Visit to Forde Abbey and Gardens (Exeter Branch)

Forde Abbey
Photo: Margaret Wilby

This year’s country house excursion will be to Forde Abbey, near Chard, Somerset. Originally built over 900 years ago for Cistercian monks, it was transformed from a monastic dwelling to a post-Renaissance palace largely by the Prideaux family in the 1600s.

Today it is run by the Kennard family who inherited the property in 2009. Special attractions include the early 17th century Mortlake tapestries, which were based on the internationally acclaimed Raphael cartoons at London’s V&A Museum, and the Undercroft Tearoom with its medieval vaulted ceiling. The 30-acre garden will also be on show as well as a working walled kitchen garden, lakes and cascades.

The £18 cost per person includes the hire of a coach and a tour of the house and gardens. Details, such as pick-up times and locations, will be available later for those who express an interest.

Note that this is not a National Trust property and the house tour is unsuitable for wheel chair users because of the staircases.