Buckland Abbey

Buckland Abbey is a 700-year-old house in Buckland Monachorum in the Tavy Valley estate, near Yelverton. Originally it was part of a Cistercian abbey founded in 1278 but after the Dissolution of the Monasteries by King Henry VIII. In 1541 it was sold to Sir Richard Grenville, who began converting it into a private residence. Unlike other similar conversions, the building retained the church as the framework of the residence. In 1581, it was sold to Sir Francis Drake and remained in his family until being acquired by the National Trust. Being owned by arguably one of England’s finest "Privateers," the building has some fine collections and items on display.