Unit 1
BUCKLAND ABBEY
A Site Survey
This unit is working towards the following assignment:
Question 1
Visitors see Buckland Abbey as the home of the famous Sir
Francis Drake.
But it was not built as a family home.
What evidence is there that Buckland Abbey was once a working
monastery? Use your knowledge of the site, other sources and
your knowledge of life in a medieval monastery to support your
answer.
Question 2
Imagine that an expert wants to prove that it was in Tudor times
that Buckland changed from being a monastery to becoming a
house.
Which would be the best feature at the house (INSIDE and
OUTSIDE) for an expert to use to prove that the changes
happened in Tudor times?
Explain your answer.
Question 3
Many people would say that the National Trust and others have
chosen to use Buckland Abbey to represent Drake as a hero.
a)
b)
c)
How have the National Trust and others done it?
Why do you think the National Trust and others have
chosen to do this?
Use your own knowledge and other sources to challenge the
interpretation that Drake was a hero.
When you read through the 3 questions, it is clear that you will need to investigate
the following:
What were the typical features and location of a monastery?

How and why were monasteries dissolved?

What were the typical features of a Tudor house, fit for a nobleman?

Who was Francis Drake? What were his achievements? What did his enemies think
of him?

What exactly is the National Trust? How have they portrayed Drake? Do you think
their interpretation is accurate?
The Overview – 4 Distinct Lives
TASK 1
Buckland Abbey has had four distinct lives. Use the enclosed time-line to make your
own version.
For each life:
Give a start and finish date.

Explain Buckland’s function then.

Highlight how it’s change of use might destroy valuable clues or
evidence.

Highlight any gaps or problems with evidence.
BUCKLAND ABBEY – TIME-LINE
LIFE No 1 – Cistercian Monastery
The Abbey was founded in 1273 by Amicia, Countess of Devon. She wanted to
set up a monastery so that the monks would pray for the souls of her family
and her royal friends. The Cistercian order of monks, which she chose for
Buckland Abbey, was particularly strict. They preferred to live in remote
places, away from all distractions; in those days Buckland was a very remote
place.
The monastery needed a large income in order to support the monks’ lives of
prayer and meditation. Amicia gave Buckland 20,000 acres of land, mainly in
West Devon. The centre of the life of the monastery was the church, where the
monks met for seven services a day. It was a cross-shaped building with a low
tower. Then there were all the other buildings of the Abbey – dormitory,
cloisters, refectory, chapter-house, etc. There was a huge barn to store the
supplies which the Abbey farms sent to the monastery and a guest-house,
where visitors could stay. Cistercian abbeys had lots of servants and labourers,
called lay-brothers; they would have had their own accommodation too.
LIFE No 2 – Tudor House of the Grenvilles and Drakes
The monastery was dissolved in 1539 and the last 13 monks were pensioned
off. In 1541 Buckland Abbey was bought by Sir Richard Grenville for £233. By
1576 the Grenvilles had carried out the massive job of turning the Abbey into a
private house. Many buildings were pulled down, and new ones built. The
actual abbey church was ruthlessly converted into a house by putting in two
new floors; a new kitchen wing was added.
The Grenvilles were an old and famous family in Devon and Cornwall. In
1580 a new hero arrived in Plymouth – Sir Francis Drake. He had returned
from sailing round the world, laden with gold and silver for himself and the
Queen, Elizabeth I. At about the same time the Grenvilles moved out of
Buckland, and Drake bought it for £3,400. He lived here for the rest of his life,
while he was an MP and Mayor of Plymouth. From here he went to play a
leading part in the Armada campaign of 1588.
LIFE No 3 – The Drake Family House: Georgian Improvements
The descendants of Sir Francis Drake continued to live at Buckland Abbey: it
was their home and their farm. In the 18th century various improvements were
made to the house to make it more comfortable. From 1791 – 4 the farming
writer William Marshall stayed at Buckland.
On his advice, several
improvements were made to the agricultural buildings.
In 1938 a serious fire damaged part of the south side of the house; it was
carefully restored soon afterwards.
LIFE No 4 – The National Trust
In 1946 the house and other buildings were presented to the National Trust.
The Trust and the City of Plymouth furnished the House and opened it to the
public in 1951. The National Trust has recently improved facilities for visitors.
A reception area, shop, tea room and restaurant have been made by converting
buildings. Other improvements are being carried out.
Answers to Unit 1 – Task 1

LIFE No 1
The longest life as a Cistercian monastery. Founded in 1273, dissolved in 1539.
Huge self-sufficient community with vast estates. Very successful farming
enterprise with some of best wool produced in England.

