Gazetteer of
British Place Names

Milton Abbey is a former abbey and later country house and school, located near Milton Abbas, Dorset. A college of secular canons was founded here by King Athelstan, in 933. This foundation was replaced in 964 by a Benedictine monastery by King Edgar. The abbey was dissolved in 1539. In 1752, the buildings were bought by the Damer family. In 1771, to make way for a new house and landscaped estate, the 1st Baron Milton demolished the remaining abbey buildings, keeping only part of the church as a private chapel. He also demolished the adjacent market town of Milton (creating Milton Abbas to rehouse the former inhabitants) in 1780. The new house was designed by William Chambers and the gardens by Capability Brown. The house became the basis for Milton Abbey School in 1954. The Abbey Church remains the chapel of the school. The house and grounds is within the council area of Dorset.
Historic England Grade I Listed 1118566.

Place Type: Ecclesiastical Monument
Historic County: Dorset
Lat, Long: 50.820581,-2.2873625
Grid Reference: ST 7985 0237
Civil Parish: Milton Abbas CP
Council Area: Dorset CA
Police Area: Dorset PA

GBPN ID: 319457
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Milton_Abbey,_Dorset_319457

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