Overview

Interesting historical visit, but a little disappointed with the Abbey, as limited areas to see, although the main house is accessible throughout. Wroxall Abbey is a Victorian mansion, converted as a 4 star Grade 11 listed building and used as a hotel, spa, and a delightful wedding venue. Built in 1141 by Sir Hugh Fitz Richard de Hatton ( Lord of Hatton) when he helped to found a group of Benedictine nuns, giving over 3000 acres of land to the church, where they formed a monastery, then known as the Priory of St Leonard, and those ruins remains are opposite the Abbey, which remained with the nuns until 1536 when King Henry 8th commenced his dissolution of the monasteries. 8 years later, the king granted the estate as a reward to Robert Burgoyne of Sutton, Bedfordshire. He was one of the kings Commissioners for Dissolution of the monasteries, and in 1544 granted the lands by the king, which was confirmed on 8th December 1544. Robert descended from a French Burgundian soldier in the service of the English crown during the Hundred years war. It seems he died shortly afterwards, in 1545, and he never resided at Wroxall. His son, also a Robert, demolished part of the monastery and then built a Manor House here in Elizabethian style, next to the priory ruins. He was made a High Sheriff of Warwickshire in 1597, before passing away in 1613. The Burgoyne family line lived here until 1713, when sadly, a Sir John Burgoyne passed away, and the house, after 169 years of uninterrupted succession, was sold to by his wife Constance (Middleton) for some £19,600. The estate of some 1850 acres of land along with the Manor House, was sold to Sir Christopher Wren. He used the manor as his private country retreat, inviting members of his family to stay at the Manor. The garden walls, built with curves were built this way to offer protection from the winds, and is thought to have been built by Sir Christopher Wren. This famous architect died in 1723 and was buried in the choir of St Paul’s cathedral. It passed on then through the generation of the Wren family, however, from 1771 onwards it looks as if any member of the Wren family line actually lived here, the house instead was let to Samuel Aston of Birmingham. Records show that the last member of the Arwen family Theodosia Ann Wren married Chandon Hoskins of Harewood in 1837. He was the second son of Sir Hungerford Hoskins, the 7th Baronet of Harewood Park, and he transformed the estate to the present wooded and park like one we see today. His wife passed away in 1853 and he himself retired to live at Harewood, and sold his estate. It was then bought by James Dugdale in 1861, and he made considerable changes over the next few years. Being a business man he had considerable money earned fron his banking affairs, and as a mill owner, and during 1866, the original Manor House was more or less knocked down, and a new imposing building was erected, from then on known as Wroxall Abbey, built in the Victorian Gothic style we can see today. He also had new formal gardens and grounds developed. The Lady chapel next to the hall is dedicated to St Leonard and is a Grade 1 listed building, used for regular services and weddings. Apparently, the original Manor House and remains are now underneath the tennis courts. In 1868 he became the High Sheriff of Warwickshire before his death in 1876. His eldest son, James Broughton Dugdale inherited the Abbey until his death in 1932. Eventually it was inherited by alt.Commander James George Grenville Dugdale, a nephew of a previous owner, who leased the house to a girls school in 1963 and it became known as The Wroxall Abbey school for girls, and remained as a school until 1995, before completely closing in 1996. ( For more concise history, read www.British-history-co.uk ) The estate and Abbey was then bought by the Quinn family who now gained permission for the house to become a hotel, and later, in 2001 it was converted into a hotel. On 25th March 2020, Trinity Hotel Ltd took over the estate and hotel. OUR REVIEW You arrive at an unmanned barrier and then drive along pleasant landscaped grounds (photo 1) to reach the interesting enclosed Abbey grounds (photo 2) and drive up to the house (photo 3). There were no disabled bays marked, but you can park quite close to the hall anyway (photo 4) but you are faced with two step to get into the hotel entrance (photo 5). If you want to attempt it, then you will come into the main lobby (photo 6) and over to your right and in a office room you will find reception desk and a very pleasant receptionist (photo 7) Just beyond this is a small tight lift, mind your hands on side of your chair (photo 8) Which will get you upstairs to your bedroom if booked for overnight stay (photo 9) If you cannot cope with steps to get into hotel, then over to your left at car park is a little path which will take you alongside building, it’s on the level, and you can then turn right to run along the terrace to a concrete slabbed ramp (photo 10) but it is rather steep and difficult on your own to get up, but it will take you into the Bar lounge (photo 11) and a doorway next to bar will take you towards Henry’s lounge (photo 12). This is a large nicely furnished lounge (photo 13) with a lovely decorated ceiling, and large high windows offering pleasant views over the gardens (photo 14) and a nice place to sit and enjoy your gin and tonic. From here a door leads ahead to Henry’s restaurant (photo 15) with level wooden flooring, and quite a nice comfortable seating that looks inviting enough, but there’s no Special feeling about it (photo 16) but a delightful old original fireplace adds charm to the room (photo 17) with again nice views over the gardens (photo 18). It’s a very long room with another highly carved fireplace and ornate ceiling (photos 19 and 20) OUR FINAL THOUGHTS

Transport & Parking

It’s a nice driveway as you enter the grounds, and parking is very close to main entrance, but not easy after that.

Access

There is no way you can get up the steps for Abbeys main entrance, but just over to the left side of Abbey a little path takes you to the side of Abbey and leads towards a ramp that will get you into the Bar area. It is quite steep and we suggest you don’t try to get up on your own. There is a lift inside if needed, very small, so watch your hands on side of chair.

Toilets

Did not find toilets

Staff

Very friendly receptionist with reserved new bar attendants, and all willing to work hard and offer support

Photos