Not to be confused with the Cistercian Abbey, the current Revesby Abbey dates from 1845, though is built re-using material from a previous, late 17th century house on the same site, built by Craven Howards. That house was later enlarged by the Banks family. In 1843, William Burn designed the present house for J. Banks Stanhope. The hall chimney piece is dated 1659 but much of the furniture is Rococo. {1} The country house and stable yard which form the current Revesby Abbey were built in 1845 by William Burns, for James Banks Stanhope. The design was in a Jacobean style, with the house constructed of ashlar stone with shaped quoins, and featuring slate roofs with shaped decorative gables, pinnacles and ball finials, octagonal paired ashlar ridge chimney stacks, and twisted cable moulded wall stacks. The house is laid to an E-shaped plan, with the stable court attached to the house on the north side. The house is of two-storeys plus garret, with the main entrance to the east front. This front is of seven bays, with the end bays being advanced and gabled, with plinth, string course, parapet cornice, and arched balustraded parapet. Inside, the entrance hall has an ornate strapwork ceiling, and a bolection moulded fireplace with overmantel of oval panels carved with Classical scenes. The grand staircase has openwork balusters and decorative plaster panels to the stair wall. The main room on the south front has a strapwork plaster ceiling with ornate frieze, Classical pedimented chimney pieces, and Adam style decoration. The house was furnished with catacombs containing a railway system to service the fireplaces. To the right of the house front is the stable yard with semi-circular arch having bellcote over. The earlier, post-restoration house at Revesby Abbey had been the home of Sir Joseph Banks in the second half of the 18th century. He is described as 'The Father of Modern Science' and sailed with Captain Cook in the Endeavour. The house was rebuilt by his descendant James Banks Stanhope. For the full description and the legal address of this listed building please refer to the appropriate entry in the National Heritage List for England. {2}{3}