Buckland Abbey facts for kids
Buckland Abbey is a grand 700-year-old house located in Buckland Monachorum, near Yelverton, Devon, England. It's famous for its connections to two important historical figures: Sir Richard Grenville the Younger and Sir Francis Drake. Today, the National Trust looks after this amazing place.
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Contents
Discovering Buckland Abbey's Past
Buckland Abbey started its life as a Cistercian abbey in 1278. It was founded by Amicia, Countess of Devon. An abbey is a place where monks or nuns live and worship. Buckland was one of the last Cistercian abbeys built in England and the most western one.
The main church building was quite large, about 37.6 meters (123 feet) long. The width across the transepts (the arms of the cross-shaped church) was 28 meters (92 feet). The main part of the church, called the nave and presbytery, was 10.1 meters (33 feet) wide.
The monks at the abbey were good at managing their land. They had several farms, called granges, and even a home farm right at the abbey. In 1318, they were allowed to hold a market and a fair, which helped them earn money. In 1337, King Edward III gave the monks special permission to "crenellate." This meant they could add battlements and defenses to their buildings, making them look more like a castle!
In the 1400s, the monks built a huge Tithe Barn. This barn is 180 feet (55 meters) long and is still standing today! It's a very important historical building.
Buckland Abbey remained a monastery until King Henry VIII decided to close down all the monasteries in England. This was known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries. After the abbey closed, the Abbot (the head monk) received a yearly payment, and the other 12 monks also shared some money.
From Abbey to Home: A New Chapter
In 1541, King Henry VIII sold Buckland Abbey to Sir Richard Grenville the Elder. He was a poet and soldier. Sir Richard, along with his son Sir Roger Grenville, started to change the abbey into a grand house. They even renamed it Buckland Greynvile.
Sadly, Sir Roger died in 1545 when his ship, the Mary Rose, sank during a battle. His son, also named Richard Grenville, was only three years old. This younger Richard finished turning the abbey into a home in 1575–76.
After 40 years, Sir Richard the younger sold Buckland Greynvile in 1581. He didn't know that the buyers were secretly working for Sir Francis Drake, a famous explorer and sailor whom Grenville didn't like.
It was quite unusual how Buckland Abbey was changed. Usually, when abbeys were turned into homes, most of the church was pulled down. But at Buckland, the church building itself became the main part of the new house!
Sir Francis Drake lived in the house for 15 years. Many of his relatives also lived there over the centuries. In 1947, the property was given to the National Trust, so everyone could enjoy its history.
Buckland Abbey Today: What to See
After some important repairs, Buckland Abbey opened to the public in 1951. The National Trust runs it with help from Plymouth City Council. Inside, you can see parts of the Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery collection. One of the most famous items is "Drake's Drum," which legend says will beat if England is in danger.
You can also explore independent craft workshops in the old ox sheds. The Cider House garden has both wild plants and a kitchen garden where food is grown. There's also a medieval Great Barn next to the house, which is very impressive.
In 2013, a painting at Buckland Abbey, thought to be by a student, was confirmed to be a real Rembrandt self-portrait! This painting, showing a man wearing a white feathered bonnet, is now worth a lot of money.
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Tower
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Tithe barn
Creating History: The Costume Group
The National Trust has a special Costume Group that works at Buckland Abbey. They create amazing, real-looking Elizabethan costumes. They use traditional materials and old methods, just like people did hundreds of years ago.
They have already made a complete costume for Sir Francis Drake, based on his famous portrait. Now, they are busy working on a costume for Lady Drake, also inspired by an old painting. It's a great way to see history come to life!
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Portrait of Sir Francis Drake, National Gallery (artist unknown, c. 1580)
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The completed Francis Drake Costume with Linda Bainbridge, a member of the Costume Group
See also
- Drake baronets
- Fuller baronets
- Baron Seaton
- Cestui que
