What I did on my holidays: The Abbeys
I've been on a Cadfael binge recently so when I found out that one of the finest surviving medieval monasteries in the UK wasn't that far from home, I just had to go. Cleve Abbey in Washford, Somerset is a small Cistercian abbey that was established in 1198 and was converted into a house following the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Mum and I went down on an overcast day, though it brightened up by the afternoon. To get to the abbey you have to go over a little bridge that crosses the Washford river. It was a lovely little river, fast-flowing with clear water and there were lots of damselflies including this young male beautiful demoiselle (its name, but also a perfect description), Beautiful demoiselle ( Calopteryx virgo ) The first building we see is the gatehouse, The gatehouse According to the information board it's the most complete in the country, despite being remodeled twice, Remodeling in the gatehouse The buildings are remarkably