Occupation on this site dates back to the arrival of a group of Augustinian friars who acquired the land in the 12th century and built a friary (remains of which can still be seen today incorporated into the later house).
The friars were evicted in 1535 following the dissolution of the monasteries and after standing unused for 65 years the property passed to Thomas Hobson who built a country house on the site incorporating some of the remaining parts of the original friary. He changed the name from ‘Anglesey Friary’ to ‘Anglesey Abbey’.
In 1926 the property was bought by 2 brothers, Huttleston and Henry Broughton, Both were keen on horse racing and owned a stud in nearby Newmarket, one of the centres of horse racing in the UK. Their father was Urban Broughton, an American who had made a fortune in mining and railways and their mother was Cara Rogers an heiress from a prominant American oil family.
In 1929 Huttleston was created 1st Lord Fairhaven. This honour was originally intended for his father, but unfortunately he passed away before it could be conferred and so it passed to his eldest son.
In 1930 Henry married and moved away and Huttleston set about restoring the house and gardens. He was a notable art collector and exhibited his purchases in the house.
Huttleston died in 1966 and having no heirs left the estate to the National Trust who now administer it.
