Built by Cistercian monks almost 900 years ago Forde Abbey is one of the richest and most learned monasteries in the country. After the dissolution in 1539 the Abbey lay empty for 100 years, until in 1649 it was transformed into the magnificent house you see today. The Abbey now stands at the heart of a family run rural estate. 30 acres of award-winning gardens with cascading ponds and lakes surround this 12th Century monastery. Naturalised wildflower meadows, topiary-lined vistas, herbaceous borders, bog garden, kitchen garden and lakes with meandering pathways. Home to England’s highest-powered fountain.