Local Historic Houses
BUCKFAST ABBEY (about 20 minutes)
www.buckfast.org.uk
One thousand years of history are yours to discover at
Buckfast Abbey, home to a a living community of Benedictine
monks. The centre piece is the magnificent Abbey Church.
It was rebuilt on it`s medieval foundations this century
and astonishingly represents 32 years of labour by just
four monks. In addition to it`s pastoral work in the local
area, this thriving monastic community keeps bees, runs
a farm, makes stained glass and of course, produces the
famous Buckfast Tonic Wine.
Buckfast Abbey boasts a Bookshop, Gift Shop, Abbey Exhibition
and a Monastic Produce Shop. Also renowned for it`s generous
Devonshire Cream Teas, The Grange Restaurant is a popular
venue for morning coffee and an essential stop for lunch.
All the dishes are home-made from the finest of ingredients.
BUCKLAND ABBEY (about 30 minutes)
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
Tucked away in it`s own secluded valley on the edge of
Dartmoor, Buckland Abbey holds the secret to over 700 years
of history. Here medieval monks established a Cistercian
monastery "far from the haunts of men." Here Sir Richard
Grenville converted the abbey into a dwelling place, and
Sir Francis Drake lived at Buckland during the turbulent
period of the Armada. Exhibitions, furnished rooms and ancient
buildings rediscover this exciting story, and walks through
the farm estate allow exploration of its beautiful and historic
setting.
COTHELE HOUSE (about 45 minutes)
www.touruk.co.uk/houses/housecorn_cote.htm
Cothele is situated just across the River Tamar (approached
via the Tamar Bridge) in Cornwall, and is a fascinating
and enchanting estate set on the steep wooded slopes of
the Tamar. The steep valley garden contains exotic plants
which thrive in the mild climate, and a walk through the
garden and alongside the river or down the lower drive leads
to Cothele Quay which was a busy river port in Victorian
times. One of the least-altered medieval houses in the country,
Cothele is built in granite, slate and sandstone. Inside,
the ancient rooms,unlit by electricity, are famed for their
furniture, textiles and tapestries. Near the house, the
great medieval barn now houses the National Trust Shop and
the licensed bar restaurant which serves a delicious range
of home cooked meals.
MOUNT EDGECUMBE HOUSE & COUNTRY PARK, CREMYLL (about
50 minutes)
www.aboutbritain.com/MountEdgcumbeHouse.htm
Sir Richard Edgecumbe of Cothele built a new home in his
deer park at Mount Edgecumbe in 1547-53. Miraculously the
walls of his red stone Tudor House survived a direct hit
by bombs in 1941 and it was restored by the Earl of Mount
Edgecumbe between 1958-64. It is beautifully furnished with
family possessions, including paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds
and Gerard Edema. There are three gardens - the Earl`s Garden
was created beside the House in the 18th century and is
home to many ancient and rare trees. The Formal Gardens
are grouped in the lower park, and the English Garden with
its unusual trees - cork, oak, maidenhair, magnolias and
the "handkerchief" tree.
SALTRAM HOUSE (about 10 minutes)
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
With its Palladian facades wrapped around its Tudor core,
this perfectly proportioned mansion boasts some exceptional
plasterwork by Robert Adam, and a virtually intact Georgian
painting collection, including ten by Sir Joshua Reynolds.
Also of interest is the Great Kitchen, a gallery of local
art in the chapel, and an orangery in the Garden. The house
starred as Norland Park, the Dashwood`s family home in the
film Sense and Sensibility.
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