Review: Buckfast Abbey: history, art and architecture

Bringing us right up to date are chapters by Alan Powers on Buckfast school, a 1960s ‘natural extension’ by the architect Francis Pollen; Stewart Brown looks at how the monks have created a self-sustained community; Robert Proctor covers the art and architecture of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, comp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Antiquaries Journal Vol. 98; pp. 350 - 351
Main Author Holden, Paul
Format Book Review
LanguageEnglish
Published London Cambridge University Press 01.09.2018
Subjects
Archaeology
Architectural history
Architecture
Art history
Excavation
Monasteries
Monks
Reading
Robinson, Stewart
United Kingdom > UK
England
Devon England
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Summary:Bringing us right up to date are chapters by Alan Powers on Buckfast school, a 1960s ‘natural extension’ by the architect Francis Pollen; Stewart Brown looks at how the monks have created a self-sustained community; Robert Proctor covers the art and architecture of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, completed in 1966 and with wonderful glass by Dom Charles Norris; and Peter Beacham covers the development of the modern precinct. [...]this is a magnificent book that admirably celebrates and narrates its way through 1,000 years of history. [...]the reader might like to consider investing in two further items before reading: first, a lectern on which to rest the book; second, to toast the book in a true, monastic spirit, a glass or two of Buckfast Abbey’s famed home-made heady tonic wine, which, at 15 per cent alcohol, has been described as having ‘supernatural powers’ and itself has had mixed reviews, being described as ‘smooth’, ‘rounded’ and ‘mature’ and, by one less-complimentary commentator, as tasting ‘a bit like undiluted Ribena mixed with Benylin’.
ISSN:0003-5815
1758-5309
DOI:10.1017/S0003581518000501