Rufford Abbey

Rufford Abbey is a country estate in Rufford, Nottinghamshire, England, two miles (4 km) south of Ollerton. Originally a Cistercian abbey, it was converted to a country house in the 16th century after Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. Part of the house was demolished in the 20th century, but the remains, standing in 150 acres of park and woodland, are open to the public as Rufford Country Park. Part of the park is a local nature reserve. The remains of the house is owned by English Heritage and the country park is owned by Nottinghamshire County Council and managed by Parkwood Leisure. The house itself is constructed of rubble, brick, dressed stone and ashlar with ashlar dressings and plain tile roofs.