Chenies Manor House

The semi-fortified brick Manor House was built by Sir John Cheyne about 1460. Sir John Russell (later the 1st Earl of Bedford) made additions in 1526, and it was his principal residence.

The House is of great historical and architectural interest; Henry VIII and Elizabeth I with their Courts were entertained here. It is surrounded by several beautiful gardens; a white garden, a sunken garden and an extensive Physic garden containing a major collection of plants used in present-day medicine as well as fragrant and culinary herbs.

Other features are: a medieval well, underground passages, a reconstructed penitential maze and a reputed 'Priest's Hole'.

The House contains contemporary furniture and tapestries and there are beautiful flower arrangements throughout.

Interesting exhibitions are held in the new shop building, recently constructed in order to protect the 13th century crypt. Here, too, there is a flower-drying loft; flowers are grown in a special section of the garden for this purpose and are used for the superb dried flower arrangements displayed in the house.

Other attractions include a doll collection and the Shop, where dried flowers and other attractive souvenirs are sold. Many different kinds of herbs are also on sale.