Description

ST 30 NE THORNCOMBE PARK LANE
2/121 Forde Abbey
4.12.51
GV I
Country House, formerly Cistercian Abbey, founded 1136. Dissolved 1539.
Monastic building of 12thC, 13thC, l5thC and 16thC survives. Country house
alterations and extensions of C17, C18 and modern period. Rubble walls with Ham
stone ashlar and dressings. Slate and lead roofs. Surviving work: mid C12:
Chapter House (now chapel): 2 bays of cross-rib vaulting carried on recessed
responds with scalloped capitals. Upper part rebuilt in C16 altered late C17.
East window early C16. C13 Dorter large: 13 bays of ribbed vaults dying into
polygonal central columns. Frater: lower part of walls. C15: Kitchen
fireplace Gateway at West end of building. C16 porch into Abbot's Hall. Walls
of part of Abbot's Lodging. C17: Dining room to right of porch: Main
staircase. West staircase hall. Walls of West dining room. C18. Minor
jamb features. Front (South) elevation from left to right. Drawing Room of
Abbot's Lodging - 3 storeys, 3 bays with embattled parapet, C16, altered
and rebuilt C17. Windows with moulded architraves and cornices, central upper
one round headed. West dining room similar but only 2 storeys. Abbot's Hall
early C16 - 1 storey 4 bays. Window design of stone mullions cross-transomed.
Very depressed arches with carved panels, 3 to a bay over. Buttresses with
3 set-offs. Porch, dated 1528, of 3 storeys. 3-centred arch-entrance with
2 storey orial window above. Three heraldic panels below each tier. Dining
Room with projecting verandah. 2½ storeys. Three bays wide. Ground floor;
arches, square-headed window above, and ovals above that. North alley of cloister:
7 bays of transomed 4-light windows with Y-tracery. Notable- frieze, C16.
First floor with C17 windows and embattled parapet. Chapter House of 2 storeys
with C18 windows at first floor level. Outstanding exterior features: Low
relief early renaissance sculpture to Abbot's Hall and Porch. Interior
features: plaster ceilings of 1660 to the Prideaux rooms: combining wide
bands, flowing Acanthus foliage and figure-work in central medallions. C17
screen in the chapel. West staircase of c1660 with turned balusters and
square newels with panels of fruit and foliage. Great staircase. Mid C17
enriched strings and hand-rails, panelled newels with bay-leaves and vases
of fruit and flowers. Very fine pierced panels of acanthus scrolls with
cartouches. This pattern repeated on the wall-surface. Stair-hall plaster
ceiling. Source: R.C.H.M. Dorset I, p.240ff(3).

Listing NGR: ST3592405175

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Forde Abbey at Wikipedia
• Forde Abbey official website
• Wikidata Q689615

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)