Chelmsford & District National Trust Supporter Group

Anglesey Abbey (NT) was built on the remains of a priory which was founded as a hospital of St Mary during the reign of Henry I between 1100 and 1135, and endowed as a priory by Richard de Clare in 1212. It was closed in 1536 during the dissolution of the monasteries, and thereafter passed through the hands of many different owners, and underwent many changes.

Eventually the ownership fell to Lord Fairhaven in 1932. He made extensive additions to the house o provide room for his rapidly expanding collections of paintings, tapestries, clocks, furniture and objets d’art. The library wing, designed by Sidney Parvin, was added in 1937, followed by the tapestry Hall and a staircase off the dining room in 1939.

The grounds were changed from meadows and grazing land to an 18th century style park with great avenues of trees and naturalised wild flowers, flower gardens, statuary and ornaments which can be seen today, plus additions and improvements made by the NT since they took over.

The Lode Mill was bought and partly restored in 1934, with further work being carried out in 1978 by the Cambridge Wind and Watermill society, so it is now a working mill and the flour can be bought at the shop. When Lord Fairhaven died in 1966 Anglesey Abbey was left to the NT with an endowment of £300,000 and is now a Grade I listed house.