Step back in time this Father's Day at Buckland Abbey

The National Trust team at Buckland Abbey is set to take visitors on a journey to the past with a special Father's Day weekend event on June 15 and 16. 

The historic estate will transform into a vibrant mediaeval village, offering a unique blend of education and entertainment for all ages.

Eleanor Hopkinson, Visitor Operations and Experience Manager, said: “We look forward to inviting everyone to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of mediaeval life as the Abbey and gardens are transported back in time on this entertaining and educational weekend.”

Visitors can explore a living history camp set up in the Abbey grounds, complete with costumed characters and traders who bring the mediaeval era to life. 

ABOVE: Medieval cookery demonstrations at Buckland Abbey. Credit Medieval Free Company

The camp will feature a variety of historical craft activities, mediaeval cooking demonstrations, and archery displays throughout the weekend.

Normal admission charges apply for this immersive experience, but National Trust members can enjoy the event for free.

Buckland Abbey, with its rich history dating back to the 13th century, was originally home to Cistercian monks who constructed the remarkable Great Barn, one of the largest surviving mediaeval barns in England. 

Today, the Abbey is a house that combines furnished rooms with interactive museum galleries, narrating the tales of two influential sea captains and privateers, Sir Richard Grenville and Sir Francis Drake, who significantly altered the house and played pivotal roles in the country’s history.

In addition to the mediaeval festivities, visitors can enjoy the expansive Buckland estate, which offers picturesque walks through farmland, meadows, and orchards, as well as formal gardens that boast stunning views of the Tavy Valley.