Hartland Abbey is the lived-in family home of the Stucley family. Although it was built in the 12th century, remaining as a monastery for 400 years and passing through the female line three times, it has never been sold. Consequently, it contains collections of pictures, furniture and porcelain which have accumulated over many generations. The story of the Abbey mirrors local and national history at every turn. It has a friendly and lived-in atmosphere, so often absent in many of our nation’s historic houses, a point continually remarked upon by those who visit us.

As parents enjoy the Abbey, children can join in by doing the quiz.    The quiz is educational and fun.  Everyone receives a prize.   We have specifically refrained from offering modern hype - children who visit the Abbey will find Old Fashioned Fun.  The donkeys Nutmeg, Bluebell and Snowdrop, the Black Welsh Mountain sheep, the bantams and of course the peacocks all fascinate children.   The Kitchen Garden shows children how vegetables are grown.  The small winding paths in the woodland gardens are fun to explore, the birds, butterflies and wild flowers make fascinating moments. There is so much to see and do, lots of space to run about and feel free. You will wonder where the time went!

GARDENS  

History
From 1157-1539 the Augustinian canons lived and gardened in this hidden paradise. In the 18thC woodland gardens were created on either side of the Abbey with woodland walks leading to walled gardens, built to be sheltered from the worst of the Atlantic gales. In the late 19th/early 20thC Gertrude Jekyll was a frequent guest at the Abbey and was instrumental in helping Marion, Lady Stucley create the intimate paths and small terraces of the Baronet’s Bog Garden, Victorian Fernery and Camellia Garden.
With the outbreak of World War I in 1914 the garden staff of 15 all but disappeared and the gardens and grounds became overgrown and virtually lost until the 1950s when Sir Dennis and Lady Stucley, both keen and knowledgeable gardeners, with a skeleton staff, started to clear some of the Woodland Gardens and part of the Walled Gardens. They planted much of the large collection of camellias, hydrangeas and eucryphias; they cleared large areas of bamboo and replanted many rhododendrons and azaleas which were removed from Moreton House at Bideford, another Stucley home, now Grenville College. These all thrive today.

In 1996 on the death of Sheila, Lady Stucley the present owners started a programme of more clearing and replanting. Huge areas of bramble and thick undergrowth were cleared and the Victorian Fernery, lost since 1914 reemerged almost unscathed from almost a century of neglect. Many small Jekyll paths and terraces have also been uncovered and are now being replanted. The Walled Gardens had become neglected but in 1997 work started to remove the perennial weeds and in 1998 they were opened as an ongoing project. Now they are flourishing again and visitors will see many exciting new plantings!

 
Location

5miles W of Clovelly through Hartland Village en route to Hartland Quay. Turn off A39 - 15 m W of Bideford, 15m N of Bude. M5 Junction27 follow N. Devon link road to Hartland. Nearest airports Exeter and Bristol. Trains to Barnstaple via Exeter. Local bus service from Barnstaple station and Bideford to Hartland village. For walkers enjoying the scenery of the Southwest Coastal Path why not make a visit to the Abbey part of your journey.  
Local accommodation available.