A Grand Entrance

Historic manor houses were frequently built to show off how rich and influential their owners were. Waverley Abbey House is no exception, with its grand double flight of stone steps leading to the original main entrance.

This Georgian house was built in 1723 by Sir John Aislabie, a former Chancellor of the Exchequer. It stands on land overlooking the remains of Waverley Abbey, the first Cistercian monastery in the UK founded by William Gifford, Bishop of Winchester, in 1128. The abbey was suppressed in 1536 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII, and much of it was dismantled, with some used in the construction the original house.

The abbey has long been a pleasant and interesting afternoon trip out. A  café in the house, first opened to the public last year, is now an even bigger attraction!