Cleeve Abbey, Somerset.

Reconstruction of the Abbey courtesy English Heritage.

The entrance gate on the far lefthand side still stands, but the large church, top centre, no longer exists. Centre front is the refectory which exists together with its exquisitely carved angel ceiling. The buildings surrounding the cloisters still stand although not complete.

The main entrance to Cleeve Abbey is across this small bridge which sits above a crystal clear stream.   

Cleeve Abbey, a Cistercian Order, was founded in 1198 

The Latin inscription above the entrance arch to the gatehouse reads "Gate be open, shut to no honest person". The two gates, one on each side, were controlled by the Abbey Porter who handed out food or help to those in need. However, despite the welcoming words the entrance courtyard was strictly controlled by the porter. Above the entrance courtyard was a chapel and a guest house for the poor.

 Few people were allowed through to this side of the gatehouse.

This stone entrance stairway leads up to the Refectory.

Image of the Refectory courtesy English Heritage

The Refectories rare medieval tiled pavement floor has been removed to a state of the art protective shelter. Recently constructed, the building ensures that the tiles are protected for years to come. The tiles are thought to have been made in 127o in a Gloucestershire Tilery. They display a number of heraldic designs reflecting the importance of the abbeys attachment to their royal patronage enjoyed during the 13th century. 

The chevrons reflect the de Clare earls of Gloucester

The rampant lion denotes the earls of Cornwall

The three lions represent the kings of England

The double-headed eagle indicates Richard, 'King of the Romans"

The glory of the Refectory is this magnificent 'angel' oak carved ceiling.

There are twenty two projecting carved angels all connected by a carved vine trail. Each angel is supported by a corbel, decorated with an angel holding a shield. 

During the Middle Ages, Corrodians were pensioners who lived out their final years in monasteries or nunneries. They were usually well-to-do elderly lay people who paid or were sponsored for accommodation and food for the rest of their lives. The stipend itself was known as the Corrody.  A pensioner, one Edward Walker, spent his last years in the rooms above. He paid a total of £27, being the equivalent of £10,000 today. He was given bread, ale, meat and seven loads of wood per year for both himself and his servant. The abbey even cared for his two horses. This seems to be a far better deal than care for the elderly today. Currently it costs between £35,000 - £50,000 per year! 

The Chapter House - showing the Cloisters beyond

Traditionally this was where the monks met on a daily basis to discuss any outstanding business or difficulties. This photo portrays a sense of the room's faded beauty. 

These steps lead up to the dormitory from the cloisters. This entrance was known as the day stairs. 

The monastic dormitory at Cleeve is one of the finest remaining in Britain. This single large open room is where all of the monks would have slept. At one end, is a doorway to the latrines, and at the other end is a doorway leading to the night stairs. The stairs led directly into the church, enabling the monks to rise from their beds at 1.00am to visit the church for prays. 

We found a shady spot beneath the trees to eat our lunch, and were delighted to find ourselves being entertained by a large group of Swifts - Apus apus. They soared high above us like arrows shooting across the sky catching insects on the wing. Individual Swifts would dart away from the group and disappear into the top of the monasteries stone walls to their nests.