which is a quite rare these days!) and makes for an idea stop before or after making a trip onto Dartmoor or one of the other local attractions. There's not much for Kids to do here, (spot the ... Read the complete review

Buckfast Tonic Wine/Abbey (87 words)
by - written on 18/10/06 (Somewhat useful, 192 readings)
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Ask for a bottle of the tonic wine. Remove the screw cap top. Throw the top away. Proceed to consume the wine without diluting it. I then challenge you to not be boistrous and to act in a calm and sensible manner. Seriously though, the place is beautiful, the Abbey is truely astonishing. The Buckfast Tonic Wine is an 'aquired' taste but by the time you get to the bottom of the bottle, you'll be wanting ... Read the complete review

Buckfast Abbey (Buckfastleigh, South Devon): I'm a Buckfast Bee!!! (1072 words)
by - written on 12/05/06 (Very useful, 803 readings)
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A visit to Devon for a wedding on the weekend meant that I found myself a couple of miles away from Buckfast Abbey. As someone who loves history and all things old, I thought great! I read up on the Abbey in a local guidebook and although it told me that the current Abbey was a 19th century creation I still thought it might be worth a look. HISTORY: Buckfast Abbey was originally founded in around 1018, as a Benedictine house. In the 1147 the Abbey joined the Cistercian order. The Cistercians rebuilt the Abbey in their style, and when the Abbey was rebuilt in the 19th century it was rebuilt in this style. Along with the country's other ... Read the complete review