Why the name Rowden Abbey?

The Manor of Rowden was held by the same family for at least 650 years, from John le Moigne who was in possession before 1216 to the Hopton family who owned the estate up until the late 19^th Century. 

Around 1246 Sir John le Moigne obtained permission from Pope Innocent IV to build a Chapel to St. Anne at Rowden and to have a Chaplain living in his house.  Sir John's granddaughter was the only living heir and married Thomas Townley a squire to Henry 3rd Earl of Lancaster –  their son John, relinquished the surname of Townley and took that of Rowden, named after the place.

Rowden Abbey was a stone structure and lasted until 1651 when Edward Rowden enlarged the house pulling down and replacing it with a more modern timber building, very similar to the building currently still standing at NT Brockhampton Estate today.  It thought at this stage the Chapel was then cut into an island surrounded by the moat and disguised under another quite ornate building, as was found by archaeologists back in 2017.

Anne Rowden was probably the last Rowden to live at the Abbey until she died in 1704, her son Anthony Rowden, had no descendants, whilst Mary her daughter, married into the Barneby family, and in turn her great-grand-daughter, another Mary, eventually married Edward Cope Hopton of Canon Frome Court, who then inherited Rowden Abbey.  This version of Rowden Abbey was pulled down in the later 19th century when the more valuable items in the house were taken to Canon Frome Court for the Hoptons to enlarge the main family house. 

The land was sold to Henry James Bailey JP who instructed the eminent Architect John Douglas to design the full timber house that can be seen today.  There is much speculation around the name Rowden Abbey; was it a map maker who assumed that because there had been a chapel and Priest on site it must have been an Abbey? or perhaps it was named after the Le Moigne family who came over with William the Conqueror and were gifted the land, Le Moigne means Monk. Whatever the reason the building still maintains the historical name, Rowden Abbey.

henry J Bailey & Edith Ann Tarrett

Henry Bailey brought the land from the Barneby and Hopton family around 1880 and set about building this magnificent mock Tudor, Arts &  Crafts house.  The Architect John Douglas, had been architect for the Duke of Westminster's Chester Estate, Eaton Hall and was also involved with the design of many of Chester's buildings.  The Chester craftsmen used at the Abbey have left their mark on the fittings throughout the building.

Henry had a passion for rural life, he was a JP which meant he moved in circles with many like-minded people of the day.  This is how he met his wife, Edith Ann Tarrett, one of three daughters of the late Joseph Tarrett, MP for Herefordshire, who was renting Berrington Hall now owned by the National Trust just a few miles down the road.

Henry's enthusiasm for rural life and keeping traditions alive, saw him work with Lord Scudamore of Holme Lacy and John Arkwright of Hampton Court Castle to introduce the Hereford Cattle Breeds Society and the Breeds Book, a record of all the pure breed lines from all Hereford Cattle.  Henry also bred Hereford cattle and was President of the Society.

Henry and Edith went on to become champions of the rural way of life, Edith breeding prize-winning chickens, Henry starting Agricultural Shows, and eventually becoming the instigator in setting up The Three Counties Show in Malvern and President for a few years.

Henry and Edith never had children and on their death, the house was sold.  They are buried in the local church at Bredenbury.

the circus comes to rowden abbey

In 1942, Rowden Abbey, a sprawling 300-acre estate, found a new owner in the form of Ada Mary Chapman, a woman whose remarkable life story captivated all who knew her. Ada's journey to Rowden Abbey was as extraordinary as the woman herself.

Born into a family deeply entrenched in the world of entertainment and animals, Ada's entry into the spotlight was inevitable. Her brother George Chapman's acquisition of Chapman Animal Dealers, Circus, and Museum in 1922 marked the beginning of Ada's immersion into the world of circus entertainment. Tragically, George's passing in 1935 propelled Ada into the forefront, where she assumed control of the Chapman Circus, becoming Britain's sole female circus proprietor - a distinction she wore with pride.

Ada's tenure at the helm of Chapman Circus was marked by unparalleled success, with European and UK tours solidifying her reputation as a trailblazer in the industry. However, the outbreak of World War II necessitated swift action. Determined to safeguard her beloved animals from the ravages of war, Ada relocated them to safer pastures, setting up the Big Top in the field of her holiday home just down the road at Suckley, Worcestershire. Despite her best efforts, tragedy struck with the loss of 'Baby,' one of her cherished elephants, to the harsh winter conditions.

It was during this tumultuous time that Rowden Abbey emerged as a beacon of hope. The vast estate, complete with a farm and various outbuildings, presented an opportunity for Ada to provide sanctuary for her animals amidst the chaos of war. Fuel shortages prompted innovative solutions, with Ada employing her elephants and other animals in agricultural endeavours on the farm - a testament to her resourcefulness and devotion.

Ada's time at Rowden Abbey was brief but left an indelible mark on the local community. Tales of her adventures, both real and embellished, enchanted residents, with anecdotes of her purported Amazonian exploits captivating imaginations. Locals fondly recall the antics of Ada's menagerie, from elephants pilfering laundry to monkeys enjoying pub outings in Ada's Rolls Royce - a testament to her eccentricity and generosity.

Though Ada's tenure at Rowden Abbey was brief, her legacy endures. Today, the estate pays homage to this extraordinary woman through various tributes, including a painting by local artist Hannah Beth Bailey adorning the quaint shepherd's hut, depicting Ada's elephants in all their majesty.  As visitors stroll along the tranquil bank of the River Froome, they are reminded of Ada's enduring spirit, her connection with the land, and her unwavering devotion to her beloved animals. In the quiet corners of Rowden Abbey, Ada's presence lingers, a testament to her extraordinary life and the bond she shared with this historic estate.

The Gibbs Family

The Gibbs family bought Rowden Abbey in the late 1940s making it their family home for around 30 years, and owned Bromyard Brick & Tile Works, and were part of the famous Johnson Ceramics and Staffordshire's Meakin Pottery family, with a second huge Estate in Scotland.

The Gibbs family came into the Abbey with new vigour and set about modernising, putting in bathrooms to compliment the number of bedrooms, and with an abundance of tiles at their disposal the bathrooms were designed with floor-to-ceiling tiles, still in situ today.

Josephine Gibbs one of the daughters, was sent off to finishing school in Switzerland, becoming a very accomplished skier training with the Swiss Team.  In 1960 the Olympics were being held in California, America at the new purpose-built resort of Squaw Valley, and Josephine represented GB in alpine skiing in three events that year.

1960 was the first time an Olympic village for all the athletes to be housed together under one roof was used, and still is today.  The opening and closing ceremonies were designed by Walt Disney with Disney’s vision and his ability to put on a great show being responsible for the pageantry and grandeur of today’s Olympic Games. The theatrics didn’t start and stop with the opening and closing ceremonies though; each night during the games, after the nightly medal presentation, live entertainment was brought in for the athletes, a first for the Olympic Games, with Walt Disney and Art Linkletter arranging for stars like Bing Crosby, Marlene Dietrich, and Jack Benny to entertain the athletes. There were also movie screenings (with complimentary refreshments, of course) and a performance from Disneyland’s own Golden Horseshoe Revue.