Buckland Abbey

Buckland Abbey began life in 1278 as a Cistercian monastery run by wealthy monks, the great barn pictured here with all the Christmas trees still stands today in its full state. It was the last Cistercian monastery built in England and wales.

The Cistercians, also known as ‘white monks’ due to their undyed habits – were a branch of the Benedictine Order, who followed strict routines. They lived a life of austerity, prayer and manual labour, they were such hard workers their order became one of the richest and most influential.

The monastery was dissolved during Henry VIII’s Reformation, being redeveloped as a 16th-century Tudor mansion.

The house later became the residence of a very famous explorer, sir Francis Drake. Drake is renowned as the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe and was able to purchase Buckland Abbey using a fraction of the treasure from the voyage. His later role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 cemented his fame.

Drake was seldom at home during his ownership of Buckland Abbey as he was away at sea for much of the time. His final voyage was in 1595, a fever broke out on board his ship and he died of dysentery in 1596. His brother took ownership afterwards and the estate remained in the family until 1946 when it was handed over to the national trust.