History of Francis Dashwood and his Brotherhood
This section, is just taster of the life and times of Francis Dashwood, the "Hellfire Francis" book and tours provide more in depth information about the lives and locations of the Hellfire Club.
So lets start at the beginning
On the Sunday 23rd December 1708 at St Botolph Bishopsgate London, Francis Dashwood was born into the wealthy family of landed gentry. He was the only son of Sir Francis Dashwood and his second wife Lady Mary Fane the eldest daughter of Baron Le Despencer.
Sir Francis was a wealthy businessman who had built his family fortune from trading with the Ottoman Empire as well as Turkey and China. On August 19th 1710 when Francis was only two years old his mother Lady Mary Dashwood (Fane) passed away at the age of just 36 years with his father promptly remarrying.
Francis Dashwood's childhood formative years were not really documented, other than he was educated at Eton where he became a life friend with William Pitt the Elder.
Significantly on the 4 November 1724 his father died, and with his fathers death, Francis Dashwood inherited his baronetcy, the family estate at West Wycombe and the vast family fortune all before his 16th Birthday.
Significantly on the 4 November 1724 his father died, and with his fathers death, Francis Dashwood inherited his baronetcy, the family estate at West Wycombe and the vast family fortune all before his 16th Birthday.
As all gentlemen of the period, in 1726 Francis Dashwood completed his education by traveling around Europe taking in the intellectual arts and architecture that the continent had to offer.
Francis started out on his first “Grand Tour” of Europe through Europe which lasted eight months and took him to France, Switzerland then back through Germany.
One of his favourite phrases at the time was: “To taste the sweets of all things”.
In 1729 Sir Francis decided on a second grand tour, this time starting in Italy then traveling to Turkey, Denmark, Greece, Asia Minor and finally Russia.
Italy at that time was a hotbed of occultism and Sir Francis revelled in his study of the forbidden arts and was particularly drawn to the Eleusinian mysteries.
He was also greatly influenced by the works of Francois Rabelais and his fictional Abbey of Thélème. Rabelais was famous for inventing a fictitious Abbey which was inhabited by monks who ignored the Word of God, made up their own rules and did whatever they wanted. It was this influence that became the doctrine of the brotherhood
FAY CE QUE VOUDRASS (Do what thou wilt)”
Italy at that time was a hotbed of occultism and Sir Francis revelled in his study of the forbidden arts and was particularly drawn to the Eleusinian mysteries.
He was also greatly influenced by the works of Francois Rabelais and his fictional Abbey of Thélème. Rabelais was famous for inventing a fictitious Abbey which was inhabited by monks who ignored the Word of God, made up their own rules and did whatever they wanted. It was this influence that became the doctrine of the brotherhood
FAY CE QUE VOUDRASS (Do what thou wilt)”
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During the 1730's Francis Dashwood's brotherhood started to meet at the George and Vulture Inn in London. Thomas De Quincey records one story concerning an unnamed lord who tied a man to a spit, roasting him, at the George and Vulture. Hogarth's Charity in the Cellar, painted about 1739. The five depicted are identifiable, the main two are the Earl of Sandwich and Sir Francis Dashwood. |
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Returning from Russia Sir Francis started his near lifelong task of renovating and developing the family estate at West Wycombe.
The mythical Bacchus and Ariadne proved to be of particular significance to him, so much so he engaged the Milanese painter “Giuseppi Mattia Borgnis” to work on the house. Francis Dashwood so impressed by his work employed him for the rest of his life, with his son Giovanni taking over and continuing on with the work after him.
Returning from Russia Sir Francis started his near lifelong task of renovating and developing the family estate at West Wycombe.
The mythical Bacchus and Ariadne proved to be of particular significance to him, so much so he engaged the Milanese painter “Giuseppi Mattia Borgnis” to work on the house. Francis Dashwood so impressed by his work employed him for the rest of his life, with his son Giovanni taking over and continuing on with the work after him.
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On the ceiling of the Great Salon he had painted a vast picture of the 'Admission of Psyche into the realms of the Gods', based on a painting by Raphael. The dining-room ceiling had the theme of the 'Triumph of Bacchus and Ariadne', based on a painting in the Palazzo Farnese in Rome, while the central section of the ceiling of the lower colonnade had a painted fresco depicting 'Bacchus crowning Ariadne'. |
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Shortly after the restoration began Sir Francis formed "The Society of Dilettanti", This brought together a group of serious art connoisseurs who soon gained a fine reputation in the world of art. When the society had acquired enough money and status, Sir Francis became very active in promoting expeditions and sent out architects and draughtsman to survey and draw reconstructions of many 'almost-lost' classical ruins.
