Monksilver, Stogumber, Treborough and Cleeve Abbey, Somerset

I always love visiting Cleeve Abbey, which is just a short drive up the road from Watchet in Somerset, possibly because we always pick a warm, sunny day to do it. The abbey was founded in the late twelfth century as a house for monks of the austere Cistercian order. Over its 350-year monastic history Cleeve was undistinguished amongst the abbeys of its order, frequently ill-governed and often financially troubled. The sole member of the community to achieve prominence was John Hooper, who became a bishop during the Reformation.

In 1536 Cleeve was closed by Henry VIII in the course of the Dissolution of the Monasteries and the abbey was converted into a country house. Subsequently, the status of the site declined and the abbey was used as farm buildings until the latter half of the nineteenth century when steps were taken to conserve the remains.

In the twentieth century Cleeve was taken into state care; the abbey is now looked after by English Heritage and is open to the public. Today Cleeve Abbey is one of the best-preserved medieval Cistercian monastic sites in Britain. While the church is no longer standing, the conventual buildings are still roofed and habitable and contain many features of particular interest including the 'angel' roof in the refectory and the wall paintings in the painted chamber.

For more detailed information see wiki/Cleeve_Abbey

Prior to going to The Abbey, Sal and I went to look at two nearby villages, one of which I found a few days earlier: Monksilver and the other Strogumber, which I had read about on the internet.

Monksilver was just the epitome an English Village, looking absolutely beautiful with all the summer garden flowers just about to come in to full bloom and with many of the cottages still having their thatched roofs.

Strogumber looked just the same albeit somewhat larger. Also the locals here had decorated the outside of their church with knitted flowers for the Queen's Jubilee and were also in the process of decorating the interior. I have posted photos of both villages.

On our way back to Cleeve, I took Sal to see some impressive old limestone kilns in Treborough Plantation near Roadwater which I came across on a previous visit. We had tried to find them a few days earlier but had turned back as I though we had taken the wrong road. As it turned out, we were on the right road and if we'd have carried on another half mile we would have come across them. I have not been able to find any history about them but have included photos of them as well.

All in all a very interesting and rewarding day.