Beautifully mellow under the trees by the church, and archaeologically a fascinating puzzle. Nikolaus Pevsner 1965
There is nothing quite to compare with a summer’s day spent in an exceptional formal garden surrounded by buildings of glowing diapered Tudor red bricks of different colours. For the return to our annual tradition of summer parties we have chosen with care a great house in Buckinghamshire that has been beautifully maintained by a private family who will host our gathering.
Chenies was the seat of the Russell family, the Dukes of Bedford. Most families are full of complexities and contradictions, but this one, not unlike their house, is filled with fascinating individuals. It was a family whose women were distinguished. Their accomplishments ranged from being a patron of the arts and literature, an aviator, a World War Two Resistance fighter, a radiologist, an ornithologist, a house conservationist and a garden designer. Its men were courtiers and political advisers, including a prime minister who was the architect of the Great Reform Bill, a challenging philosopher in Bertrand Russell, and inventive patrons of architecture by such as Inigo Jones.
Chenies is a truly puzzling example of Tudor architecture, and to this day no one quite knows how it has come to be the way it is. The current L-shaped house has a picturesque short early Tudor wing with an octagonal staircase tower, crow-stepped gables as if belonging on a Bruges canal, and wonderfully twisted chimney stacks. Through marriage in 1526 to the heiress of Chenies, Lord Privy Seal John Russell Earl of Bedford massively extended Chenies to accommodate a visit from Henry VIII in 1534 and his vast entourage. These extensions over a period of seven years created a palace to receive the king, six times larger than the manor we see today.
By the 1620s the Russells had abandoned it for Woburn and their London estates, including Covent Garden and Bloomsbury. The great palace was later partly demolished, possibly to save on window tax. The west and south wings are the oldest surviving parts of the original though their relationship to the whole as it existed in Tudor times is unclear.
We will visit the medieval church next to the house to see the Bedford Chapel with some of the finest monumental sculptures anywhere in Britain. Almost all the Earls and Dukes of Bedford are buried here rather than at Woburn, perhaps as testament to their Tudor roots.
Our host will be Charles Macleod-Matthews whose family acquired Chenies from the Russells in 1954. Since then the Macleod-Matthews family have been outstanding guardians of this very special place. Please come and join us as we try to unravel Tudor mysteries and enjoy a summer’s day together!
Please aim to arrive at Chorleywood Station on the Metropolitan line, and Chiltern Railways. If coming by car, maps will be provided. Parking is available at the house.
10.15 Our taxis will collect you from Chorleywood Station
10.30 Coffee and private tour of the house
12.00 Visit gardens
12.30 Lunch
2.00 Visit church
2.30 Day Ends. We provide taxis back to station.
Cost: £125 including taxis, coffee, guided tour, lunch and church donation.
Booking Information:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
This summer lunch party has been developed by Louise and Nicholas Friend. It will be presented by Nicholas Friend. Cheques are not a viable option at this time. Instead, please make your payment to Friend&Friend Ltd by bank transfer to our account with Metrobank, bank sort code 23-05-80, account number 13291721 or via PayPal to nicholas@inscapetours.co.uk, or credit/debit card by phone to Henrietta on 07940 719 397. She is available Tuesdays 10-12 and 2-5 pm or Thursdays 10-12 and 2-5 pm.
How to Set Up a PayPal account::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Click on this link: https://www.paypal.com/uk/home
In the upper right-hand corner of the screen, click “Sign up.”
On the following screen choose “Personal account” and click “Next.”
On the next page, you’ll be asked to enter your name, email address and to create and confirm a password. When finished, click “Next.”
Click “Agree and create account” and your PayPal account will be created.
How to Connect your Bank Account to your PayPal account:::::::::::::::::::::::
Log on to your account and click the “Wallet” option in the menu bar running along the top of the screen.
On the menu running down the left side of the screen, click the “Link a credit or debit card”.
Enter the card information you wish to link to your PayPal account and click “Link card” for debit card.
How to Send Money::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Log on to your account. Click Send & Request.
Enter the email address of the person you wish to send money to: nicholas@inscapetours.co.uk
Type in the amount you wish to send, click continue then press ‘Send Money Now’.
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