Enjoy England Excellence Silver Award Winner 2008 and South West Toursism Small Attraction of the Year 2006 & 2007.
Now privately owned, Forde Abbey was founded by the Cistercians in 1140 and became one of the richest and most learned monasteries in the country. The church was demolished in the dissolution, but in 1649 Sir Edmund Prideaux transformed the Abbey into a magnificent commonwealth house. Of particular note are the splendid Mortlake tapestries and ceilings from the 1650's and the crucifixion painting dated c1320. The 30 acres of world famous gardens include a walled working kitchen garden, ponds, cascades, ionic temple, rockery, bog garden, and the Centenary Fountain, the highest-powered fountain in England.