Cleeve Abbey TA23 0PS
Free for EH members
Open: Seasonal - See website

About:
Founded over 800 years ago, Cleeve Abbey in Somerset housed a community of Cistercian monks for almost 350 years. At its peak it was home to 28 monks. The whole monastery was complete by the late 13th century, and some 200 years later the monks lavished funds on renovating the cloister buildings and creating a magnificent new dining hall.

After the abbey’s suppression in 1536 the church was destroyed, but the cloister survived virtually intact. Today Cleeve has some of the best-preserved monastic buildings in England, with many rooms retaining traces of their original decoration.
Parking:
There are approximately 50 spaces in the free car park. This is located 70 metres from the entrance of the site, which is a further 150 metres from the admission point via a tarmac and cobbled entrance bridge. Visitors will need to cross a road (lane) in order to reach the site entrance from the car park. There are no marked parking bays for coaches on site, so availability is dependant on the number of cars already parked. As a rule of thumb however, there is typically space for around two coaches on any one day.

Food and drink:
There is a vending machine selling hot drinks. The on-site shop also sells a selection of snacks including cold drinks, confectionery and ice-cream.

Picnic area:
You are welcome to bring a picnic to eat in the grounds. There are seven benches and two picnic tables located around the Abbey, and of course lots of grass on which to lay out your picnic blanket. If the weather is bad, then visitors are encouraged to eat their picnics in the Education Room (when not booked by a school group).

Shop:
The shop is located within the ticket office selling a selection of English Heritage gifts and themed souvenirs, as well as light refreshments.

Toilets:
There are separate male, female and disabled toilets, including baby changing facilities located on the main site.

Dogs:
Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds only. Assistance dogs welcome across the site.

Exhibition:
On the ground floor (wheelchair access via ramp) visitors will find an exhibition on the history of the Abbey and monastic life. This includes one exhibition case of artefacts which have been found on the site.

On the first floor (no wheelchair access unfortunately) visitors will find an exhibition about historic wall-paintings, which includes a video loop and display boards, and another about how the encaustic tiles present at the Abbey were made. This includes one exhibition case displaying examples of the tiles found here.

Gardens:
There is a grassed area completely surrounding the Abbey buildings, which varies in size but extends at least 100 metres to the perimeter fence.

Note:
There is disabled access to the grounds and ground floor of the Abbey (including the disabled toilet) only. There is one ramp, and two crossing points for wheelchairs where areas of foundation walls have been flattened to allow access. Unfortunately there is no wheelchair access to the first floor, or to the two rooms on the second floor. There is however a non-audio touch screen tour on the ground floor for those who are not able to get upstairs. Please note: One wheelchair is available upon request.

There are four staircases throughout the site - two medieval in nature (e.g. uneven) and two modern. In addition, there is a small set of four steps (modern) between differing ground floor levels - these are also accompanied by handrails.

The pathways are mostly bonded gravel, although visitors will also need to walk across some grassed areas.

There are horses in the field adjacent to the Abbey. Visitors are asked not to feed the horses.

Contact:
Website: www.english-heritage.org.uk
Tel: 0370 3331181