Coombe Abbey
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Coombe Abbey is a historic mansion house and country park in Warwickshire, England. It is located in the countryside between Coventry and Rugby, roughly midway between the two.
Coombe Abbey was founded as a monastery in the 12th century. Following the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century, it became royal property. The daughter of king James I Elizabeth of Bohemia was educated here in the early 17th century.
In 1682, the West Wing was added by architect Captain William Winde. He also designed Buckingham House, which later became Buckingham Palace, and the resemblance is notable.
In 1771, Lancelot 'Capability' Brown re-designed the gardens.
Coombe Abbey was bought by Coventry City Council in 1964 and opened to the public, and the grounds of the abbey are now a popular nature reserve and country park. The Abbey itself is now a hotel.
External link
- online edition of a 1961 book called The Story of Combe Abbey (http://www.coventry-walks.org.uk/coombe/ca-contents.html) - includes updates and "then and now" photographs
- Official website (http://www.coombeabbey.com/)