The Abbey.
Waverley Abbey is spectacular before you even arrive. The drive there takes you past tiny hamlets, old timbered and stone houses, quiet lanes and the sort of countryside that makes you slow down without meaning to. By the time you reach the ruins, it already feels like you’ve found somewhere very special tucked away in the Surrey countryside.
The Abbey is in Waverley Lane, near Farnham, Surrey, GU9 8EP. It sits by the River Wey, in a quiet riverside setting. Farnham Castle was closed the day we went, but it looks gorgeous, so if you have time I recommend checking whether it is open and popping in after the abbey.
The Abbey itself is in the most picturesque lake side setting and as you stroll through these very old ruins I challenge you not to take 100 photos!
Brief History
- The Abbey was founded in 1128, making it the first Cistercian monastery in Britain.
- It was founded by William Giffard, Bishop of Winchester. A small group of monks came from France, from L’Aumône Abbey in Normandy.
- It was a Cistercian abbey, so it was a religious community for monks. The Cistercians were known for a simpler, stricter monastic life, prayer, work and self-sufficiency. English Heritage says Waverley became the “springboard” for Cistercian settlement in southern England.
- The remains include the 13th-century vaulted refectory, which was the dining hall for the lay brothers, who were the abbey’s labour force.
Floods
- The abbey was built on a flood plain near the River Wey. In 1201, most of the abbey buildings were badly damaged by flooding, and the abbey was rebuilt in the 13th century. Historic England notes that the surviving buildings mainly date from that rebuilding period.
- There were further floods, including one in 1233, reportedly up to 8 feet high, and another in 1265, when the lower buildings flooded and the monks had to take refuge in the church.
The End of the Abbey
The End of the Abbey
I have been travelling around England for just over two months and I can without a doubt say that my day exploring Waverley Abbey is one of my very favourite places, and the best part is it is free.
It is an absolute scenic, peaceful spot which makes a perfect spot for a picnic or you can eat at the cafe on the grounds. Stroll along the river and admire the swans, geese and ducks that call the Abbey home.
The ruins are so very ancient and just touching these amazing structures that have survived King Henry’s wrecking ball seems very humbling as you run your hands along the warm stone. This place really landed in a deeply personal space for me which surprised me. Was it the stunning little hamlets you drive through to get there, the history of the abbey, the peaceful riverside setting, or the ancient ruins themselves? Probably all of it.
I cannot recommend Waverley Abbey enough. It is peaceful, ancient, beautiful, free to visit, and somehow far more moving than I expected. I am fairly sure that once you go, Waverley Abbey will capture you too, in its quiet, ruined, ancient grasp.
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