The Abbey House

The Abbey House is a building of medieval origin, likely incorporating part of the former Abbot's House. Its complex plan reflects building activity across several centuries, with the majority of work dating to the 16th century, along with additions from subsequent periods. The main block is three storeys high with attics. The exterior is characterized by a mix of patched ashlar and a variety of windows: old sash windows with architraves and cornices, mullioned and transomed stone windows, standard sash windows, and three-light stone mullioned windows, all arranged irregularly. A stone cornice, parapet, pantiles, and dormers are also present.

A right-hand wing projects at right angles and is distinguished by three storeys and ashlar banding. The windows on this wing feature late 17th-century stone architraves with triple keyblocks; the end four windows have architraves, pulvinated friezes, and pediments. The arrangement is two windows on the ground floor, four windows on the first floor, each with scrolled broken pediments.

A ruined section to the north was constructed by Sir Hugh Cholmley during the reign of Charles II. This part was damaged in a severe storm around 1775 and was never rebuilt. The front elevation is a monumental two-storey facade of eleven windows with stone architraves, friezes, and cornices. A central two-stage Renaissance projecting feature is topped by a broken segmental pediment adorned with foliage swags. A panelled door is set within an eaved surround flanked by Ionic columns, with similar columns framing the projecting feature. A frieze and cornice run along the top. A similarly arranged Corinthian column further emphasizes a first-floor window, which is set within an architrave.

The interior includes four 16th-century panelled rooms, two 16th-century staircases with balustrades and newels, two massive kitchen fire arches of four centres, a pair of old stone fireplaces with Caernarvon heads in a further room, two 17th-century bolection moulded fireplaces, and a wall incorporating a 12th-century round column with a simple moulded capital, which is likely reused. There is also a selection of older portable furniture belonging to the house.

The property was acquired by the Cholmley family in 1555, having been held on lease by them since the Reformation. It is believed to have been built using stone and materials from the adjoining abbey. Accounts suggest the house was initially of wood in 1570 and was rebuilt in stone in 1626, although this evidence remains inconclusive. The Abbey House and an adjacent Youth Hostel form a unified group.