Forde Abbey

Nestling by the side of the River Axe, Forde Abbey is a lovely house and gardens situated on the Somerset-​Dorset border.
Founded in 1141, the Abbey survived the dissolution intact through virtue of being sold to the Crown in 1539. After a series of temporary landlords, it was sold to Thomas Prideaux, a supporter of Cromwell, in 1649. What we see now is essentially his conversion of the Abbey to a dwelling — albeit a magnificent one.
Much of the original Abbey, featuring late gothic and tudor architecture, survives reasonably intact, such as the Great Hall, Cloisters and Chapter House, cleverly converted to use as a Chapel. The undercroft has frescoes from the 13^th/​14^th century.
Prideaux also commissioned a series of comfortable family rooms and bedrooms, with sumptuously decorated ceilings and rich tapestries from the 17^th century. Additional furniture and paintings reflect the periods from this time to the 19^th century.
But Forde is more than just a house: it is famed for its landscaped grounds and gardens, developed in the 18^th and 19^th centuries respectively, featuring extensive use of water features such as lakes, ponds and streams. Although delightful all year round, they are at their best in high summer.