Scheduled MonumentsEnglandTavistock Abbey

Tavistock Abbey

England
List entry 1020401
Nation
England
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic England (NHLE)

Overview

History & significance

Tavistock Abbey is a Benedictine monastery founded in the 10th century, established circa 974 by Count Ordgar and Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, in the valley of the River Tavy in Devon. The abbey became one of the wealthiest and most influential religious houses in the southwest, accumulating substantial estates and exercising considerable authority over the surrounding region throughout the medieval period. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1530s, the abbey was demolished and its stone was largely repurposed for local building. Today the site preserves fragmentary remains of the monastic precinct, including portions of the cloister and associated structures, though much has been lost to subsequent development and the passage of time.

Tavistock Abbey is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1020401. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Tavistock Abbey?

Tavistock Abbey is a Benedictine monastery founded in the 10th century, established circa 974 by Count Ordgar and Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, in the valley of the River Tavy in Devon. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1020401.

Who is responsible for protecting Tavistock Abbey?

Tavistock Abbey is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1020401.

What other scheduled monuments are near Tavistock Abbey?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Camp NE of Berra Tor (5.2 km), Morwellham Quay: transport infrastructure, part of the water control system and a manganese mill (5.7 km), Gawton arsenic mine and flue (6.1 km).

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