House & Family History: Missenden Abbey was founded circa 1133 by William de Missenden, who led a group of Augustinian canons from Arrouaise in northern France to found the first abbey in Buckinghamshire (and the first or second Arrouaisian house in England). In 1583 the abbey was dissolved and forfeited to the crown in the person of Henry VIII; at his death in 1547, the king left it to his daughter, Princess Elizabeth. After Elizabeth became queen she gave Missenden Abbey to her favorite, Robert, Earl of Leicester; he in turn sold it in 1574 to Sir William Fleetwood, recorder of London and Member of Parliament for the City of London. The Fleetwood family remained seated at Missenden Abbey until the mid-18th century, when the male line failed and the Estate was purchased by James Oldham, a rich ironmonger from Holborn, who largely rebuilt the House. In 1806 Missenden was purchased by John Ayton, who rebuilt the House again – this time in the Gothick style – and left it pretty much as it is seen today. In 1985 a serious fire gutted the interiors; they were remodeled and reconstructed between 1985 and 1988 to the designs of Buckinghamshire architect Paul Markcrow.
Architect: Unknown (designed by an unknown architect)
Date: Circa 1806House Listed: Grade II
Park Listed: Grade II
Past Seat / Home of: Queen Elizabeth I, 16th century. Sir William Fleetwood, late 16th century; Fleetwood family here until the mid-18th century. James Oldham, 18th century. John Ayton, 1806-15. Carrington family, 1815-1946.
Current Ownership Type: School
Primary Current Ownership Use: Mixed Use
Ownership Details: Owned by Buckinghamshire New University since the 1990s and used as a conference, wedding, and events venue.
House Open to Public: No
Phone: 01494-866-811
Fax: 01494-866-737
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.missendenabbey.co.uk
Historic Houses Member: No