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Abbey recently cleared of all unseemly obstructions, and the site 
of the Church which had been lost and covered with refuse, now 
clearly ascertained, and laid open to view. This work has been 
carried out by the liberality of the present owner, Mr. Luttrell, 
under the guidance of the Rev. Mackenzie Walcot, B.D., Precentor 
and Prebendary of Chichester. 
Those who have in times past visited the very beautiful and 
interesting remains of Old Cleeve, and sighed to see the ruin and 
signs of desecration that hang over them, cannot but feel most 
grateful to the spirit and piety of the owner who has now rescued 
from destruction a spot once dedicated to holy purposes, and noted 
for the purity and simplicity of its style of buildings. Washford 
Station is but a short distance from Old Cleeve Abbey, and a 
brief walk brought the party to the entrance gateway which 
remains as it did in past ages. As this Abbey was Cistercian, and 
a very striking illustration of the buildings of that order, a word 
or two ought to be said as to its origin. 
St. Bernard was the founder of the order, mace one of their rules 
was that their buildings should be very simple and devoid of 
ornament. Carvings and pictures were originally prohibited, a 
painted cross of wood with two candles was the only decoration 
about the altar, and one image of our blessed Redeemer. The 
tower of the Church was stunted and only two bells permitted, 
a greater and a lesser, and the pavements were of plain tile, 
The fare of the monks was originally quite ascetic, consisting 
only of pottage with vegetables and a little wine or beer. 
The monks were excellent agriculturalists, and wherever they 
settled, which was usually in remote and uncultivated regions, 
they soon changed the aspect of the country from barren moor to 
fertile meadow and corn land. 
An Abbot with twelve brethren was the usual colony that 
settled where land had been granted to the community. The 
founder of Old Cleeve was one of the Mohuns, and Abbot Ralph 
the first abbot came from among the Lincolnshire Fens to settle 
