Anglesey Abbey, near Lode in Cambridgeshire, was originally part of a 13th century priory for Augustinian Canons. They were expelled during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the late 1530s and the building was converted into a country house around 1600 by Thomas Hobson. Its external appearance is generally of a house of that period though parts of the building are very much older. There have also been substantial extensions during the 19th and 20th centuries. At one point in the 18th century it was owned by Sir George Downing, who endowed Downing College, Cambridge. This is the back of the house, where the main visitor entrance is.
The estate’s last private owner was the first Lord Fairhaven, who bought it in 1926. He fully restored the house which had fallen into disrepair and began to collect beautiful furniture, artworks and statuary, which can still be seen today. In the 1930’s he laid out beautiful gardens in the style of the 18th century. He died in 1966 without any heirs, and left the Grade I-listed house and its gardens to the National Trust.
Tags: Cambridgeshire Anglesey Abbey National Trust medieval buildings country houses
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Anglesey Abbey, near Lode in Cambridgeshire, was originally part of a 13th century priory for Augustinian Canons. They were expelled during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the late 1530s and the building was converted into a country house around 1600 by Thomas Hobson. Its external appearance is generally of a house of that period though parts of the building are very much older. There have also been substantial extensions during the 19th and 20th centuries. At one point in the 18th century it was owned by Sir George Downing, who endowed Downing College, Cambridge.
The estate’s last private owner was the first Lord Fairhaven, who bought it in 1926. He fully restored the house which had fallen into disrepair and began to collect beautiful furniture, artworks and statuary, which can still be seen today. In the 1930’s he laid out beautiful gardens in the style of the 18th century. He died in 1966 without any heirs, and left the Grade I-listed house and its gardens to the National Trust.
This is the only room surviving from the Augustinian priory that once stood on the site. Lord Fairhaven converted it from the entrance hall into a dining room where he regularly entertained guests. The table was usually set for four guests. Adhering to medieval precedence when in a vaulted crypt, Lord Fairhaven insisted that he was served first!
Tags: Cambridgeshire Anglesey Abbey National Trust medieval buildings country houses
© All Rights Reserved
The last private owner of Anglesey Abbey, near Lode in Cambridgeshire, was the first Lord Fairhaven, who bought it in 1926. He fully restored the house which had fallen into disrepair and began to collect beautiful furniture, artworks and statuary. It was explained by the volunteer guide that the ceiling is actually a copy of one taken from an old house in Banbury, though Lord Fairhaven had his coat of arms put in the centre of it. He transformed this Victorian parlour into a small informal winter drawing room, where he and his guests could warm up after a day's racing or partridge-shooting.
Anglesey Abbey was originally part of a 13th century priory for Augustinian Canons. They were expelled during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the late 1530s and the building was converted into a country house around 1600 by Thomas Hobson. Its external appearance is generally of a house of that period though parts of the building are very much older. There have also been substantial extensions during the 19th and 20th centuries. At one point in the 18th century it was owned by Sir George Downing, who endowed Downing College, Cambridge. Lord Fairhaven died in 1966 without any heirs, and left the Grade I-listed house, it contents and its gardens to the National Trust.
Tags: Cambridgeshire Anglesey Abbey medieval buildings National Trust former priories decorated plaster ceilings country houses Tudor architecture
© All Rights Reserved
The last private owner of Anglesey Abbey, near Lode in Cambridgeshire, was the first Lord Fairhaven, who bought it in 1926. He fully restored the house which had fallen into disrepair and began to collect beautiful furniture, artworks and statuary. This is the library, which was the first major addition to the building after Lord Fairhaven bought it. It was completed in 1938 to house his large collection of books..
Anglesey Abbey was originally part of a 13th century priory for Augustinian Canons. They were expelled during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the late 1530s and the building was converted into a country house around 1600 by Thomas Hobson. Its external appearance is generally of a house of that period though parts of the building are very much older. There have also been substantial extensions during the 19th and 20th centuries. At one point in the 18th century it was owned by Sir George Downing, who endowed Downing College, Cambridge. Lord Fairhaven died in 1966 without any heirs, and left the Grade I-listed house, it contents and its gardens to the National Trust.
Tags: Cambridgeshire Anglesey Abbey medieval buildings National Trust former priories
© All Rights Reserved
The last private owner of Anglesey Abbey, near Lode in Cambridgeshire, was the first Lord Fairhaven, who bought it in 1926. He fully restored the house which had fallen into disrepair and began to collect beautiful furniture, artworks and statuary. There is a substantial art collection in the house, including in this Lower Gallery in an extension to the main house. Although I didn't study the paintings I spotted two by the 17th century French painter Claude. On their own they would have been worth many millions of pounds.
Anglesey Abbey was originally part of a 13th century priory for Augustinian Canons. They were expelled during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the late 1530s and the building was converted into a country house around 1600 by Thomas Hobson. Its external appearance is generally of a house of that period though parts of the building are very much older. There have also been substantial extensions during the 19th and 20th centuries. At one point in the 18th century it was owned by Sir George Downing, who endowed Downing College, Cambridge. Lord Fairhaven died in 1966 without any heirs, and left the Grade I-listed house, it contents and its gardens to the National Trust.
Tags: Cambridgeshire Anglesey Abbey medieval buildings National Trust former priories paintings art galleries
© All Rights Reserved