Rufford Abbey

Ollerton, Nottinghamshire.

Archaeology Index

Kite aerial photos by Jim Knowles, First visit, July 2011.

The Cistercian Abbey of Rufford (SK 64556484), founded in 1146 can be found in Rufford park, just off the A614 in Nottinghamshire near Ollerton. It is a lovely sprawling estate, making it a great day out for the family. The Abbey can be found just to the east of the main car park. All that remains of the Abbey today are at basement level, forming a vaulted cellar range running north to south under the later remains of the upper buildings. The Abbey itself can be traced in the ground extending north east out of the top of the standing remains. The area was archaeologically excavated in 1956 by the Ministry of Works to understand and consolidate any remaining archaeology. The excavations revealed traces of robber trenches and fragments of foundations. In true old school archaeological style, these fragments were then extrapolated into 'the typical ground plan of a Cistercian Abbey'. The remains preserved under the house to the east provide evidence of the cloister, the monk’s frater and kitchen. The rest of the monastic buildings would have been further east and are covered by the lawns. JK

Near infra-red