Building record 0104100000 - THE ABBEY, ASTON ABBOTTS

Summary

Eighteenth to nineteenth century house with possible earlier core, during the Second World War used as residence of President Beneš, head of the Czech government in exile.

Protected Status/Designation

Listed Building (II) 1116025: THE ABBEY

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Type and Period (2)

HOUSE (18th Century to 19th Century - 1700 AD to 1899 AD)
MILITARY BASE (Modern - 1940 AD to 1945 AD)

Description

Dimensions - Length 30m, Width 12m.
Grade II. Large house. Late C18, altered early C19, possibly with an earlier core. Render, hipped slate roofs, brick chimneys. Parapet, first floor band course, irregular lengths of upper band courses and sill courses 2 storeys, S. front of 11 bays. 3 central bays are slightly projecting with dentilled base to parapet, barred sash windows to first floor, and round-headed similar sashes in slight arched recesses to ground floor. Impost band between arches. Similar arched windows in bay to right of central section and between outer left-hand bays 2 bays to left of centre have barred sashes flanking French doors, all under moulded pediment. Remainder has barred sashes, the outer pairs of bays slightly projecting and lower. N. front is irregular with front door in central canted projection, and service wing projecting to right. Late C19 block at N. end of service wing has shaped gable with diaper brick patterns and roundel (B8).
Aston House was a country seat of the Abbots of St Albans. Now a good commodious house of brick, stuccoed (B3, 1862).
Is on Sir Wlm Stanhope's estate (c.1750)(B1).
NGR to house.
During WW2 the Abbey was requisitioned for President Beneš for the Czech government in exile, from mid-November 1940 to October 1945. A bodyguard of Czech soldiers were housed in two Nissen huts in the grounds (B11).

Sources (14)

<1>SBC2416 Bibliographic reference: CARTWRIGHT JJ (ED) 1888 THE TRAVELS THROUGH ENGLAN D OF DR RICHARD POCOCK-- 1750, 1751 &LATER YEARS,.
<2>SBC10010 Map: O.S. 6 INCH (1:10560) MAP 1ST EDITION (1876/83).
<3>SBC14266 Bibliographic reference: SHEAHAN P655.
<4>SBC20461 Bibliographic reference: William Page (ed). 1908. A History of Buckinghamshire (Victoria County History) Volume II. Volume 2. p29.
<5>SBC20462 Bibliographic reference: William Page (ed). 1925. A History of Buckinghamshire (Victoria County History) Volume III. Volume 3. p328.
<6>SBC10729 Bibliographic reference: OS RECORD CARD SP 81 NW 1.
<7>SBC24516 Verbal communication: Andrew Pike (BCM). 1977. Pers comm May 1977, following field visit.
<8>SBC19252 Bibliographic reference: DoE. 1984. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Buckinghamshire: Aylesbury Vale District: Parishes of Aston Abbotts &C. p2.
<9>SBC5423 Article in serial: FOSTER A J 1902 A TOUR THROUGH BUCKINGHAMSHIRE IN BERKS, BUCKS & OXON ARCH JOURNAL 8 PP23-24.
<10>SBC19002 Unpublished document: Buckinghamshire County Museum Archaeological Service. 1998. Historic Parks and Gardens Register Review.
<11>SBC22393 Bibliographic reference: Aston Abbots History Group. 2000 AD. Aston Abbots 1000-2000 A Village History.
<12>SBC22544 Bibliographic reference: Neil Rees. 2005. The Czech Connection: The Czechoslovak Government in Exile in London and Buckinghamshire..
<13>SBC25438 Bibliographic reference: Professor Russell Thomas. 2020. The Manufactured Gas Industry: Volume 3 Gazetteer.
<14>SBC25431 Verbal communication: Julia Wise (BCC). 2021. Information from historic OS mapping and aerial photographs.

Location

Grid reference	SP 84540 20000 (point)
Civil Parish	ASTON ABBOTTS, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire