Burnham Abbey

Burnham Abbey is a medieval former nunnery near Burnham in Buckinghamshire, west of London and a few miles from Slough and Maidenhead. The estate sits on Lake End Road in Taplow. It is one of the few surviving pieces of a medieval women's religious house in the area and holds the highest grade of listing in England.

What is the abbey's history?

Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall and brother of Henry III, founded the house in 1266. Dedicated to St Mary, it was home to Augustinian canonesses, about twenty at the start. The community never became wealthy, and by the time it was suppressed in 1539 only ten nuns remained.

After the Dissolution the site passed into private hands and served over the centuries as a manor house and later a farm. Restoration took place between 1913 and 1915, and in 1916 the Society of the Precious Blood, an Anglican community of Augustinian sisters, bought the property. The sisters lived here for almost a century.

What survives of the medieval buildings?

The chapter house and sacristy remain from the original nunnery, along with parts of the frater (refectory) and infirmary. The main building is Grade I listed on the National Heritage List for England (listed 1955, amended 1985). An 18th-century timber-framed barn and surrounding walls are protected separately at Grade II. What visitors see is chiefly a group of conventual buildings set among gardens and a pond.

Can you visit Burnham Abbey?

This is not a ticketed attraction with set opening hours. The estate is private and access has always been limited: for years it functioned as a retreat house and guest accommodation for the community rather than a tourist site. In July 2024 the press reported that the last sisters had left and that the whole property was on the market at a guide price of around £3.5 million. Check the current ownership and access arrangements before travelling, and do not enter the grounds without an invitation.

How do you get there?

Burnham station is on the Elizabeth line, about half an hour from central London, with regular services from Paddington and Reading. The abbey lies on a quiet lane off the main road, so the last stretch is easiest by taxi or car. Taplow station is a similar distance away. Burnham Beeches, an ancient woodland nature reserve, is nearby and combines well with a day out.

Frequently asked questions

Is Burnham Abbey open to tourists? There are no regular tours. It is private land with restricted access, so confirm with the current owner whether any visits are possible.

Who founded the abbey? Richard, Earl of Cornwall, in 1266, as a house of Augustinian canonesses.

Do sisters still live there? In 2024 the last Anglican sisters of the Society of the Precious Blood moved out and the property was put up for sale.

What heritage protection does it have? The main complex is Grade I listed, the highest category on the National Heritage List for England.