Earlier Houses: Thame is built on the site of an important Cistercian abbey, founded in 1138 by Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln.

House & Family History: The current house includes the early 16th century abbot's lodgings (to the south) and a small 13th-14th century range on the north, which incorporates arched cloisters. In the mid-18th century these various pieces were linked by a new house built on the west, probably on the site of other monastic buildings. The result is a house with 25,000 square feet of interior space sporting a west facade that's Georgian and a late Gothic south facade, complete with crenellated turrets and mullioned windows. The 16th century interiors are some of the earliest examples of the Italian Renaissance style in England. In 1984 Sir Frank Bowden, whose grandfather founded the Raleigh Bicycle Company (by 1913 the largest bicycle manufacturing company in the world), sold Thame Park to a Japanese family. The new owners intended to turn Thame into a country house hotel and started work on refurbishing the interiors; however, in 1992 all work came to a stop and in 2000 Thame was put up for sale for £8 million. The estate sold for £6 million in 2002, the outlying farmland was sold off and the house was restored and converted back into a private home.

Garden & Outbuildings: Thame has 450 acres of parkland, with 30 acres of gardens that are listed Grade II, complete with a seven-acre lake and a sunken rose garden, all set within a 1,200 acre estate. The Grade II-listed stables are also extant. In the early 21st century new greenhouses and potting sheds were built.

Chapel & Church: There is a fine Grade II-listed chapel in the park.

Country Life: XXVI, 90, 1909. CXXII, 1092 plan, 1148, 1957.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Grade II*

Current Seat / Home of: Paul Matthews

Past Seat / Home of: Abbot Robert King, 1530-39. John Williams, 1st Baron Williams of Thame, until 1559. Richard Wenman, 1st Viscount Wenman, until 1640; Thomas Wenman, 2nd Viscount Wenman, 1640-65; Philip Wenman, 3rd Viscount Wenman, 1665-86; Richard Wenman, 4th Viscount Wenman, 1686-90; Richard Wenman, 5th Viscount Wenman, 1690-1729; Philip Wenman, 6th Viscount Wenman, 1729-60; Philip Wenman, 7th Viscount Wenman, 1760-1800. Sophia Elizabeth Wykeham, Baroness Wenman, 1800-70; Wenman family here from 1559 until 1870. Charles Stone, 19th century. Mr. W.A. Wykeham-Musgrave, early 20th century. Sir Harold Bowden, 2nd Bt., until 1960; Sir Frank Houston Bowden, 3rd Bt., 1960-84.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

House Open to Public: No

Historic Houses Member: No