Photo: Nigel Cox CC BY-SA 2.0 Source Cropped to fit
Chenies Manor House is a Grade I listed historic house in Buckinghamshire, and a member of Historic Houses. Read about its history, architecture and gardens, plus how to visit and what's nearby.
About Chenies Manor House
Chenies Manor House is a Grade I listed Tudor manor in the village of Chenies, Buckinghamshire, on the edge of the Chilterns.
The Cheney family held the site from 1180, though the house standing today dates mostly from the 1530s.
John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford, built it up to host the royal court, and it was once known as Chenies Palace despite never being a genuine royal seat.
The house remains in private hands and opens to the public on set days, with gardens known for their tulip and dahlia displays.
Read more on WikipediaHistory of Chenies Manor House
The manor passed by marriage through the Semark and Sapcote families before coming to the Russell family in 1526. John Russell enlarged the house to a scale fit for royal visits, but the family had shifted its main seat to Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire by around 1608. After that point Chenies was only partly maintained, and its grand north range, which had held the royal apartments, was eventually demolished. Chenies parish church still contains the private Bedford Chapel, used as the family mausoleum for centuries.
Architecture of Chenies Manor House
The surviving Tudor ranges were built mainly by John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford, between about 1530 and 1550. At the northern end of the west wing an undercroft survives from the earlier medieval manor house that stood on the same site, now a scheduled ancient monument.
Worth knowing
The house's Tudor apartments were built with hosting monarchs in mind, giving rise to its old nickname Chenies Palace, even though it was never an official royal residence. It is also used regularly as a filming location for television and film productions.
Gardens & grounds at Chenies Manor House
The gardens are one of the main reasons people visit, particularly during the tulip and dahlia festival periods.
Facilities
Plan your visit to Chenies Manor House
Nearest station: Chalfont & Latimer Rail Station (1.3 miles)
Open April to October on Mondays and Tuesdays; check the official website for specific dates and special events.
Admission
Free entry to Historic Houses members (show valid membership card)
Places to visit near Chenies Manor House
Micklefield Hall
View Micklefield Hall on heritage mapChiltern Open Air Museum
Visit Chiltern Open Air Museum View Chiltern Open Air Museum on heritage mapHall Barn
View Hall Barn on heritage mapBerkhamsted Castle
View Berkhamsted Castle on heritage mapOxhey Chapel
View Oxhey Chapel on heritage mapHistoric places nearby
Within 5 miles of Chenies Manor House there are 2 historic properties, including 2 historic houses.
Within 10 miles of Chenies Manor House there are 13 historic properties, including 8 historic houses and 2 archaeological sites, across Historic Houses, English Heritage and National Trust sites.
Within 20 miles of Chenies Manor House there are 52 historic properties, including 29 historic houses, 7 churchs and 4 gardens, across Historic Houses, National Trust and English Heritage sites.
Stay nearby
Make more of your visit with an overnight stay near Chenies Manor House.
Find places to stay nearby Affiliate link. We may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.Facts
A Tudor manor built to host kings, now better known for its tulips, dahlias and film crews.
- Type
- historic house
- Location
- Buckinghamshire, England
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