In 1741, Sir Francis was elected to Parliament as the independent MP for New Romney and took his seat in the House of Commons. He began to busy himself with worthy schemes mainly to do with the repair of roads, the building of bridges and the general improvement of London and other principle cities.
In January 1744, Francis Dashwood founded another though short-lived Society called “The Divan Club”, it was never very popular and was terminated in 1746.
The principle qualification for membership to the Divan club was having been to some part of the Sultan’s Empire.
The principle qualification for membership to the Divan club was having been to some part of the Sultan’s Empire.
In 1745 Sir Francis much to the surprise of his friends and colleagues married Sarah Ellis the rich widow of Sir Richard Ellis.
As part of his schemes to improve roadways, in 1748 Francis Dashwood began to organize the construction of a new road at West Wycombe. This was a two-mile stretch of the London to Oxford road connecting High Wycombe and West Wycombe. The caves were produced as a result of excavations for road-material.
in 1751, Francis Dashwood founded a brother-hood of men, an Order he named after himself called “The Order of the Friars of St. Francis of Wycombe” also known as: “The Knights of St Francis”, initially meeting at the George and Vulture public house in London, As the group expanded they moved to one of the Temples at "West Wycombe park".
With the brotherhood originally meeting at Sir Francis's ancestral family home, quickly it became evident that it was not a suitable location. So the search for a more secluded and private place to hold its meetings was sought. Francis Dashwood found the perfect location through his friendship with a local painter Francis Duffield.
The Duffield family had inherited the old and disused 12th century Cistercian monastery called “Medmenham Abbey”. It was located on the bank of the river Thames at Medmenham, just three miles from Marlow and eleven miles away from West Wycombe in easy reach of London by boat. This proved to be the perfect location for what he wanted and leased it from from Francis Duffield.
The Duffield family had inherited the old and disused 12th century Cistercian monastery called “Medmenham Abbey”. It was located on the bank of the river Thames at Medmenham, just three miles from Marlow and eleven miles away from West Wycombe in easy reach of London by boat. This proved to be the perfect location for what he wanted and leased it from from Francis Duffield.
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With the Lease of "Medmenham Abbey, the brotherhoods name changed to the "The Monks of Medmenham" .
The brotherhood shared in Dashwood's loves and appetites for the cultural arts, as well as those for - Sex, drink, food, dressing up and politics. |
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by 1752 much work had been done on Sir Francis’ estate, the grounds of which had been transformed into a magnificent park.
A survey map of West Wycombe Park drawn by Maurice-Louis Jolivet shows how a little stream was dammed to make a lake with islands and a cascade, and how trees were planted to create a broad walk. |
Sir Francis then turned his attention to the "church of St Lawrence" and work began on its restoration.
In 1757 a new regiment was formed called the " Buckingham Militia”, and Sir Francis being the most important person in the county, in May 1763 was commissioned by the Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, a position he held until December 1781.
In 1757 a new regiment was formed called the " Buckingham Militia”, and Sir Francis being the most important person in the county, in May 1763 was commissioned by the Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, a position he held until December 1781.
Through the order of the brotherhood, there can be little doubt that Sir Francis and other members of the inner circle gained tremendous power and influence.
Many of the brotherhoods members and guests held high office in Government or the Opposition and favours were readily swapped and exchanged.
In the elections of 1762, Sir John Stuart the Earl of Bute was elected Prime Minister, he in turn invited Sir Francis to the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The truth is Sir Francis had absolutely no head for figures, and freely admitted that he could not do sums over five figures. To make matters worst and to raise money, he put a tax on cider at four shillings a barrel. This led to such an outcry from producers and drinkers alike, that he was forced to resign his office the following year.
Many of the brotherhoods members and guests held high office in Government or the Opposition and favours were readily swapped and exchanged.
In the elections of 1762, Sir John Stuart the Earl of Bute was elected Prime Minister, he in turn invited Sir Francis to the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The truth is Sir Francis had absolutely no head for figures, and freely admitted that he could not do sums over five figures. To make matters worst and to raise money, he put a tax on cider at four shillings a barrel. This led to such an outcry from producers and drinkers alike, that he was forced to resign his office the following year.
