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Waverley Abbey House

Waverley Abbey
Waverley Abbey 03.jpg
The ruins of Waverley Abbey
Waverley Abbey is located in Surrey
Waverley Abbey
Location within Surrey
Monastery information
Full name The Abbey of the Blessed Mary of Waverley
Order Cistercian
Established 1128
Disestablished 1536
Mother house L'Aumône Abbey, Normandy, France
Dedicated to St Mary
People
Founder(s) William Giffard, Bishop of Winchester
Site
Location Borough of Waverley, Surrey, England
Coordinates 51°12′00″N 0°45′36″W / 51.200°N 0.760°W / 51.200; -0.760
Visible remains Ruins
Public access Yes: Free of Charge
Managed by English Heritage

Coordinates: 51°12′00″N 0°45′36″W / 51.200°N 0.760°W / 51.200; -0.760

Waverley Abbey was the first Cistercian abbey in England. It was founded in 1128 by William Giffard, Bishop of Winchester. Located in Farnham, Surrey, about 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of the town centre, the abbey is situated on a floodplain, surrounded by current and previous channels of the River Wey. It was damaged on more than one occasion by severe flooding, resulting in rebuilding in the 13th century. Despite being the first Cistercian abbey in England, and being motherhouse to several other abbeys, Waverley was "slenderly endowed" and its monks are recorded as having endured poverty and famine.

The abbey was closed in 1536 as part of King Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries. Subsequently largely demolished, its stone was reused in local buildings, including "Waverley Abbey House", which was built in 1723 in the northern portion of the former abbey precinct.

Waverley Abbey House, the ruins of the abbey and the surrounding land are all part of a conservation area. The house is a Grade II* Listed building and the ruins a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The ruins of the abbey are currently managed by English Heritage and open to the public.

Waverley Abbey was founded by Bishop William Giffard on 24 November 1128. The first abbot and 12 monks were brought from L'Aumône Abbey in Normandy, France.


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