Coombe Abbey

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Coombe Abbey, view of the buildings from the main drive.

Coombe Abbey in the early 18th century from Kip and Knyff's Britannia Illustrata.

Coombe Abbey is a hotel which has been developed from a historic grade I listed building and former country house. It is located roughly midway between Coventry and Brinklow in the countryside of Warwickshire, England. The house's original grounds are now a country park known as Coombe Country Park, and run by Coventry City Council.

[edit] Coombe Country Park

Coombe Country Park is a country park, which has been developed from the grounds of the old abbey. Although the park is geographically in Warwickshire, it is only about 2 miles (3.2 km) to the east of Coventry's city limits and is owned by Coventry City Council.

A visitor centre was built on green land in the park and opened in 1993. It contains several shops, an information centre, and a cafe.

[edit] History

Coombe Abbey was founded as a monastery in the 12th century. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century, it became royal property.

Elizabeth of Bohemia, the daughter of king James I was educated there in the early 17th century; had the Gunpowder Plot succeeded she was to have been abducted from Coombe Abbey and proclaimed as Queen Elizabeth II.

In 1682, the West Wing was added by architect Captain William Winde, who also designed Buckingham House, which later became Buckingham Palace. In 1771, Lancelot 'Capability' Brown redesigned the gardens, incorporating Coombe Pool, a half-mile long lake.

In November 1964 Coventry City Council bought Coombe Abbey with 150 acres (0.61 km²) of land. The park was opened to the public in 1966.

Coombe Abbey Country Park
The main entrance to Coombe Abbey and the park	The West Wing, lake and gardens.

The visitor centre
The visitor centre at Coombe Abbey (front view)	The visitor centre (oblique view)	The central arcade through the visitor centre	The visitor centre (view from the east)