Wormsley Estate (Woodmundeslee, 13thC) in Stokenchurch was Held in the Middle of the 13thC directly of the Honour of Wallingford by the Service of a ¼-Fee worth 40s & the Payment of one Clove Gillyflower (clove pink-Dianthus) yearly to the Lord of Aston [Rowant]. Philip de Wormsley Enfeoffed John son of Adam de Lewknor, who was Holding in 1279. The later Descent is not known till a conveyance by William Waller in 1574 to Adrian Scrope is found. His grandson Col Adrian Scrope was Executed as a Regicide in 1660, but in the following year Wormsley Manor, which had consequently become forfeited to the Crown, was Granted to his son Thomas. John, Judge Scrope, succeeded his father Thomas & made a Settlement of this Manor in 1714. By the marriage of his sister & co-Heir Anne with Henry Fane, grandson of Francis Fane 1st Earl of Westmorland, the Wormsley Estate passed to their 3rd son Henry Fane, who died in 1777. It has since remained in his Descendants in the Direct Line.
During the Civil War the Inhabitants of Stokenchurch were largely “Parliament Men”, which is not altogether surprising given that the notorious Colonel Adrian Scrope, was a Resident of Stokenchurch (born at Wormsley Park 1601) & also a Churchwarden (1655). As a Member of the Army Council; he supported Pride’s Purge in December 1648, was appointed one of the Judges at the Trial of Charles I & Voted for his Execution on 30th January 1649. Whether it is due to Scrope, or as another Story has it, to Cromwell’s Chaplain John Owen who was also a Resident of Stokenchurch, the Church did not suffer desecration at the hands of the Roundheads. Scrope, himself was not so fortunate as he was Executed for Signing the Bloody Warrant, on 17th October 1660. He was Hanged, Drawn & Quartered at Charing Cross, along with Thomas Scot, Gregory Clement & John Jones Maesygarnedd; as a special favour, his Body was returned to his Family for Burial, rather than being put on Display.
The Wormsley Estate was Founded by the Scrope Family in the late-16thC. It belonged to Colonel Adrian Scrope, the Regicide & passed to his grandson John Scrope, a Baron of the Exchequer who died without Issue. The Estate passed to the Descendants of his sister Anne (d.1721), who had married Henry Fane of Brympton. Wormsley was occupied by Banker (Child & Co) Frederick William Fane 1857-1933. c.1957 Mr John Henry Scrope Fane.
The Fane Family retained Ownership of the House & Estate until 1986 when they Sold it to Sir Paul Getty & his wife Victoria Holdsworth. After he acquired the 18thC House, Paul Getty spent much time on Restoring the House & Estate back to its former Glory. Getty also had a Library added to the House to Accommodate his Book Collection & a Theatre where Performances were held for Invited Guests. It is now the Home of Mark Getty & his Family and the Site of his Cricket Field is known as Sir Paul Getty’s Ground. After Mick Jagger introduced him to Cricket, Getty Built a Ground in 1992 with a Mock-Tudor Pavilion.
Wormsley was Purchased by J P Getty, Jr. in 1984, together with 1,748 acres; 60-acres & 2-Cottages from the Estate were retained by the Fane Family. Wormsley is a beautiful 18thC Private Estate in the Chiltern Hills. The now 2,700-acre Estate was acquired by the Late Sir Paul Getty in 1986. Sir Paul embarked on a comprehensive Restoration Project across the Buildings, Gardens & surrounding Landscape. His passion for Cricket led him to create what is often referred to as the most beautiful Cricket Ground in England & the added Boundary Room Designed by Architect Robin Snell. Dating from the mid-1700s, the 2-acre Gardens, originally Designed by Richard Woods a contemporary of Capability Brown, has been Restored to its former Glory featuring a beautiful Rose Garden, Croquet Lawn, magnificent Pergola & the ‘Green Theatre‘, with its raised Grass Stage & Yew Footlights, Hosts a select number of Summer Events, Receptions & Garden Parties to Musical Performances & Recitals.
The Area is known for its Population of Red Kites. Once Extinct in England & Scotland, the Birds were reintroduced into England beginning in 1989. The area was not originally planned to be the 1st Release Site. It was originally intended to be Windsor Great Park, but at the last minute the Landowner pulled out & the Project nearly collapsed. Getty stepped in & offered Wormsley as an alternative. Over 90-Birds were originally introduced from Spain & there are now over 100 Breeding Pairs of these magnificent Birds. Such has been their success that young Birds are now moved to other parts of the Country to establish new Colonies. Red Kites can have a wingspan of up to 1950mm & a weight of up to 1-kg. They feed mainly on carrion, insects, earthworms, chicks & small Mammals
Collections: Sir John Paul Getty, Jr. (1932-2003) was one of the world’s greatest Collectors of Rare Books & Manuscripts. After Purchasing Wormsley Park in 1984 he Built an Extension to serve as a Library. His Collection ranged from a fragment of what is probably the earliest surviving English Manuscript (AD 640) to late-20thC Bindings. Treasures to be found in his Library include Boccaccio’s “De Casibus Virorum Illustrium,” Caxton’s 1486 1st Edition of “The Canterbury Tales,” Anne Boleyn’s Psalter, the Byland Bede of 1160 & the Ottobeuren Gradual. In 2003, just a month before his death, Sir Paul made his Final Acquisition: a First Folio of Shakespeare’s Plays “Comedies, Histories & Tragedies” from Oxford’s Oriel College, for around £3.5M, which he was able to add to the 2nd, 3rd & 4rth Folios, which were already at Wormsley. The full extent of the Wormsley Library including Bibles is not Publicly known, but it could well be worth over £50M. Sir Paul is known to have wanted his Collection kept together & for there to be Scholarly Access & ultimately for it to be accessible to a wider Public; thus, the Library is expected to pass to a Charitable Foundation, rather than remain in Private Ownership.
Garden & Outbuildings: In the 1990s a Folly, inspired by Miller’s at Wimpole Hall, Cambs, was Built by J P Getty, Jr. to conceal Satellite Dishes.
Since 2011 Wormsley has been the home to Garsington Opera. Created by Architect Robin Snell this wonderful 600-seat Opera Pavilion is located in Deer Park, near Home Farm, hosting a 2-month-long Summer Opera Season each year through June & July. The Stage stretches to over 100-Sq M. It has ground-level access Backstage for easy movement of Sets, Equipment & Displays. In addition to the Auditorium, which Seats 600, there are 5-Private Boxes (8-People) with the opportunity for Private Dining on the Upper Terrace. Guests can enjoy a pre or post-event drink at the Bar on the Lower Terrace whilst enjoying Artworks displayed in the New Gallery. Home Farm Barn has a raised Stage at one end with a Lofted Gallery area at the other. It is part of Home Farm, comprising Buildings, Spaces & Gardens in the Middle of the Estate, overlooking Deer Park & Lake.
The Family’s long-standing support of The Arts is exemplified throughout the Estate, welcoming the Artists & Opera-lovers who gather each year for Garsington Opera’s Performances in the Opera Pavilion, along with Bibliophiles or Academics who visit the world-famous Sir Paul Getty Library.
In 2014, Robin Snell also Designed The Island Pavilion alongside Lake at Deer Park, creating a fitting Home for the Getty Family’s Sculpture Collection – also providing a perfect place for small gatherings, events & dining experiences. The Estate’s Association with this renowned Architect continued through 2016 when he was commissioned to design The Boundary Room, a hospitality & event space for 300-Guests overlooking the Cricket Ground.
Aston Rowant & Chilterns Spring Line Villages 