The ruins of the abbey from "Peacock's Polite Repository," 1829.
Built / Designed For: Sir Francis Duffield
House & Family History: The Cistercian Abbey of St. Mary was founded in Medmenham in the 12th century under the ownership of Woburn Abbey, a Cistercian abbey in Bedfordshire. In 1547, at the Dissolution of the Monasteries, St. Mary's was seized by the crown and given to the Moore family, who promptly sold it to the Duffield family. In 1755 the Duffields sold Medmenham Abbey to Sir Francis Dashwood. Sir Francis, later Lord le Despencer, was the founder of the infamous Hell Fire Club, also called the Monks of Medmenham, the Knights of St. Francis of Wycombe, and Dashwood’s Apostles. The club met twice a year, usually at Medmenham Abbey, though also sometimes in the famous West Wycombe Caves, where its members, who came from the top of society and included a regius professor at Oxford and the first lord of the Admiralty, devoted themselves exclusively to getting drunk and whoring. A particularly notable incident occurred when Sir Francis and the 4th Earl of Sandwich attended a service at St. Peter's parish church in Medmenham, where Lord Sandwich released a small monkey, causing the congregation to flee in horror, confirming to many that Hell Fire Club members worshiped the devil.
Architect: Nicholas Revett
Date: 1755House Listed: Grade II*
Park Listed: Not Listed
Past Seat / Home of: Sir Francis Duffield, 16th century; Duffield family here until 1755. Francis Dashwood, 11th Baron le Despencer, 18th century. Robert Hudson, late 19th century.
Current Ownership Type: Flat Owners Company / Condo Association
Primary Current Ownership Use: Flats / Multi Family
Ownership Details: Divided into two private residences.
House Open to Public: No
Historic Houses Member: No