Buckfast Abbey

Buckfast Abbey is a working Benedictine monastery in Buckfastleigh, Devon, rebuilt in the Gothic manner with tall spires, colored glass windows, and several acres of enclosed monastery gardens. The grounds connect church, residential quarters for the monks, and landscaped green spaces into a single complex.

Monks founded the site in 1018, but Henry VIII dissolved it in 1536 and left the buildings to decay. Benedictines returned in 1882 and began rebuilding the church stone by stone, a project that took several decades to complete.

The name comes from the meeting of the River Dart with a smaller stream that once supplied the first settlement. Visitors hear Latin chants during services, sung from ancient manuscripts using notation passed down through generations, offering a direct auditory link to ongoing monastic practice.

The church and gardens remain open throughout the year, with guided tours of the monastery grounds available daily. Pathways connect all areas, though some sections run over gravel or uneven ground and require sturdy footwear.

Monks developed the Buckfast bee through selective breeding over several decades, creating a hardy honeybee strain now used by beekeepers worldwide. This breeding line resists many diseases and produces generous amounts of honey, making it popular across continents.

Location: Buckfastleigh

Inception: 11 century

Architects: Frederick Walters

Architectural style: Gothic architecture

Website: http://buckfast.org.uk

GPS coordinates: 50.49278,-3.77556

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:14