Coombe Abbey

During the 12th century, the building was known as the Abbey of Cumbe, and was the largest and most influential monastery in Warwickshire. The land was given to the Cistercian monks by Richard de Camville, of Didleton Castle. They accepted the gift, and sent out an advance party of monks, who, living in temporary wooden buildings, began the building of a monastery dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. Among these monks was one called Martin who was to be the first Abbot of the new House which opened in 1150. It was the fifth daughter house of Waverley Abbey. Numerous gifts of land were made to the monks during the four hundred years of their occupation and they owned land in many counties. In…

During the Craven ownership, the abbey was extensively developed, with various buildings added, such as the west wing in 1677. The first owner was the son of Lady Elizabeth Craven Lieutenant General William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven. Lieutenant General William Craven (1608-1687) was a Royalist and at the age of 24 he enlisted to serve in the cause of restoring the King and Queen of Bohemia Frederick and Elizabeth (formerly Princess Elizabeth) to their throne in Germany. He spent most of his life in this cause and gained favour with her brother King Charles I and the subsequent Kings of England. In 1662, Elizabeth died and left William Craven her collection of Stuart Family paintings which…