Rufford Abbey

Rufford Abbey

Rufford Abbey is a Cistercian abbey founded in 1147 by Gilbert de Gant. The site has a complex architectural history spanning from the 12th century to the 19th century. The abbey was granted to the Earls of Shrewsbury in 1537. It was partly demolished and converted to a country house between 1560 and 1561, then passed to the Savile family in 1626. The building was remodelled between 1685 and 1695, with further additions around 1720. It was altered around 1790 and again between 1838 and 1840 by architect A. Salvin. The building was partly demolished in 1959 and is now in the guardianship of English Heritage as an Ancient Monument.

The structure is built in rubble, brick, dressed stone and ashlar with ashlar dressings, with plain tile roofs. It features lintel and eaves bands, coped gables with kneelers, and multiple stacks, including two gable stacks and two side wall stacks, one of which is external. The building is two storeys plus basement in some sections and four storeys plus garrets in others, arranged in a T-plan measuring six bays wide by twelve bays deep.

Windows throughout are cross and mullioned leaded casements with chamfered and rebated reveals, many of which are now unglazed. The roofless north wing contains a 13th-century undercroft with 16th and 17th-century superstructure above.

The west side features an off-centre mid-19th-century bridge leading to a porch tower. This bridge is six bays wide, constructed in ashlar with a plinth, pilasters, and a balustrade with round-headed openings and moulded coping. The east end has a pair of scroll brackets, whilst the west end has steps with splayed flanking scroll brackets.

The porch itself dates to the 16th century with 19th-century restoration. It comprises four stages and has a parapet with chamfered coping. At basement level, there are archways with segmental heads to the north and south. The entry stage features a moulded four-centred arched doorway with 19th-century panelled doors, flanked by single barley sugar columns with Corinthian capitals and entablature. Cross windows appear to the north and south. The third stage contains an oval cartouche with Arms, strapwork brackets and blocked obelisk finials on the west face. The fourth stage has a chamfered strapwork panel and single window to the west, and an opening with segmental head to the east.

The basement to the left of the porch contains five small moulded openings to the left, and to their right a 15th-century round-headed triple lancet window, beyond which is a mullioned window. Above are eight double cross windows. The basement to the right of the porch has three windows, with three cross windows above, and above these again, three smaller windows.

The east side has a basement with four unequally spaced doorways and a blocked fireplace to the right. Above are remains of a mullioned window and six openings. To the right are remains of a cross window and an opening with moulded segmental head. Further to the right are remains of two further openings. Above again are remains of two mullioned windows. The north-east return angle features a roofless extruded corner with a cross window and a doorway to the east and north.

The 17th-century south range was remodelled in the 19th century. It has a partly demolished north-east corner with remains of various openings and fireplaces. To the right is a recessed bay with a cross window. A double east gable has three cross windows, above which are three large blocked openings with keystoned eared architraves. Above these are three similar smaller architraves, either blocked or with remains of timber mullions.

The south front features an off-centre gabled bay with clock and bell turret, and to its left an external stack. An adjoining gatepier with ball finial stands to its left. Three windows are present, with a chamfered doorway with 19th-century door to the right. Beyond an adjoining boundary wall are two round-headed doorways. Above, to the left, are three cross windows, and to the right on a different level, four similar windows. Above again to the left are three cross windows. Above these again, to the right, are five mullioned windows. Above again, to the left, are two cross-eaves gabled dormers with mullioned casements.

The gabled bay to the right has a central window in an opening with segmental head. Above it is an ashlar panel containing a clock. Above again is an octagonal bell turret with round-headed openings and bracketed cornice, topped by a stepped ogee leaded dome with wind vane. The north side has a similar clock dial.

The west gable has two mullioned windows, with two cross windows above, two similar windows above these, and a central window with hood mould at the top.

The north wing undercroft contains to the north a chamber with 13th-century groin vault spanning four bays, with three octagonal piers with chamfered bases and moulded octagonal capitals. Moulded octagonal corbels are present. To the north is a pseudo pier with pointed arched opening. To the south is a transverse chamber with groin vault and three pointed doorways. Beyond this is a chamber with 14th-century vault spanning four bays, with chamfered ribs and faceted conical corbels. Three round piers with water-holding bases and moulded capitals are present. The east side has a large 19th-century ashlar fireplace with chamfered lintel and hipped tiled hood.

The north wing has a blocked three-light window with timber mullions to the east, with a 14th-century coved reveal featuring masks and foliate bosses to its right. The south wing contains stud walls and a winder stair with square newel and moulded 18th-century landing balustrade with turned balusters. A 17th-century plank door with cross-patterned weatherstripping and timber cased lock is present. A single 19th-century Gothic-style fireplace and 19th-century purlin roof are also found here.

The kitchen has three openings with segmental heads and linked hood moulds to the east, and to the south an opening with segmental head and large 19th-century range. These are flanked by single round-headed doorways. Above are brackets carrying remains of an elaborate smoke jack.