Coombe Abbey

Coombe Abbey was founded as a monastery in the 12th century. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century, it became royal property. Elizabeth of Bohemia, the daughter of king James I was educated there in the early 17th century; had the Gunpowder Plot succeeded she was to have been abducted from Coombe Abbey and proclaimed as Queen Elizabeth II. In 1682, the West Wing was added by architect Captain William Winde. He also designed Buckingham House, which later became Buckingham Palace, and the resemblance is notable. In 1771, Lancelot 'Capability' Brown re-designed the gardens. Coombe Abbey was bought by Coventry City Council in 1964 and opened to the public. While the grounds of the abbey are now a popular nature reserve and country park the Abbey itself is now a hotel.