Flaxley Abbey

Flaxley Abbey stands in the Forest of Dean near the village of Flaxley in Gloucestershire. It began as a Cistercian monastery founded in 1151 by Roger Fitzmiles, the 2nd Earl of Hereford. The monks came from Bordesley Abbey in Worcestershire. The abbey gained royal favour under Henry II and Henry III, who granted it lands and woods. Edward III visited often and gave the abbey income from Forest of Dean rents. After the Dissolution in 1536, Sir William Kingston turned part of the abbey into a manor house. The house passed to James Boevey in 1648, a London merchant and philosopher. His daughter-in-law Catherina Boevey later bequeathed it to Thomas Crawley, whose family became the Crawley-Boeveys. They rebuilt the house in the 18th century under architect Anthony Keck. The family lived there until 1960. After 1962, the interior and gardens were redesigned by Oliver Messel in a modern style. Visitors find a Grade I listed country house set in landscaped grounds. The Dutch-style gardens once laid out by Catherina Boevey are gone, but the setting remains. The house reflects its long history through its architecture and family portraits. The Forest of Dean surrounds the estate, offering quiet walks and woodland views. The abbey’s past is visible in its stonework and the stories of its notable residents.