Hartland Abbey was built in the 12th century, to serve Saint Nectan's Church, and rebuilt in 1779. Situated in a wooded valley, the Abbey has lovely
informal gardens and a woodland walk down to a
beautiful secluded Atlantic cove.
Hartland Abbey in a stunning valley with its charming house, enchanting gardens and beautiful woodland walk leading to a wild Atlantic cove.
In an AONB, 1 mile from Hartland Quay with its spectacular cliff scenery and welcoming Inn, Hartland Abbey offers visitors much more than just an historic house.
A former Augustinian monastery, the Abbey was given by Henry VIII to the Keeper of his Wine Cellar whose descendants live here today. Visitors enjoy the family atmosphere, spectacular architecture, fine paintings, furniture, porcelain, fascinating museum and local art gallery. Children can enjoy the Prize Quiz. In the 18th Centuary, woodland gardens were planted leading to three secret walled gardens. Gertrude Jekyll, a guest in the early 20th Centuary, created many new features, but during the Great War the gardens disappeared under thick undergrowth. In the late 1990s Jekyll's paths and Fernery were discovered followed by restoration of the woodland and walled gardens which once again enchant with rhododendrons, camellias, hydrangeas, roses, tender and summer perennials, vegetables and fruit. Huge echium pininana thrive. Glasshouses were restored; visitors can now see the Gazebo again, overlooking the beach where a new production of Rosamunde Pilcher's 'The Shell Seekers' was filmed in 2005.
Bluebells are at their best in April whilst the cliff flowers bloom from May onwards. Wandering peacocks, black sheep and donkeys delight visitors. Delicious cream teas. Combine a visit to Hartland village with its arts and crafts, Docton Mill Gardens and Hartland Quay.
Hartland Abbey was built in
the 12th century to serve Saint Nectan's Church nearby and rebuilt in
1779. Granted by Henry VIII after the dissolution of the monastery in
1539 to the keeper of his wine cellar, it has passed down through his
family to the present owner, Sir Hugh Stucley, Bt. Situated in a wooded
valley, the Abbey also has lovely informal gardens and a woodland walk
down to a beautiful secluded Atlantic cove.
Hartland Abbey
Founded by King Harold's mother, Gytha, in 1060 as a college for secular canons, later in the 12th Century it became a priory for Augustinian monks. The original buildings and later additions were replaced in 1779 by the Gothic house that you see today. There is a substantial amount of material from the original buildings incorporated in the Abbey.
Hartland Abbey lies across a beautiful, sheltered valley by a small trout stream, only a miles walk from a spectacular Atlantic Cove.From 1157-1539 the Augustinian Canons lived and gardened in this hidden paradise. In the 18th Century shrub gardens were created either side of the abbey with a woodland walk to the walled kitchen gardens.
The winding paths in the Baronet's Bog garden, designed by Gertrude Jekll and until recently hidden by undergrowth, lead to the newly discovered Victorian Fernery and the charming secret walled garden. Being an informal mixture of tender and rare plants, summer perennials, shrubs and vegetables for the house, they are pretty in all seasons. The woodland walk to the beach is a carpet of wildflowers in spring.
- Hartland 01237 441264
- May to Sept (incl Easter Sun/Mon) Wed, Thur & Sun(plus Tue in July & Aug) 2.00pm to 5.30pm
- 15 miles west of Bideford - off A39 between Hartland and Hartland Quay
- Cafe
- Dogs on leads
Hartland Abbey was built in 1157 and consecrated by Bishop Bartholomew of Exeter in 1160AD as a monastery of the regular canons of the Order of St Augustine of Hippo. The Abbey remained as a monastery until 1539 when it became the last monastery in the country to be Dissolved by Henry VIII. The King made a gift of the Abbey to the Sergeant of his Wine Cellar at Hampton Court, Mr. William Abbot.
The Gardens at Hartland Abbey
In 1583 the first of three heiresses, Prudence Abbot, married Andrew Luttrell of Dunster Castle in Somerset and the Abbey remained in that family for some 100 years. In 1704, the second heiress, Mary Luttrell married Paul Orchard. The Orchards were to remain at the Abbey through the 18th century until the third heiress, Anne Orchard, married George Buck and moved into the Abbey on the death of her brother in 1812.
The great grandfather of the present owner, Sir Hugh Stucley Bt., who was also called George Buck changed his name to Stucley (being a much older family name) when he was created a Baronet for political services to North Devon, in 1859.
Hartland Abbey
The Abbey continues to be the lived-in home of the Stucley family.
www.hartlandabbey.com
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