Molecular Binding - A Wedding of Note

It had been a glorious day on the South Coast. Urban-cub had come round to sit in the garden and absorb the rays. The Silver Vixen and Gorse Fox, however, had a wedding reception to attend and therefore preparations to make.

This involved selecting the right outfits and ensuring they were suited to the auspicious company with which we would be mingling. The Silver Vixen was, as usual, in full control. The Gorse Fox, however, learned several things:

1. When hanging up a suit bag, check that everything stays where it should be. In this case the trousers had slipped from the hanger and were crumpled up in the bottom of the bag. This mean that GF had to press his trousers before they could be worn.


2. When trousers are left alone in a suit bag they shrink around the waist-band.

Anyway, eventually everything was sorted and we headed off to the wilds of Buckinghamshire.


The reception was held at Notley Abbey, a 13th Century building near Haddenham. It's history probably starts in 1162 when an order of Augustine monks was founded at Notley on land that was donated by Walter Giffard, 2nd Earl of Buckingham, and his wife Ermengard.

The abbey church and the majority of the original abbey buildings survive only as buried remains, although portions of the cloister range were retained within the house and outbuildings of a post-Dissolution farm - now Notley Abbey House. The house was adapted from the abbot's lodging and guesthouse. (The Medieval Life in Bernwood Forest)

Historical documents record 24 abbots of the Abbey up until 1533. After the Dissolution the Abbey and grounds were given to Christchurch College, Oxford.

Like most ancient buildings there are several legends - one featuring a 2 mile tunnel that is reputed to run from the abbey to nearby Thame.


More recently, it was the home of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh and had an intimate feel about it that would make it a superb residence for people needing some privacy, but easy access to London (*)

According to Vivien Leigh - the Notley Abbey Years:
"Vivien & Larry first saw the Abbey in 1943. It was overgrown and in desperate need of restoration. Larry instantly fell in love with it, especially since he found out that it had been endowed by Henry V. Vivien was skeptical and considered it hopeless. Much of the home could not be viewed from inside because ceilings were caving, floors rotting, and pipes were broken. Nevertheless, the Oliviers purchased it in February 1945 and immediately began work on it. Vivien, too, soon fell in love with the Abbey. They put all their savings into repairing the Abbey. They focused on the large hall, study, 3 reception rooms, and bedrooms. With the help of decorators Sybil Colfax and John Fowler, Vivien put her personal touch in each room of Notley. Regency stripes were used and large pieces of furniture and artwork were chosen."

They sold Notley Abbey in 1960 after their divorce. It then became the registered office of Amalgamated Broadcasting Company and studios were installed for Canadian millionaire Arnold Swanson who used to prepare recordings to be taken by speedboat to the pirate radio stations.


When the Gorse Fox and Silver Vixen completed the 100 mile drive from the coast, it was soon after seven and the light was growing watery.

A long tree-lined avenue (72 Lime trees, planted by the Oliviers) linked the house to the nearby road, but the house remained hidden even from the car park, which meant that it was revealed at the last moment. It was easy to see the monastic heritage of the house - but this has been been carefully and tastefully updated inside with 21st Century fittings.
(*) Enough "Estate Agent"-speak