Abbeys & priories · South West England
Tavistock Abbey
In or near Buckland Monachorum.
Tavistock Abbey — ruined Benedictine abbey in Devon, England, UK.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 45 min–1.5 h
- Nearest railway station
- Gunnislake · 6.4 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Tavistock Abbey, the nearest railway station is Gunnislake, located 6.4 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is PL19 8BB. Accessibility is limited for wheelchair users.
About
Tavistock Abbey is an abbey, priory, or monastic site in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to AD 901. Built in the Gothic architecture style. Heritage designation: scheduled monument. Affiliated with Catholicism. Wikidata describes it as: "ruined Benedictine abbey in Devon, England, UK". Coordinates: 50.5492°, -4.1445°.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2024
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Heritage listing
Tavistock Abbey, also known as the Abbey of Saint Mary and Saint Rumon, is a ruined Benedictine abbey in Tavistock, Devon. The Abbey was surrendered in 1539 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Nothing remains of the abbey except the refectory, two gateways and a porch. The abbey church, dedicated to Our Lady and St Rumon, was destroyed by Danish raiders in 997 and rebuilt under Lyfing, the second abbot.
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Official information
Tavistock Museum is a community museum located in the historic Court Gate of Tavistock. It showcases the town's rich history, including exhibitions on the Medieval Abbey, local hero Sir Francis Drake, and the area's mining heritage. The museum also features interactive displays and has made significant improvements in accessibility for all visitors.
Protected designations
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Tamar Valley
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Tavistock Abbey, also known as the Abbey of Saint Mary and Saint Rumon, is a ruined Benedictine abbey in Tavistock, Devon. The Abbey was surrendered in 1539 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Nothing remains of the abbey except the refectory, two gateways and a porch. The abbey church, dedicated to Our Lady and St Rumon, was destroyed by Danish raiders in 997 and rebuilt under Lyfing, the second abbot. The church was further rebuilt in 1285 and the greater part of the abbey between 1457 and 1458.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
Older historians thought the abbey was founded in 961 by Ordgar, Ealdorman of Devon, in 981 the charter of confirmation was granted by King Æthelred the Unready, Ordwulf's nephew. It was endowed with lands in Devon, Dorset and Cornwall, and became one of the richest abbeys in the west of England.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 50.5492, -4.1445
- County
- Devon
- District
- West Devon
- Parish
- Tavistock
- Postcode
- PL19 8BB
- Parliamentary constituency
- Torridge and Tavistock
- Nearest railway station
- Gunnislake — 6.4 km
- Opening
- 11 am – 3 pm Tuesday – Saturday from 9 May to 31 October 2026; all other times by prior arrangement only
Sources
- wikidata: Q2820734 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Tavistock Abbey (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: TavistockAbbey.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Tavistock Abbey?
- Tavistock Abbey is in Devon, South-West England, United Kingdom (postcode PL19 8BB), in the parish of Tavistock.
- What is Tavistock Abbey?
- Tavistock Abbey — ruined Benedictine abbey in Devon, England, UK.
- How do I get to Tavistock Abbey?
- The nearest railway station is Gunnislake, about 6.4 km away. Drivers can use postcode PL19 8BB.
- When was Tavistock Abbey built?
- Dates from the Anglo-Saxon period.
- Is Tavistock Abbey a listed building?
- Tavistock Abbey is officially recognised as scheduled monument listed.
- Is Tavistock Abbey a protected site?
- Yes — Tavistock Abbey is part of the Tamar Valley National Landscape (AONB).
- How do I get to Tavistock Abbey?
- The nearest railway station is Gunnislake, about 6.4 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode PL19 8BB.