Cerne Abbey

CERNE ABBEY

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1323849
Date first listed:
26-Jan-1956
List Entry Name:
Cerne Abbey
Statutory Address:
CERNE ABBEY
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Date:
2002-06-29
Reference:
IOE01/07283/26
Rights:
© Mr JE Leeson. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1323849
Date first listed:
26-Jan-1956
Date of most recent amendment:
19-Nov-1985
List Entry Name:
Cerne Abbey
Statutory Address 1:
CERNE ABBEY

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
CERNE ABBEY

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
Dorset (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Cerne Abbas
National Grid Reference:
ST 66530 01355

Details

ST 6601 CERNE ABBAS CERNE ABBEY

11/58 Cerne Abbey, (formerly 26.1.56 listed as Abbey House).

GV I

Private House, on site of, and incorporating parts of late medieval monastic gatehouse. C15 fragments, (front gate- arch buttress, side entrance to porter's lodge), remainder burnt mid C18, and almost entirely rebuilt late C18 onwards. Knapped flint and banded stone walls, part of C15 chamfered arch to gateway exposed in south wing (former gateway), C15 buttress with set-offs immediately left of this. Stone slate roof with gable ends, and 3 gables to front, all with ball- finials. Stone stacks with moulded cornices, C18, at main gable-ends, and on ridge, west of centre. Two storeys and attics, irregular fenestration to south elevation of stone mullion windows, hollow-chamfered, with separate labels over; C20 metal casements throughout. The south wing windows: 4- light, transomed with pointed arches in a square head, separate label over. First floor: Venetian-type window, with a transom and Y-tracery to centre lights. Separate label over, returned. Front door with jambs, imposts and round head in C17 style, c C19. Door with straps and panels, c C19. Door (inner), on north wall, with moulded jambs and depressed-arch head, C16. North-west wing: formerly cow-house, then servant's quarters, Slate roof. 1½ storeys. 5 windows, 2-light C20 stone mullions, with labels over. C20 metal casements with lead lights. Plank door at centre. Interior: South wing, rebate of gateway jamb with 2 iron hinge-pins in situ, part of depressed-arch head. Small doorway to presumed lodge visible in west wall, with stone jambs and segmental-pointed head. East room: stone fireplace with bracketed mouldings, and square moulded head. Three main stone panels over, the outer 2 with quatrefoils in lozenges, central panel with I.V. monogram and mitre over, for Abbot John Vanne 1458-70, above this level a moulded cornice with 8 carved paterae, of conventional form.

(RCHM Dorset I, p79(3))

Listing NGR: ST6655601263

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
105383
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Inventory of Dorset, (1974), 79
Inventory of Dorset, (1974)

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Cerne Abbey

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 27-Jun-2026 at 01:48:25.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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