Waverley Abbey

Waverley Abbey

The ruins of Waverley Abbey
Location within Surrey
Monastery information
Full name	The Abbey of the Blessed Mary of Waverley
Order	Cistercian
Established	1128
Disestablished	1536
Mother house	L'Aumône Abbey, Normandy, France
Dedicated to	St Mary
People
Founder(s)	William Giffard, Bishop of Winchester
Site
Location	Borough of Waverley, Surrey, England
Coordinates	51°12′00″N 0°45′36″W / 51.200°N 0.760°W / 51.200; -0.760
Visible remains	Ruins
Public access	Yes: Free of Charge Managed by English Heritage

Waverley Abbey was the first Cistercian abbey in England,^[1] founded in 1128 by William Giffard, the Bishop of Winchester.

Located about 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of Farnham, Surrey, it is situated on a flood-plain; surrounded by current and previous channels of the River Wey. It was damaged on more than one occasion by severe flooding, resulting in rebuilding in the 13th century. Despite being the first Cistercian abbey in England, and being motherhouse to several other abbeys, Waverley was "slenderly endowed" and its monks are recorded as having endured poverty and famine.

The abbey was suppressed in 1536 as part of King Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries. Subsequently, largely demolished, its stone was reused in local buildings, likely including "Waverley Abbey House", which was built in 1723 in the northern portion of the former abbey precinct.

Waverley Abbey House, the ruins of the abbey and the surrounding land are all part of a conservation area. The house is a Grade II* listed building^[2] and the ruins a scheduled monument.^[3]

The ruins of the abbey are currently managed by English Heritage and open to the public.