The ruins of Bayham Abbey from a 1908 magazine article
John Hoppner. "The 2nd Earl and 1st Marquess Camden as Knight of the Order of the Garter." 1806. In the collection of the Nationalgalerie, Berlin. Photo © Curt DiCamillo
The 4th Marquess and Marchioness Camden in front of the entrance of Bayham New Abbey. From a 1908 magazine article.
Earlier Houses: There was at least one earlier house on, or near, the site of the current house.
Built / Designed For: 3rd Marquess Camden
Collections: The Camden archives were sold by negotiation to the Kent Record Office in 1986. Sir Thomas Lawrence's "General Sir Charles Stewart, later 3rd Marquess of Londonderry," was sold to the National Gallery for £435,000.
Garden & Outbuildings: The remains of Bayham Abbey (see “Images” section), the best surviving example of a Premonstratensian abbey in England, are situated in the park. Founded circa 1208 as a monastery of canons dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the abbey was a community of priests who taught, preached, and performed charitable work for the local community. In 1525 the abbey was dissolved by Cardinal Wolsey and its buildings were abandoned. After Wolsey’s fall from power in 1529, Bayham came into the ownership of the crown; in 1580 Elizabeth I granted the abbey and its estate to Anthony Browne, 1st Viscount Montagu. In 1714 Sir John Pratt purchased the Bayham estate; he and his successors used the ruins of the abbey as a feature, or folly, in the landscape for the next 200 years. In 1961, Sir John’s descendant, John Charles Henry Pratt, 5th Marquess Camden, donated the abbey ruins to the government, which today, under English Heritage, opens the abbey ruins to the public.
Architect: David Brandon
Date: 1870-72
Title: No Voice From the Hall: Early Memories of a Country House Snooper
Author: Harris, John
Year Published: 1998
Publisher: London: John Murray
ISBN: 0719555671
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Disintegration of a Heritage: Country Houses and their Collections, 1979-1992, The
Author: Sayer, Michael
Year Published: 1993
Publisher: Norfolk: Michael Russell (Publishing)
ISBN: 0859551970
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Grade II
Park Listed: Grade II
Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSES: Anthony Browne, 1st Viscount Montagu, circa 1580-92. Sir John Pratt, 1714-25; Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden, 1725-94; John Jeffreys Pratt, 2nd Earl Camden and 1st Marquess Camden, 1794-1840; George Charles Pratt, 2nd Marquess Camden, 1840-66; John Charles Pratt, 3rd Marquess Camden, 1866-71. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: John Charles Pratt, 3rd Marquess Camden, 1871-72; John Charles Pratt, 4th Marquess Camden, 1872-1943; John Charles Henry Pratt, 5th Marquess Camden, 1943-76.
Current Ownership Type: Flat Owners Company / Condo Association
Primary Current Ownership Use: Flats / Multi Family
Ownership Details: Bayham New Abbey was divided into flats in 1976
House Open to Public: No Access to House - Grounds Open to Public
Phone: 03703-331-181
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/
Historic Houses Member: No