Abbotsbury, Dorset

Flower Delivery to Abbotsbury, Dorset

Abbotsbury is a popular tourist destination, well-known and loved for its swannery, subtropical gardens that feature Abbotsbury flowers, and historic stone buildings. Walking through the streets in this village and civil parish in Dorset, can be likened to looking back on what the past looked like, because most of its buildings and houses have been in existence for a very long time.

Speaking of the past…

Based on archaeological interest and visual evidence, settlement in Abbotsbury has been around since 6000 years ago. The area used to be a dense woodland until presence of a nomadic tribe started grazing livestock, as suggested by crude tools found along the margins of the Fleet, a tidal inlet of water that courses between the mainland and the Chesil Bank. The first prehistoric site of the village was brought on by the invasion of a wave of farmers that created a society known as the Windmill Hill Culture.

10th-century records of King Edmund showed the granting of a land named Abbedesburi, which translates as a land that may have once belonged to an abbot. A century after this, King Canute (Cnut the Great) granted land to his Scandinavian steward Orc, where he and his wife took residence. The couple then founded the Abbotsbury Abbey, from which a community prospered.

With the numerous wars and destructions the village has experienced, its future is finally assured under the care of llchester Estate's policies.

Places of Interest

Swannery

As the only managed colony of nesting Mute Swans in the world, checking out Abbotsbury’s swannery is among the best things to do when in the village or in Dorset. The swannery is found south of the village on the shore of Fleet lagoon. It has been around for 600 years and has outlived the abbey where the previous owner (an abbot) took residence. It is opened to the public, but the best time to visit is from May through summer, when cygnets can be seen up close.

Subtropical gardens

The subtropical gardens in Abbotsbury will be 250 years old in 2015. They were founded by the Countess of Ilchester in 1765 and were primarily used as a kitchen garden for the castle nearby. Over the years, the site has grown and is now filled with flowers in Abbotsbury and exotic plants that are still newly discovered species. The entire area comprises formal and informal gardens, walled gardens and woodland walks.

Historical buildings

Tithe Barn

While the Abbotsbury Abbey that Orc and his wife founded was destroyed in the dissolution, its barn remained standing. It has become the largest thatched tithe barn in the world and is a Grade I listed building.

St Catherine’s Chapel

Standing solitary upon a hill, the St Catherine’s Chapel dominates the village. When standing on its terraced slopes, you will see the church, the entirety of Abbotsbury and even the English Channel. In fact, it is believed that it might have served as a beacon for sailors, alerting them about the Isle of Portland that sits nearby. This 14th-century chapel is made entirely of stone, from the roof to the floor.

Other tourist attractions include the Ridgeway, line of hills that protect the village from bad weather, Abbotsbury Castle, Lyme Bay and the cottages that date back to the 16th century.

There is plenty to see and do in this picturesque village, but if you just want to send flowers to Abbotsbury, we offer a range of beautiful flowers perfect for any occasion. Order flowers for delivery to Abbotsbury today to make someone happy, greet someone a happy birthday or just to say thank you.

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