ABBOTSBURY

 The village of Abbotsbury sits on the B3157, Burton Bradstock to Chickerell road - or, if you're a biker, the West Bay to Portland road! St Catherine's Chapel stands high on a hill overlooking the lane down to the Swannery.

 

This has got to be one of my favourite views in the whole country. I always pull into the layby, just for the view - and it's even better when the ice cream van is there! 

St. Catherine's chapel is the lone building in the centre of this picture, taken from the B3157. The road drops down behind the hill, to Abbotsbury and the Swannery, both hidden from view here. The chapel escaped destruction during the Dissolution in 1539, probably because it was a clear landmark for sailors and beacon fires were lit on top of the tower.

The pretty Dorset village of Abbotsbury was once home to a great abbey, founded in 1044 by a thegn of King Cnut, and richly endowed. The remains now visible - part of a building which may have been the abbot's lodging - date from the 13th and 14th centuries. Nearby is the abbey's vast tithe barn, built about 1400, and there are further abbey remains in the churchyard of St Nicholas Church, including two medieval sarcophagi.

Abbotsbury Swannery on the Fleet Lagoon in Dorset is unique. This is the only place in the world where you are able to walk through the heart of a colony of nesting Mute Swans.
The Swannery was established by Benedictine Monks who built a monastery at Abbotsbury during the 1040's. The monks farmed the swans to produce food for their lavish Dorset banquets. St Peter's monastery was destroyed in 1539 during the dissolution. Some of the ruins are still visible around St Nicholas' Church in the village.

The swans are perfectly free to fly away, but are encouraged to nest here, by the provision of a safe environment, nesting sites and food. The cygnets are protected by swanherds. They also care for sick and injured swans, some being brought here from other areas to be cared for.

The monks set up pools where they grew reeds. These were used for thatching roofs. The Swannery is now rejuvenating these reed beds for the same purpose, and the reeds also provide a habitat for reed warblers - little brown birds that you might not spot, but you can certainly hear them as you walk by the ponds. 

the reed ponds

The swanherd's hut

The nesting area

Feeding time! You can feed up to 600 swans twice a day! 

The swans may have provided meat for the monks long ago, but today they provide feathers for the helmets of the Gentlemen at Arms; (such as the Constable of the Tower of London). 

In addition, Lloyds of London uses quills from Abbotsbury swan feathers to register insurance losses in their "Doom" book.