Adisham Monastery

The construction of the Adisham Monastery was completed in 1931 and named after the original owners' birthplace in England. This stately former country home of Sir Thomas Villiers is located on a ten acre magnificent property in tranquil Haputale and is one of the most sought after Ella attractions worth visiting.

Pristinely maintained as a monastery since 1961 by the Benedictine monks, the bungalow retains all of its charm as when occupied by Sir Thomas and Lady Villiers.

The house was designed in the Tudor style, on the lines of Leeds Castle in Kent, with stout granite walls of locally quarried stone, long, narrow turret windows and chimneys. It looks in every detail an Elizabethan country mansion. When constructing his dream country home, Sir Thomas Villiers spared no expense to ensure that his creation was totally luxurious. The roof was covered with flat Burma teak shingles. The doors, windows, staircase and floors were also of Burma teak.

Spacious lawns and beautiful orchards surround the house. English tea and multi-coloured cabbage roses bloom in the lawns adding beauty to the surrounding. Albertines and honeysuckle climb over the porches and windows while strawberries, apples and plums ripen in the cool mountain air and tropical sunshine. The chirping of the green barbets, blue magpies, paradise flycatchers, hornbills and a host of other birds will enchant your visit to Adisham.

The guest house of the monastery is available for you to stay and enjoy the serene environment. Do not forget to purchase from the range of jams and fruit juice cordials produced by Adisham; the earnings from which help maintain the monastery. (Information courtesy, www.adisham.org)