Audley End was originally Walden Abbey, a Benedictine priory founded in about 1139. The land sits around the River Cam and was on the original London to Cambridge road. When Henry VIII broke with Rome, all religious houses in England were dissolved – Walden Abbey surrendered on 22nd March 1538. Five days later, Henry granted it to Sir Thomas Audley, and created him Baron Audley of Walden in November of that year. Audley was a lawyer and had been speaker of the House of Commons when England broke with Rome. As Lord Chancellor, he confirmed Henry’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon, presided at Anne Boleyn’s trial, and passed the death sentence on Sir Thomas More. He was granted Walden Abbey as a reward for his loyalty to Henry, and Audley set about turning the monastic buildings into a house. Audley End was born.

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