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Coombe Abbey

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to carry out major alterations to the house at Combe. New servants' quarters were built, the east wing and part of the north wing were demolished and rebuilt in a completely different style, and ornamental gardens were laid out including a moat. The excavation of the moat involved the destruction of
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Brown was an expert at making serpentine lakes that looked like natural rivers. He dammed Smite Brook to create the main lake, Coombe Pool, and the smaller Top Pool. This sheet of water is 1.5 miles long, covers 90 acres and forms an L shape or ‘dog-leg’ that makes it appear endless. He designed also
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lay to the north of the (now demolished) church and its garth forms the present courtyard. Parts of the 15th century cloister arcades survive on the north and west sides. The lower part of the east range of buildings also remains, including the fine doorway and flanking windows of the chapter house,
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and his two sons were to be killed, leaving Princess Elizabeth as Queen. Elizabeth was to be kidnapped and a Catholic Regent appointed to rule the country in her minority, during which time she was to be married to a Catholic and educated in Catholicism. To ensure that she was unguarded at Coombe
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to live at Coombe Abbey. The King issued a Privy Seal Order which declared "we have thought fit to commit the keeping and education of the Lady Elizabeth our daughter to Lord Harington and the Lady his wife". Elizabeth lived at the Abbey for the next five years. Her tutor and chaplain were Master
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into the walled city of Coventry. The Mayor and nine other citizens mounted guard, drawing bows, pikes and other weapons from the city armoury for this purpose. When the plotters arrived at Coombe they found Elizabeth gone and fled. Most of them were killed while trying to escape, but a few were
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After the Abbey had been dissolved it passed through numerous owners for the next forty years, during which time the church was pulled down to prevent its reuse as an abbey. In 1581 it came into the possession of
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by Richard de Camville, of Didleton Castle. They accepted the gift, and sent out an advance party of monks, who, living in temporary wooden buildings, began the building of a monastery dedicated to the
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During the Craven ownership, the abbey was extensively developed, with various buildings added, such as the west wing in 1677. The first owner was the son of Lady Elizabeth Craven
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Abbey a hunting match to which Harington was invited, was arranged by the Catholic gentry to take place on 6 November 1605 at Dunchurch, only a few miles from Coombe.
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Lieutenant General William Craven (1608-1687) was a Royalist and at the age of 24 he enlisted to serve in the cause of restoring the King and Queen of Bohemia
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Numerous gifts of land were made to the monks during the four hundred years of their occupation and they owned land in many counties. In 1470
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In May 1604, the plague came to Coventry and Rugby, but Harington wrote to King James that Elizabeth was safe. Later in the year, the famous
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In 1662, Elizabeth died and left William Craven her collection of Stuart Family paintings which included pictures by such masters as
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John Harrington died in 1613 and after several changes of ownership, the Abbey was bought in 1622 by Lady Elizabeth Craven, widow of
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During the 12th century, the building was known as the Abbey of Cumbe, and was the largest and most influential monastery in
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As the plotters marched to Coombe, Lord Harington received word of the rising that morning and had sent Elizabeth to
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In 1680-91 the house was rebuilt, incorporating much of the previous structure. This work was done to designs by
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John Tovey, the headmaster of the Free School at Coventry. Elizabeth's favourite childhood companion was
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one of which was the boathouse which survives today. The menagerie in Coombe Park was also designed by
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bought Coombe Abbey with 150 acres (0.61 km) of land. The park was opened to the public in 1966.
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became King of England, Harington used his ancestry to win favour. In 1603 James sent his daughter
