Forde Abbey, comprising the house and the gardens, lies in an almost secret location in the Axe valley near Chard Junction Station. There is plenty of evidence of its past as a Cistercian monastery. The house and gardens are open to the public. We like this place!
In Robert Morden's 1787 map (left), Forde was in Devon but the parish of Thorncombe in which it lies was transferred to Dorsetshire, for administrative purposes, in 1842. Bacon's 1900 map (bottom left) show it just within Dorset.
General View (from south) - 1900

<  larger version

Entrance Tower - 1900

<  larger version

Abbey Cloister - 1900

<  larger version

General View - 1900

<  larger version

Rear view (from north-west) - 1900

<  larger version

General View - 1900

<  larger version

Plan of Ford Abbey - 1900

<  larger version

Entrance Hall - 1900

<  larger version

Staircase - 1900

<  larger version

Tower Front View- 1900

<  larger version