Combermere Abbey
A former Cistercian monastery situated on the shores of a large mere in Cheshire and set in 1,000 acres.
Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 4AJ
Facilities
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Free parking
Please note: the most important room in the house is on the first floor and it is not possible to accommodate visitors with severe mobility problems or wheelchairs.
Please ensure that suitable footwear is worn as the tour includes outside areas. This includes a period of walking across the lawns which may be uneven in areas.
Combermere Abbey was originally a Cistercian monastery dating from 1133. It became a Tudor manor and was then re-modelled in 1820 in the Gothic style for Viscount Combermere, one of Wellington’s favourite generals. It was bought in 1919 by Sir Kenneth Crossley, the Manchester car manufacturer, and is now owned by his great granddaughter and her family.
Go on a tour of the main house, including the grand first floor hall of the Abbot’s house (now known as The Library). Subject to availability, the restored North Wing interior rooms will also be included. A walk around the exterior façade of the Abbey will also include the service buildings including Game Larder and Clock Tower, with views of the William Emes parkland.
Invitation to View owner-led tours
Join Sarah Callander Beckett for a tour of her family home and learn about the long restoration project, between 1992 and 2016, which has uncovered fascinating aspects of the earlier Tudor manor house.
Tours that are scheduled will be listed below. If none are scheduled yet, please check back later, or find other tours you might enjoy on our tours listing page here.
Please note: The information on the Historic Houses website is advisory, but please always check the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling.
Combermere Abbey will be open for Public Tours of the Abbey from Tuesday 12th March 2024 – Thursday 6th June 2024, with pre-booked guided tours taking place at 2pm on a Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday. The tour will last approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.
The house itself can only be visited during one of the afternoon guided tours – numbers are limited and pre-booking is essential. See ADMISSION for more information.
Group tours take place all year round and must be arranged in advance.
Open days: £12.50 per adult, £6 per child (aged 10-16), tour lasts approx 1.5 hours. Pre-booking is essential here or through the Estate Office – 01948 871662 (Ext 1).
Free entry to our Public Abbey Tours for Historic House Members
Group tours: £20 per person including refreshments, tour lasts 2.5-3 hours. To book a group visit, or for more information, please ring Pat Jacobs on 01284 827087 or email pat.jacobs@historichouses.org.
Invitation to View tours led by the owner: £25 per person including refreshments, tour lasts 2.5-3 hours. Click here for more information about Invitation to View tours of Combermere Abbey.
Group tours take place all year round and must be arranged in advance.
- Group tours cost £20 per person and last approx. 2.5 hours, including refreshments
- The minimum number is 12 people, maximum 20 people
- Group visits are not available on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays
To book a group tour, or for more information, please ring Pat Jacobs on 01284 827087 or email pat.jacobs@historichouses.org.
Please note: the most important room in the house is on the first floor and it is not possible to accommodate visitors with severe mobility problems or wheelchairs.
Please ensure that suitable footwear is worn as the tour includes outside areas. This includes a period of walking across the lawns which may be uneven in areas.
Getting here
Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 4AJ
Combermere Abbey sits on the Cheshire/Shropshire border between Nantwich & Whitchurch. Due to the rural location, travel by car is highly recommended.
Sat Nav Friendly Postcode: SY13 4AN
What3Words Abbey Entrance: ///standards.rails.paused
Combermere Abbey Christmas tour
An award-winning estate with seven listed buildings now all restored after a 25-year programme, it has diversified into tourism with 10 self-catering cottages and a luxury B & B in the North Wing of the Abbey; corporate event management and weddings; a location for film, TV and advertising; business park and an organic farm.
Well recognised as a centre of excellence in South Cheshire, it has won many awards including the Historic Houses/Sotheby’s Award in 2016 for the restoration of the Abbey.
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