Anglesey Abbey, near Cambridge, on Aug. 3, 2026. The manor was purchased by Standard Oil heir Huttleston Broughton, known as Baron Fairhaven, in 1926. (Devin Klecan/Stars and Stripes)
A recent afternoon drive through English farmland on gloriously empty roads brought an encounter with a sign that captured my interest.
It announced the presence of nearby Anglesey Abbey, which is 40 minutes from RAF Lakenheath. I’d looked it up before and expected a typical historic house. I was wrong.
Besides the Jacobean-style country house, the premises include 98 acres of gardens and manicured grounds as well as a working mill. The name of the estate comes from an Augustinian priory that closed in 1536. The house was built several decades later on the priory ruins.
The visitor center bustles with activity while a sign celebrates 100 years of Anglesey Abbey at the entrance on Aug. 3, 2026. (Devin Klecan/Stars and Stripes)
After taking advantage of the free parking, I entered the visitor center. Friendly staff, a large gift shop and a spacious cafeteria awaited me upon entry.
Even though I was tempted by the smell of freshly baked goods and various alluring items in the gift shop, I paid for admission and carried on.
The last owner of the Anglesey Abbey property was Huttleston Broughton, known as Baron Fairhaven, who purchased it with his brother Henry in 1926.
Born in Massachusetts in 1896, he was an heir to a Standard Oil fortune through his American mother. Over the decades he filled the mansion with books, paintings, sculptures, tapestries, clocks and more.
After Fairhaven’s death in 1966, his collection was donated to the National Trust. It has remained largely untouched ever since.
An information board tells visitors about the history of Anglesey Abbey near the main entrance to the estate. (Devin Klecan/Stars and Stripes)
Now its treasures were being admired by an American service member freshly arrived in England. One highlight for me was an oak armchair reputed to have belonged to William Shakespeare.
Throughout the mansion, each room I stepped inside felt like I traveled back in time. Intricate paintings hung on the walls as I passed through narrow hallways that led to different rooms. Each room I entered told a story of someone who had stayed in it.
One of the large guest bedrooms still awaits guests who will never come. Vintage polished women’s dress shoes stay perfectly aligned with the bedside.
As I inspected the room with curiosity, I noticed that a large, round oak table in one corner was spotless and completely dust-free.
At the end of one of the many hallways in the mansion, I observed that some rooms were noticeably newer than others. As Broughton’s collection grew, so did the property.
One of the most impressive rooms in the mansion is the library. Large bookshelves filled with hundreds of vintage books line the walls, stretching to the height of the ceiling.
After Broughton finished reading a book from his vast collection, he would sign the inside cover and place it back on the shelf.
Back outside after my tour of the house, I embraced the summer heat again and checked out the gardens. Sculptures depicting ancient Greek mythology sit among carefully kept grounds, giving the place a fairy-tale feel.
A sculpture looks down at the flowers inside the Anglesey Abbey gardens. The manor sits on 98 acres of gardens and manicured grounds that home over 60 varieties of roses. (Devin Klecan/Stars and Stripes)
The rose garden bloomed with the colors of the more than 60 varieties. I spent a considerable amount of time viewing the flowers, taking in their bright colors and distinct scents.
One of my favorite highlights was walking on the well-maintained footpaths that guided me through different sections of the garden, including a vast array of dahlias and seasonal bulbs.
Needless to say, the gardens offered the perfect opportunity for photography enthusiasts to capture a huge array of stunning shots.
The trails near Anglesey Abbey provide shade and views for relaxing walks in nature across the property's 98 acres. (Devin Klecan/Stars and Stripes)
I finished my journey on the well-maintained nature trails that circle the property, giving me a good opportunity to escape the bustling city life.
Whether you want history or a quiet countryside escape, one American’s vision from a hundred years ago still makes a strong solo or family day out.
On the QT
Location: Quy Road, Lode, England
Hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
Cost: Admission is 20.90 pounds for adults and 10.50 pounds for children ages 5 to 17; free for children 4 and younger; family rates are 52.30 pounds for two adults and up to three children, and 31.40 pounds for one adult and up to three children.
Information: +44 1223 810080, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cambridgeshire/anglesey-abbey-gardens-and-lode-mill
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