Titchfield Abbey

Date: 1231 [unknown]
Location: Titchfield, Hampshire, England

On the banks of the Meon.

Titchfield Abbey was established in 1231 when the Bishop of Winchester, Peter des Roches invited canons from Halesowen to found an abbey on land some half a mile north of the settlement at Titchfield and close to the River Meon. On 22 April 1445 the King, Henry VI, was married to Margaret of Anjou at the Abbey.

The Abbey was dissolved in 1537 and acquired by Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton who had it transformed into a country home with a magnificent gatehouse.

Titchfield Abbey Gatehouse.

The 4th Earl died without heirs male and the abbey was inherited by his daughter, Elizabeth, who was married to Edward Noel 1st Earl of Gainsborough. The second Earl of Gainsborough also died without sons and the property was divided between his daughters, Rachel, Duchess of Beaufort and Elizabeth, Duchess of Portland. The 3rd Duke of Portland acquired both parts of the inheritance which were sold by the 5th Duke in 1741 to Peter Delmé, MP. His son, another Peter Delmé was a great wastrel forced to sell his hounds and his horses.

Ruins.

In 1781, probably because of the squandering of a great fortune the mansion was abandoned, with enough demolition to create a romantic ruin in the fashion of the time. The ruins are now in the care of English Heritage.

Sources

• English Heritage
• Wikipedia: Titchfield Abbey