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203:, and de Pemberton was its inaugural warden. In 1951, the community converted part of the north of the building into a chapel, and have made numerous other alterations over the subsequent decades including a beach chapel and a youth and activity centre, built in 2004 on the site of an old dairy barn. The building was designated as a
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A large landslide resulted in the loss of 9 acres (3.6 ha) of the estate to the sea in 1785, when it was under the ownership of a John Clarke. The house and lands began to fall into disrepair in the early 19th century, until being bought by a land agent and surveyor named
Charles Bailey, who had
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historical environment record as "a farm house with gabled ends and a gabled long porch in the centre with two long benches in the thickness of the walls inside, all roofed with thatch". The de
Wichelsea family remained at Lee for around eighty years, Hugh being buried at the Lynton parish church on
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After Bailey's death the estate was sold and converted into a luxury hotel and golf course. The house was extended during this period, with a new section including a dining room built on the south of the building. The hotel was not ultimately a success, as the
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When the school returned to Sussex after the war, de
Pemberton decided to purchase the building outright for use as a Christian centre. It was in poor condition at the time, but after renovation the facility opened in 1946, with a ceremony by the
195:. During the school holidays in 1943 and 1944, Roger de Pemberton, a clergyman, rented Lee Abbey for one of several religious house parties which he had been running for young people since before the outbreak of war.
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his death and his son John taking over the farmhouse. According to a 19th-century tale written by Lynton vicar
Matthew Mundy, entitled the "Story of Jennifred", the De Wichelhases in 1685 made an alliance with
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in 1627, settling in the farmhouse at the site of Lee Abbey, then known as the "Grange Farm of Lee". De
Wichehalse made extensive renovations and extensions to the farmhouse, which is described in the
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155:, and then perished at sea after being pursued by the king's forces. In fact, they remained at Lee until 1713, but by that time they could no longer afford to live there, and they lost the estate.
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to Lee Abbey. After the war the dilapidated buildings were bought for use as a
Christian retreat, and extensive building work has taken place from the 1950s to the present day.
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in
Somerset. It is not known what the monks used the land for, but it is likely they built a farmhouse close to where the abbey now stands, and it may have been used as a
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167:. He then renamed the estate to "Lee Abbey". Bailey died in 1858, and his son Charles F. Bailey took over the estate, remaining there until his own death in 1919.
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There is a beach with parking (a small donation is required), and there are wash rooms, a tea shop (not open
Sundays or during the winter) and an occasional shop.
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of 1086, in which it is recorded as "Ley". The first known ownership dates to 1199 when Henry de Tracey, a Norman knight, gifted the land to the community of
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By the 17th century, the land had passed into the possession of Hugh de
Wichehalse, a member of a large Devon family originally based at
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in
Somerset. In around 1850, Bailey replaced the old farmhouse with the modern building, which he constructed as a country house in the
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built a successful business in a range of property-related functions, including as a government expert witness, and was based at
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The site now offers retreats, group weekends and Christian family holidays. The community also has accommodation in London.
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buildings are from the 1850s. In the 1920s it was bought and used unsuccessfully as a hotel. During
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The earliest record of the site currently occupied by Lee Abbey is in the
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The first building on the site may have been a farmhouse built by
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The Historic Environment Record for Exmoor National Park
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Lynton and Lynmouth: A Pageant of Cliff & Moorland
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Nondenominational Christian societies and communities
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The Origins of Lexham Gardens and Lee Abbey in London
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364:Landed families of Britain and Ireland
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448:"LEE ABBEY, WITH WALLS AND GATEWAY"
592:Christian ecumenical organizations
587:Grade II listed buildings in Devon
134:epidemic in Barnstaple and nearby
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562:Buildings and structures in Devon
358:Nick Kingsley (2 February 2018).
331:"MDE1032 - Lee Abbey (Building)"
175:forced two separate owners into
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532:Lee Abbey Christian Community
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360:"(320) Bailey of Lee Abbey"
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257:"History of the Buildings"
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205:Grade II listed building
473:"History of the School"
387:Gladys Skelton (1917).
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557:Christianity in Devon
415:David Weekes (1996).
226:. churchnewspaper.com
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511:51.2278°N 3.8663°W
306:. Lee Abbey London
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284:. Lee Abbey
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67:Forde Abbey
546:Categories
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211:References
124:Barnstaple
101:Cistercian
65:abbots of
63:Cistercian
34:ecumenical
537:Lee Abbey
502:3°51′59″W
310:14 August
304:"History"
288:14 August
261:Lee Abbey
207:in 1973.
120:Chudleigh
79:evacuated
44:Woody Bay
40:community
37:Christian
30:Lee Abbey
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161:Nynehead
153:James II
136:Bideford
48:Lynmouth
42:between
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91:History
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230:5 July
52:Devon
484:2020
459:2020
423:ISBN
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