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Abbotsbury Abbey, dedicated to Saint Peter, was a Benedictine monastery in the village of Abbotsbury in Dorset, England. The abbey was founded in the 11th century by King Cnut's thegn Orc and his wife Tola, who handsomely endowed the monastery with lands in the area. The abbey prospered and became a local centre of power, controlling eight and villages. During the later Middle Ages, the abbey suffered much misfortune. In the time of the dissolution of the monasteries, the last abbot surrendered the abbey and the site became the property of Sir Giles Strangways.
Today, a small part of the former Abbey estate, including the abbey's remains, and those of the nearby St Catherine's Chapel, are in the guardianship of English Heritage.
Upon the surrender of the abbey, on 12 March 1539, Abbot Roger Roddon, along with the prior and eight brethren received pensions: the abbot, £80; the prior, Thomas Bradford, £9; Thomas Tolpuddle, £7; six other brethren, including William Grey and John Vynsant, £6 to £5 each; Thomas Holnest, 40s. Sir Giles Strangways (died 1546), the commissioner who had dissolved the monastery and who bought the abbey buildings, manor houses, and Abbotsbury Swannery and much of the abbey's land for Pound Sterling1,906, 10shilling (equivalent to £ in ). On the one hand Strangways' own father had in fact been buried in the Abbey, and when he himself died in 1546 his will bequeathed £6 13s.4d. a year for two years for a priest to say Mass for the repose of his soul and the souls of his wife and son.
Henry VIII granted the abbey site to Sir Giles Strangways. Much of the land still belongs to Strangways' descendants, the Earls of Ilchester.
| Æsuuerdus | ? | appears in 1075Knowles, Brooke and London (2001), The heads of religious houses: England & Wales, I. 940–1216, p. 23. |
| 1107–1139 | ||
| Geoffrey | 1140 | |
| Roger | ? | appears in 1129 x 1150. |
| Geoffrey II | ? | appears in 1166. |
| vacant | 1175, 1–8 July | |
| Ralph? | ? | |
| Roger II | ? | appears in 1201. |
| Hugh | ? | appears in 1204 x 1205. |
| vacant | 1213, 15 July | Smith and London (2001), The heads of religious houses: England & Wales, II. 1216–1377, pp. 15–6. |
| Hugh II | ? – 1246? | |
| Roger de Brideton | 1246–1258? | |
| Joan of Hilton (Helton) | 1258–1284 | |
| Philip of Sherborne | 1284–1296 | |
| William | ||
| Benedict of Loders (Lodres) | 1297–1320 | |
| Ralph of Sherborne | 1320–1321 | |
| Peter of Sherborne | 1321–1324 | |
| William le Fauconer | 1324–1343 | |
| Walter de Saunford | 1343–1348 | |
| Walter de Stokes | 1348–1354 | |
| Henry (of) Toller (or Tolre) | 1354–1376 | |
| William Cerne | 1376–1401 | |
| Robert Bylsay | 1401–1426 | Page, ed. (1908), The Victoria history of the county of Dorset, pp. 48–53. |
| Richard Percy | 1426–1442 | resigned in 1442 |
| Edward Watton | 1442–1452 | |
| William Wuller | 1452–1468 | |
| Hugh Dorchester | 1468–1496 | |
| John Abbotsbury | 1496 (elected) | |
| John Portesham | 1505 (elected) | |
| Roger Roddon | 1534–1539 | last abbot, surrendered. |
The 14th century Tithe Barn, which at 272 ft by 31 ft is reputedly the largest tithe barn in the world, was spared. Though now only half roofed, the still impressive structure has two porches, each surmounted by a watching chamber. Also spared from the general destruction was St Catherine's Chapel, used at one time as a lookout across the sea and conversely as a landmark for mariners. Both are currently Grade I and scheduled monuments. In the churchyard to the south of the present parish church, traces of the north wall of the abbey are visible. These remnants are also listed at Grade I. Other Grade I listed buildings at the site include the Malt house, and the Dairy House. There are four structures listed at Grade II*; the Dovecote, a gable end section of wall called Pynion's End, a gatehouse, and a run of cottages, the Abbott's Walk. Grade II buildings include a gateway, Abbey House, and a Granary. The Abbey's former swannery is an internationally famous nature reserve.
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