A new idea for this blog that I’ve been toying with over the past few months is writing posts about random places I visit, so that’s where we’re heading with this one – Rufford Abbey.
Rufford Abbey is a country estate situated a little north of Nottingham, which is where I moved away from a couple of years ago. These days it’s essentially a country park with the remains of a once grand building attached. Much of it is now derelict or long gone, but the grounds are lively, with little shops, gardens, a playground and even an adventure golf area for families.
The site originally came into being as a refuge for Cistercian monks but has suffered centuries of weather and decay, destroying much of the structure. What still stands is a Jacobean house and the ruins of one impressive wing right as you walk in. We saw a handy diagram showing that the abbey was once five or six times larger, complete with a charming courtyard at its centre – it was a place to live, work and farm for the Cistercians who strongly believed in self-sufficiency.
Subsequent research informs me that the remains of the west cloister are among the best preserved of any Cistercian abbey in the UK(!). This section includes a rather dank underground area filled with ornamental carvings and more modern displays. I thought it was pretty cool.
Another history lesson tells me that the abbey fell into disrepair around 1530 when Henry VIII (or ‘Henners’ as my girlfriend calls him) dissolved the monasteries after breaking with the Church of Rome. The estate passed into the hands of the Savile family around 1625, giving the place a new lease of life as they expanded and developed it throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. One interesting addition they made was a corn mill situated at the far end, just past the lake, which also has a small bridge known as a folly (an architectural term for a decorative building designed to create a dramatic focal point in a landscape).
The estate later became costly to maintain and was eventually sold serving as a base for troops during the Second World War (as well as housing Italian prisoners of war). It then came under the ownership of Nottinghamshire County Council who have been maintaining the site for the best part of 75 years — although they did demolish the north and east wings which they deemed beyond repair (sad).
All in all, a thoroughly successful trip from Leeds. We were back in just over an hour. My girlfriend didn’t even mind that, while driving into the car park, I suddenly realised I’d already been here two years ago.
– Mitch
