#MiniBreeze at Quarr Abbey

Quite often #MiniBreeze has been on a walk with us that goes past Quarr Abbey which is in Ryde, but it has always been on a Sunday so we couldn't go in and look around, as the monks and congregation were worshiping.  Quarr is a Benedictine Abbey with an interesting history.  It was on a site near by until the reformation in the 14th Century when Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, then the monks went to the continent, they came back and this abbey was finished in 1910 very close to the site of the old abbey.

#MiniBreeze had no trouble finding the way because of the signpost.

He could see the abbey through the big gates.  The abbey is Moorish expressionist in style.

When #MiniBreeze first arrived with us he did pop in and meet the abbey pigs. He called in to see how they were, they were tiny when he first met them, but look at them now.  Very grown up!!

#MiniBreeze strolled around the abbey grounds for a while,

climbed a tree to get a better look and

inspected the entrance to the abbey church (he could not take pictures inside but he said it was a lovely church).

He found a signpost telling him where the old abbey ruins are.

This is what is left of the old abbey that was dissolved in the reformation, causing the monks to leave.  The stone was used in other building on the island.

#MiniBreeze came back to the main grounds and found this pear tree against the abbey garden wall.  He is not a partridge but that didn't stop him climbing in the pear tree.

Next he visited the abbey farm shop to see all the produce that is grown in the abbey garden and is for sale.

beans,

courgettes,

apples, corn and tomatoes.

He decided to explore the inside of the shop where he found local delicacies like:

ketchup and mustard from the Isle of Wight Garlic Farm and the Mustard Company and

honey from Quarr Abbey's own bees.

One of the other good things about Quarr Abbey is the cafe and #MiniBreeze decided that he needed to try that.  He started with a cheese sandwich, we all know #MiniBreeze loves fish and he is also very keen on dairy products such as cheese.

with crisps (translator's note - chips), he likes them.  He didn't bother with the salad.

Then he had to have one of their famous cakes,

chocolate and mint slice!! Yummy!!

#MiniBreeze really enjoyed his day at Quarr and will certainly go back to the cafe and farm shop.