Cleeve Abbey

Set by the borders of Somerset and Devon in the beautiful Washford Valley, Cleeve Abbey is all that remains of Vallis Florida, a Cistercian Abbey dating back to the 12th Century.

Cleeve Abbey was founded in 1198 by William de Roumare, the Earl of Lincoln at the time, to house Cistercian Monks from Revesbury Abbey that the Earl’s grandfather had established the previous century. The abbey housed just 28 monks and remained a small order until it was converted into a grand house in the 16th century, after it was taken by Henry VIII following the 'Dissolution of the Monasteries'. The building of the abbey church eventually took time until 1232. Early churches of the order in Burgundy had an impact on Cleeve Abbey's rather conservative design. It provides cross-links to the ideas of Saint Bernard, a high ranked Cistercian, whose parents belonged to the high nobility of Burgundy.

The most significant remains of Cleeve Abbey are its sacristy containing stunningly decorative wall paintings dating from the 13th Century, and a mosaic covered floor, which was excavated in the 19th century. The Chapter House contains its original rib vaulted roof and the Monks Dormitory has been restored to its 13th Century state offering a unique view of life for the medieval monks that once lived here.

Outside, the tranquillity of the setting includes a millstream ambling through the inner courtyard, while the wistful monastic remains blend perfectly with the scenery of the West Country.


This attraction is included in the Great British Heritage Pass.