Buckland Abbey

Buckland Abbey dates back to 1278, when it was founded as a Cistercian monastery. It was the last one built in medieval England and Wales. Monasteries were woven into the fabric of medieval society, as they weren’t simply centres of worship, but also places of learning and charity. As these estates often had large landholdings, monasteries were often immensely wealthy and politically influential. The Cistercians – known as ‘white monks’ due to their undyed habits – were a branch of the Benedictine Order, following strict routines. They believed in the importance of a life of austerity, prayer and manual labour. The monks worked as ploughmen, dairymen, shepherds, carpenters and masons. In fact, their farming skills and investment in local industry eventually made the order one of the richest and most influential.