Tarrant Abbey House

TARRANT CRAWFORD ST 90 SW - 5/26 Tarrant Abbey House 26.6.53 (formerly listed as Abbey Farmhouse) GV II* House, early C15 origin with additions of the late C15, C16 and C18. Main facade on C18 reface in Flemish bond brickwork, rear walls in chequered rubble and flint. C15 cross wing in rubble and flint with ashlar dressings below and timber box framing with tension braces and C17 brick nogging above. Tiled roofs with brick stacks in various locations. Main facade: 2 storeys, 3 window range. 2 and 3-light casements with glazing bars, those to the ground floor under segmental brick heads. Near central pedimented, pilastered doorcase with part-glazed, panelled door. The early wing retains 2 original 2-light, square headed windows, now blocked.

Internal features (RCHM): early range retains a 9 bay arch-braced collar truss roof with curved windbracing; various stop-chamfered beams.

The original purpose of the building is unclear but it was probably one of the buildings of the important Cistercian nunnery which stood on the site, largely demolished at the time of the Dissolution. (RCHM, Dorset, vol.IV, p.87/8, no.3. Newman, J. and Pevsner, N. The Buildings of England: Dorset, 1972, p.416.)

Listing NGR: ST9206103301