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The monastery was well known for its generosity in distributing gifts to the poor. Every
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and he converted the abbey into one of the most substantial houses in the county.
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Motkin, D. L. 1961 “The Story of Coombe Abbey” “Virtus in Actione Consistit “.
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the foundations of the abbey church, largely without archaeological record.
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Coombe Abbey was used as the outside of the Mayor's house in the 2009 film
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Motkin, D. L. 1961 "The Story of Coombe Abbey" "Monks Murder and Theft".
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captured and taken to London where they were executed. On 14 February,
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succeeded to become the owner of Coombe Abbey. In 1860 he engaged
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Collins Guide to the Ruined Abbeys of England, Wales and Scotland
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in the 16th century and now operates as a hotel. It is a grade I
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died unmarried in 1697 and was succeeded by his cousin's son as
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Online edition of a 1961 book called The Story of Coombe Abbey
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who later became King of Bohemia and she became the Queen.
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Harington was of Scottish descent, being a descendant of
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Coombe Abbey, view of the buildings from the main drive.
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seven other buildings on the estate with his son in law
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Christian monasteries established in the 12th century
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Information about the park from Coventry City Council
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Lieutenant General William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven
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The last Earl of Craven to live in Coombe Abbey was
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He was on his way from 1282:Grade I listed buildings in Warwickshire 251: 175: 31: 644: 533: 81:The house's original grounds are now a 14: 1312:12th-century establishments in England 1259: 1006: 719: 514:Warwickshire County Council website. 279:and the subsequent Kings of England. 27:English country house in Warwickshire 1287:Buildings and structures in Coventry 529: 527: 525: 523: 247: 538:. London: Batsford. pp. 89–90. 220:was conceived. It was planned that 24: 350:William Craven, 4th Earl of Craven 338:William Craven, 2nd Earl of Craven 25: 1338: 1292:Cistercian monasteries in England 693: 616:Royal Berkshire History website. 520: 172:Conversion to a private residence 798: 632:“Virtus in Actione Consistit “. 536:The Cistercian Abbeys of Britain 423: 403: 391: 386:The West Wing, lake and gardens. 379: 367: 311:William Craven, 6th Baron Craven 145:and he rested awhile at Coombe. 70:. 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The land was given to the 7: 1317:Gardens by Capability Brown 1297:Monasteries in Warwickshire 992:Stratford-on-Avon Monastery 791:Warwick St Sepulchre Priory 747:Monasteries in Warwickshire 548:Parks and Gardens website. 235:Elizabeth married Frederick 187:Sir John Harington of Exton 10: 1343: 1327:Defunct real tennis venues 700:Coombe Abbey hotel website 671:Capability Brown website. 659:Capability Brown website. 157:dissolution of monasteries 1201: 1086: 1040: 984: 968: 952: 931: 915: 876: 807: 796: 753: 630:The Story of Coombe Abbey 590:The Story of Coombe Abbey 562:The Story of Coombe Abbey 363:Coombe Abbey Country Park 137:, pursuing his enemy the 97:Early history as an abbey 1034:British royal residences 767:Atherstone Austin Friary 62:, in the countryside of 1209:Former royal residences 645:Thorold, Henry (1993). 1267:Hotels in Warwickshire 1214:Historic Royal Palaces 577:HMC Salisbury Hatfield 456:4th Floor Of Singapore 257: 181: 37: 1272:Grade I listed houses 357:Coventry City Council 342:William Eden Nesfield 255: 179: 91:Coventry City Council 35: 1322:Country house hotels 1243:52.41056°N 1.42056°W 1168:Thatched House Lodge 863:Wootton Wawen Priory 416:Britannia Illustrata 331:Palace of Versailles 168:dated to the 1180s. 1239: /  1058:Hillsborough Castle 933:Knights Hospitaller 924:Warwick Blackfriars 628:Motkin, D. L. 1961 588:Motkin, D. L. 1961 560:Motkin, D. 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Index

Combe Abbey

Cistercian
abbey
Combe Fields
Borough of Rugby
Warwickshire
England
country house
listed building
country park
Coombe Country Park
Coventry City Council
Warwickshire
Cistercian monks
Blessed Virgin
daughter house
Waverley Abbey
King Edward IV
Leicester
Coventry
Earl of Warwick
Wars of the Roses
Maundy Thursday
dissolution of monasteries
Henry VIII
cloister

Sir John Harington of Exton
Robert Bruce

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