LIFE No 2
Period of change and rebuilding. Henry VIII sold the monasteries, but not in
complete units, rather smaller plots to maximise his profits. Buckland was stripped
of valuable assets – lead, glass and silver/gold. Also Henry wanted to make the
property uninhabitable – so no roof, etc… Think that when it was bought by
Grenville in 1541, the church was a shell – single storey, no windows, rooms or
heating. So what did Tudors do to make a shell into a modern house with heating
and servants? What monastic clues were removed or destroyed? During Life No 2
the Grenville and Drake families lived there.

LIFE No 3
A period of agricultural improvements. Notable points – Marshall changed the barn
and added the ox sheds. A serious fire damaged the roof and south side of the house
(former church). What damage would that do to ceilings or plaster?

LIFE No 4
From 1946 National Trust took over the property. Their function is to convert and
renovate. How much has their involvement hidden monastic and Tudor clues?
TASK 2
Read “National Trust – An introduction to Buckland Abbey”

Pay particular attention to the 2 diagrams on Page 1 and 4 (copies
below)

See if you can identify features from the four lives

Which features are obviously modern additions?
Answers to Unit 1 – Task 2
NT name
Abbey
first life
shortened tower
for belfry
chimneys
not needed for a
church
transept
Tudor rectangular
windows
three floors
BUCKLAND ABBEY TODAY
Monastic features:
 The Abbey (but look how it is not in shape of cross)
 The Great Barn (best clue – as little change since 13th
century)
 Guesthouse (but see how many changes in design since
16th century)
LIFE ONE
BUCKLAND AS A MONASTRY

Research on Internet
 Life in a medieval monastery.
 Useful abbeys – Maulbronn Monastery, a world heritage site in Baden
Wurttenberg. Clairvaux Abbey.
 Also, Encarta – Life in Medieval Monasteries.

Watch the enclosed video about building an abbey.

Make notes on the key buildings and techniques.

Read the following extract from the Rules of St. Benedict
We are now going to set up a home to serve God. In
it will be nothing harsh or a burden. We will never
leave His home, but stay there until we die.
When anything that matters has to be decided in the
monastery, let the Abbot call all the monks together.
After hearing the advice of our brothers (the
monks), let him make up his own mind. Let the
brothers give their advice humbly…Quickly they
must obey commands, as they have agreed that the
Abbot should rule them.
Eight times a day let us praise our Creator. That is,
at Vigils, Lauds, Prime, Tierce, Sext, None, Vespers
and Compline.
All the monks shall sleep in separate beds. If possible
let them sleep in a bedroom together (a dormitory).
Let a candle always burn in the room until morning.
Let the monks sleep in their clothes and girdles.

The brothers are to serve each other, so that no one
can get out of work in the kitchen. He who ends his
weekly work on Saturday must clean everything. He
must wash the towels with which the brothers wipe
their hands and feet. He who finishes his work, and
he who begins, are to wash the feet of all the rest.
Monks shall be silent at all times (except for
essential conversation), especially at night. So on
coming from Compline, no one shall speak at all.
Let the brothers be given clothes that suit the
weather…. In normal places a cloak (habit) and hood
(cowl) will be enough for each monk. In winter the
habit will be of thicker cloth. He should also have a
scapular (apron) to work in and shoes and stockings.
Monks must not grumble about the colour or rough
cloth of the dress. When getting new, they must
always give back the old to be kept for the poor.
In own words, complete a chart:-
The Rule
St. Benedict’s reason for the rule
UNIT 1
TASK 4
What changes did the Grenvilles make to Buckland?
 Buckland Abbey was dissolved in 1539 and the Grenville family bought
part of the 20,000 acre estate along with the monastic buildings. Unlike
many landowners, Grenville decided to change the abbey church into a
house fit for a prosperous nobleman.
 What would it have looked like? What facilities did it lack?
 Watch the extract from the video on a Tudor House. Make notes on
the new Tudor features that Grenville would put in his home.