Medmenham, Buckinghamshire

Description
Medmenham, a village and a parish in Buckinghamshire. The village stands near the river Thames, at the boundary with Berkshire, 3 1/2 miles SW by W of Great Marlow, and 4 1/4WNW of Henley stations on the G.W.B., and has a post office under Great Marlow; money order office, Great Marlow; telegraph office, Greenlands. The village is a place of popular resort in the summer, and there is good fishing for roach in the adjoining reach of the river. The parish comprises 2404 acres of land and 38 of water; population, 320. The manor belongs to the Scott-Murray family. A Cistercian abbey, an offshoot of Woburn Abbey, was founded here in 1204 by Hugh de Bolibec; went gradually into decay, so as to be very poor at the dissolution; survives in remains, agglomerated with modern tower and cloister, adjacent to a little inn and a ferry-house, on a lovely and secluded spot contiguous to the Thames; became in the middle of the 18th century the abode of a mysterious community calling themselves Franciscans, from their founder Francis Dashwood, afterwards Lord Ie Despencer, but were better known as the " Hell Fire Club." The notorious John Wilkes was a prominent member of this club. Some of the doings of the so-called Franciscans are noticed in " Chrysall, or the Adventures of a Guinea;" and some pictures, representing their mysteries, are preserved at the Thatched House Tavern in London. Danesfield House is a chi£f residence, pleasantly situated and commanding beautiful views. Connected with the house by a cloister is a domestic Roman Catholic chapel, the latest work of Pugin, in the style of the 13th century. It contains a beautiful altar and a shrine, in which are some sacred relics. A large ancient entrenchment, supposed to be Danish, is near Danes-field House. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Oxford ; net value, £152. The church is Early English, of flint, chalk, and stone; was restored at several periods up to 1864, at a cost of nearly £1200; and has a tower and a fine E window. The churchyard contains a handsome monument to Mrs Bransby Powys.