For centuries, the tranquility of Devon’s Buckfast Abbey has served as a testament to the endurance of its Benedictine monks. Nestled within lush green trees, the towering stone abbey is the setting for a tradition steeped in mystery and folklore. From these enigmatic tales springs the Legend of the Holy Thorn. In the year 1018, a holy, pious man, known as Ealdred, retreated to live a life of solitary devotion amidst the wild woods of Buckfast. Guided by a dream, Ealdred was instructed to construct a monastery on the site. Starting with modest wooden buildings and only a handful of brothers, Ealdred laid the humble foundations for the magnificent abbey of today. Loyal to the vision he received, he planted a single thorn cutting on the site. Miraculously, this humble cutting grew into a magnificent thorn tree, blossoming twice a year – once at Christmas and again at Easter, in sync with the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The miraculous thorn tree grew to offer a compelling symbol of the abbey’s divinely ordained purpose. Over time, the tree matured into a sacred site, intriguing both locals and foreigners alike. The Holy Thorn tree still stands today – a manifestation of Buckfast’s rich heritage. Over the centuries, the Legend of the Holy Thorn has become inseparable from the identity of Buckfast Abbey, binding the local community in a shared sense of history and wonder. Today, throngs of visitors frequent the mystical tree, drawn by the aura of spirituality, and the lingering whisper of ancient folklore.