In 1713 the Estate was sold to Sir Christopher Wren, one of the greatest of English architects, being most famous for the design and building of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. The Estate was bought primarily as the family country seat.
For many years the Wren family lived quietly at Wroxall as country “gentlemen”. Sir Christopher decided to leave his mark on the property, remodelling the historic church and building the unusual semicircle “crinkly crankly” walls, which still stand today round the north side of the Abbey garden.
Many members of the Wren family are buried in the Chapel and graveyard, including the wife of Sir Christopher Wren.
The family made many further changes and improvements, creating the gardens and landscaping which define the Abbey grounds.
