 Buckland Abbey
Almost as peaceful now as it would have been some 700 years ago when the Cistercian
monks settled in this undisturbed valley at the edge of Dartmoor, Buckland
Abbey encompasses both architectural and historical interest as well as idyllic gardens for relaxation.
By 1541 Henry VIII had sold the old monastery to Sir Richard Grenville as a reward for his services
as Marshal of Calais. The Grenvilles were a well-established family of
the gentry in Devon and Cornwall, and Sir Richard seized the opportunity
of buying Buckland Abbey to provide an estate for his son, Roger. However, his
plans didn't quite work out when, only four years later, Roger Grenville
drowned whilst in command of his ill-fated warship, the 'Mary Rose'.
So it was Sir Richard's grandson, also Richard, who was left to inherit the
abbey, and finish building the home that his grandfather had started.
His late 16th century conversion was interesting inasmuch as he used the abbey church
to shape his home around, rather than one of the ranges of domestic buildings
which was more conventional at that time. This resulted in an unusual
arrangement of modest proportions that provided a compact and comfortable
home, as opposed to a grand and stylish manor house. Probably the most
remarkable room at Buckland Abbey is the great hall, where a disturbing plaster
frieze gives the visitor a glimpse into the complex and unbalanced mind
that Richard Grenville was reported to possess. Another quite bizarre
feature is the later wooden frieze, which shows intricately carved animal
masks and fertility figures, some appearing quite obscene.
After creating his home, Grenville remained there for only four years before he mortgaged Buckland
Abbey, eventually selling the property to Sir Francis Drake when he
returned from his successful circumnavigation of the globe. Drake was
richly rewarded for his Spanish exploits on behalf of Queen Elizabeth
I, and Buckland was just one of about 40 properties purchased by him
in the county. Between his numerous sea voyages, Drake remained at
Buckland Abbey for 14 years but never really stamped his own personality on this strange
country mansion. In 1988 Simon Whistler was commissioned to create
four beautiful engraved glass panels to commemorate the 400th
anniversary of the Spanish Armada's defeat, and these have been set
in the windows of the stair well.
Buckland Abbey was the Drake ancestral home until the early 1940s, when it was presented to the National Trust,
following serious fire damage. It had already suffered greatly through
the years as a result of long periods of unoccupancy and several programmes
of restoration work were carried out. During the 18th century
the architect, Samuel Pepys Cockerell, was employed to revitalise the
property, and in 1915, when Lord and Lady Seaton inherited the house,
further major restoration was carried out, in particular to the chapel.
Some of the wonderful stained glass seen in the chapel was apparently
rescued from Rheims Cathedral after the First World War.
With the massive old barn dating from Cistercian times, Buckland Abbey retains a good deal of monastic
influence incorporated in the distinctly Grenville house, delightfully
punctuated by the sea-faring adventures of the most renowned Elizabethan
pioneer, Sir Francis Drake. |
