Medmenham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Medmenham |
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 St Peter's Parish Church |
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 Medmenham
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| Population | 1,030 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SU8084 |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MARLOW |
| Postcode district | SL7 |
| Dialling code | 01491 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Buckinghamshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Medmenham is a small village in south-west Buckinghamshire, England. It sits right by the River Thames. The village is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) southwest of Marlow. It is also about 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Henley-on-Thames.
The area around Medmenham is called a civil parish. This parish also includes a place called Danesfield. Danesfield is a housing area mainly for officers from the RAF (Royal Air Force). However, families from the RAF, Royal Navy, and British Army also live there.
What's in a Name? The Story of Medmenham
The name Medmenham comes from old English words. It means "middle-sized homestead" or "farm". Another idea is that the name comes from a Saxon leader named Meda. His followers were called Medings. So, the name could have been Medin'ham, which became Medmenham.
This village was first written about in a very old book. This book was called the Domesday Book. It was made in 1086. In that book, the village was called Medmeham.
Exploring Medmenham Village
Medmenham village has some very old houses. Some are made of timber, brick, and flint. Others are cottages built in the early 1900s. These were made from local chalk rock.
The village has a church called Saint Peter's Church. It is a Church of England parish church. It was greatly fixed up in 1839. There is also an old pub called The Dog and Badger Inn. It has been there since the late 1500s.
The Old Ferry Crossing
The village lane leads to a place called the Old Ferry crossing. This ferry stopped being used after World War II. It was where a path for walking, called the towpath, crossed the River Thames. The path went from Buckinghamshire to the Berkshire side of the river.
Near the old ferry crossing, there is a large stone monument. It is called the Medmenham Ferry Memorial. This monument remembers Lord Devonport. In 1899, he successfully fought to keep the public's right to use the ferry crossing.
Ancient Hill Forts
Close to the village, there are two old Iron Age hill forts. A hill fort is an old type of fort built on a hill. The first one is called Medmenham Camp. It is separated from the village by the A4155 road.
A little further along the road is Danesfield Camp. This fort is also known as Danes Ditches. It is near the village of Hurley.
The Medmenham area also includes two small groups of houses. These are called Lower Woodend and Rockwell End.
The Famous Medmenham Abbey
A Cistercian abbey was built in Medmenham in the 1100s. An abbey is a building where monks or nuns live. This abbey was connected to Woburn Abbey. It was officially recognized by the king in 1200. The abbey was named after St. Mary. It closed down in 1536.
In 1547, the abbey was taken over by the king. This happened during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The abbey was then given to the Moore family. Later, it was sold to the Duffield family.
The Hellfire Club
While the Duffields owned it, the abbey became very well known. It was used by a secret group called The Hellfire Club. This club was led by Sir Francis Dashwood. The group was also known as the Monks of Medmenham. They met there between the mid-1700s and 1774.
The club was already seen as bad by 1762. During this time, the abbey was changed to look like an old Gothic building. Later, the club's meetings moved. They started meeting in tunnels and caves in West Wycombe Hill. These caves are now a tourist spot called the "Hell Fire Caves."
Sir Francis Dashwood had rented the abbey ruins from the Duffield family. After the club stopped meeting (around 1763), the property was sold. It was bought by the chief judge of Chester.
Abbey Changes Over Time
In 1898, the building was changed again. After this, it no longer looked like an abbey. More changes were made in the 1900s.
Today, the building is a private home. This means you cannot visit it. In 2015, a report said a German family owned it. They bought parts of the abbey in the 1970s and 1990s. The property was for sale at that time.
The report said the house had nine bedrooms and six living rooms. It also had a gym, a bar, and staff offices. The building has been a Grade II listed building since 1955. This means it is a special historic building. It was changed from a large house into two homes. Some of the stone from the original abbey was used. The house was changed for Sir Francis Dashwood in 1755. It was fixed up and made bigger in 1898.
Important Places in Medmenham Parish
- Danesfield House
- RAF Medmenham
Images for kids
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St Peter's Parish Church
