A vision of Britain through time
A vision of Britain from 1801 to now.
Including maps, statistical trends and historical descriptions.
A vision of Britain through time
A vision of Britain from 1801 to now.
Including maps, statistical trends and historical descriptions.
FORD-ABBEY, a hamlet in Thorncombe parish, Dorset; on the river Axe, at the boundary with Somerset, 4 miles SSE of Chard. The abbey from which it takes its name was built, in the time of King Stephen, for Cistertian monks; was erected in lieu of a previous abbey at Brightley, near Okehampton in Devon, founded by Richard de Brioniis; was endowed and patronized by Adeliza or Alice de Brioniis; passed, in the time of Henry II., to the Courtenays; was restored, adorned, and extended by its last abbot, Thomas Chard; was given, at the dissolution, to Richard Pollard, who was afterwards knighted; passed to the families Poulett, Rosewell, Prideaux, and Gwyn; and was sold, in 1847, to G. W. F. Miles, Esq. The buildings escaped demolition or damage, both at the dissolution and in the civil war; were altered and extended by Inigo Jones; and are now the finest specimen of a monastic edifice in England. The main front faces a terrace and a lawn; presents a long range of façade, adorned with sculpture, and much coloured with lichens and mosses; and comprises chapel, cloister, saloon, porch, tower, refectory, and state apartments. The chapel continues principally as built in the time of Stephen; is mainly Norman, or transition Norman, but with Tudor east window; and has a vaulted roof with pendants, a finely carved screen, and a pulpit. The cloister, the tower, and the refectory are the work of Thomas Chard; continue nearly as he left them; and bear his initials, and the arms of the families of Courtenay, Poulett, and Prideaux. The cloister measures 82 feet in length, and has been converted into a conservatory The refectory is 55 feet long and 28 feet high; has four large Tudor windows; and has been converted into a hall. The saloon and the state apartments are the work of Inigo Jones; present the characteristic features of his style; and were formerly adorned with elaborate old English furniture and famous tapestries. Jeremy Bentham tenanted the abbey in 1815-7, and wrote here some of his works.
(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))
| Linked entities: | |
|---|---|
| Feature Description: | "a hamlet" (ADL Feature Type: "populated places") |
| Administrative units: | Thorncombe AP/CP Dorset AncC |
| Place: | Ford Abbey |
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