The history of Churches, Cathedrals and particularly Abbeys in England is always interesting, sometimes intriguing and occasional captivating. The story of Buckfast Abbey fits all of that criteria. It was originally built in Saxon times in 1018 and was a major religious centre in Devon. As with many Abbeys, Buckfast Abbey was dissolved, looted and destroyed during the reign of King Henry VIII and with most Abbeys, that is where the story would end. For two centuries the building stayed in that state and remained unoccupied. In 1882 six Benedictine Monks arrived and stayed at the Abbey. In the early 20th century they decided to rebuild the Abbey which was the last request of one of the monks. Although they had help with the foundations, only six monks built the entire Abbey over the next few decades, using only the most primitive of building materials and little safety equipment. This was an astonishing achievement by any standards and Buckfast Abbey today is again a thriving religious centre that attracts many visitors.