Haunted Hosts

Coombe Abbey stands as one of England's most historically significant buildings, with a rich and tumultuous past spanning nearly nine centuries. Founded in 1150 by Cistercian monks, the abbey served as a thriving religious community for almost four hundred years until the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII in 1539. The dissolution brought dramatic change to Coombe Abbey, as the religious community was forcibly disbanded and the property was seized by the Crown. Following the dissolution, the abbey passed through several noble hands before coming into the possession of the Craven family in 1622. It was during this period that Coombe Abbey played a pivotal role in English royal history. Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King James I and later known as the 'Winter Queen,' was raised at the abbey under the guardianship of Lord and Lady Harington. This connection to royalty nearly proved disastrous when the Gunpowder Plot conspirators of 1605 planned to kidnap the young princess from Coombe Abbey following the intended assassination of her father and the destruction of Parliament. The abbey underwent significant architectural transformation during the 17th and 18th centuries, with much of the original medieval structure being modified and enhanced to create a grand country house befitting its aristocratic owners. The surrounding parkland was landscaped by the renowned Capability Brown in the 1770s, creating the magnificent 500-acre grounds that visitors enjoy today. The property eventually became a hotel, allowing guests to experience its extraordinary heritage while sleeping within walls that have witnessed some of England's most dramatic historical moments.