Earlier Houses: The current house may incorporate parts of an earlier farmhouse, which burned in late 18th or early 19th century.

Built / Designed For: George Elwes

House & Family History: Circa 1705 the Marcham Estate, formerly owned by the Abbey of Abingdon (before its dissolution by Henry VIII), came into the possession of the Elwes family. The late Georgian house was built circa 1800-03 for George Elwes, possibly incorporating the old farmhouse which had burned down. An 1806 drawing shows that the central three bays were pedimented, with a parapet built across the front (the roof was lowered soon afterward). George Elwes's only child, Emily, married Thomas Duffield from Berkshire; Marcham remained in the Duffield family until 1938, when the house and estate were sold to a Mr. Berners. The new owner restored and modernized Marcham, adding the 19th century S-shaped wrought-iron balustrade from a London house to the early 18th century dog-leg staircase. In 1939 the Air Ministry requisitioned Marcham for use by the Royal Air Force during World War II. In 1947 the house and 100 acres were purchased for £16,000 by the National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI) for use as its own short-term residential adult training college. The money was raised by each member institute giving £10, thereby raising an endowment fund of £70,000, including £20,000 from the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust (Mr. Berners donated the chandelier in the drawing room to the college). On September 24, 1948 the house was renamed and opened as Denman College, after Lady Denman, the NFWI's first chairman, who had just retired after 30 years in office. In the 1980s the Duffield family bought back from the college the adjacent farmland, leaving the house set in 17 acres of landscaped gardens (the Duffield family still live at Marcham Manor House). During 1986-87 £500,000 was spent on essential repairs to meet new health and safety legislation requirements. Marcham House can now accommodate up to 72 residential students in the house and nearby cottages: Brunners (opened in 1972), Beech & Willow (1992), and Maple and Oak (1997).

House Listed: Grade II

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: Elwes family, circa 1705 until 19th century. Duffield family, 19th-20th centuries.

Current Ownership Type: School

Primary Current Ownership Use: School

Ownership Details: Owned by the National Federation of Women's Institutes, who operate the house as Denman College, a short-term residential adult training school.

House Open to Public: No

Phone: 01865-391-991

Fax: 02077-363-652

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.denman.org.uk

Historic Houses Member: No