Work on his estate had continued and renovations to the church of St Lawrence completed. On the inside Sir Francis had rebuilt the nave and stripped out the chancel, then redesigned the whole interior as a reconstruction of the interior of the “Temple of the Sun at Palmyra” near Damascus. On the ceiling of the chancel, Giovanni Borgnis (his father having died) painted an original Last Supper, where the eyes of Judas Iscariot followed everyone around the whole chancel. Outside the tower of the church had been raised and capped with a Golden Ball. This was 80 feet above ground, seven feet across and had a trap door for access; wooden seats were placed inside it to accommodate three or four people. John Wilkes along with the Rev Charles Churchill was invited for "divine milk punch" in the Golden Ball after it was re-opened on 3 July 1763.
The church of St Lawrence completed Sir Francis turned his attention to building a huge Mausoleum Monument next to it. Later that year he was also appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, and on the death of his uncle inherited the tile of Baron Le Despencer with a castle near Dover. This automatically gave him a permanent seat in the House of Lords.
In 1765 the construction of the Mausoleum Monument beside the church of St Lawrence was completed The Mausoleum was originally built with a £500 legacy left to him by George Bubb Dodington who had died in 1762, for the "building of an arch, temple, column or additional room" as a memorial to their long friendship
In 1766 Sir Francis was appointed as Postmaster-General by William Pitt an office he would hold for the rest of his life. During which time he established the penny post in Dublin and experimented with fast mail deliveries between towns.
Sarah Ellis his wife for 24 years died in 1769 and was buried in the family vault in St Lawrence’s church. A memorial was built to her in the very centre of the Mausoleum beside the church. After the death of his wife, Sir Francis continued with the work of developing his estate, and in 1770 built an addition to the west-wing of West Wycombe House. This being a replica of the “Temple of Bacchus at Telos”, near Smyrna taken from drawings made by Nicholas Revett for the Dilettante Society.
In 1773 Benjamin Franklin the American Deputy Postmaster-General was a guest at West Wycombe House. Sir Francis now in retirement and quite surprisingly given his background, collaborated with Benjamin Franklin to produce a revised edition of the “Book of Common Prayer” for the Church of England. Entitled “The Franklin Prayer Book” it omitted all readings from the Old Testament and became popular in America but was rejected in England by the British Bishops.
Paul Whitehead the former Steward and Keeper of the Minute Book of the order at Medmenham abbey died in 1774. Wishing his body to be left to science but his heart preserved, he wrote:
"…that my heart be taken out…the purchase of a marble urn… in which I desire it may be deposited and placed…in some corner of his Mausoleum, as a Memorial of its Owner’s warm attachment to the Noble Founder."
His wish was granted, and his heart was placed on a black-draped bier carried by six soldiers of the Bucks Militia, the choir of St Lawrence’s church singing an especially composed piece for the occasion as the procession entered the Mausoleum monument were it was placed. "From Earth to Heaven, Whitehead’s soul is fled. Immortal glories beam around his head." reads the inscription beneath it.
"…that my heart be taken out…the purchase of a marble urn… in which I desire it may be deposited and placed…in some corner of his Mausoleum, as a Memorial of its Owner’s warm attachment to the Noble Founder."
His wish was granted, and his heart was placed on a black-draped bier carried by six soldiers of the Bucks Militia, the choir of St Lawrence’s church singing an especially composed piece for the occasion as the procession entered the Mausoleum monument were it was placed. "From Earth to Heaven, Whitehead’s soul is fled. Immortal glories beam around his head." reads the inscription beneath it.
Sir Francis now aged 66, was far from giving up his favorite pastimes. That same year in 1774, his mistress an ex-actress called Mrs. Frances Barry gave birth to a daughter, Rachael Frances Antonia. Then in 1776 he acquired the lease of Round Tar Island from Sir Thomas Stapleton as a base for boating and fishing. This is situated on the River Thames between Cookham and Marlow. In 1778 having retained the lease of Medmenham Abbey (perhaps out of sentiment) he finally gave it up and the property.
On the 11th of December having been in ill health for some time but still preparing for another tour to Italy, Sir Francis died. Just before his death he altered his will leaving almost everything to his illegitimate daughter Rachael Frances Antonia by the actress Frances Barry. He was buried beside his wife and parents in the family vault in St Lawrence’s church.
The life of Sir Francis Dashwood has down through the ages been shrouded in controversy, half-truths and legend. So much so that in modern times it is now difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. He was an unashamed libertine, a gallant who revelled in his indulgences. He dedicated his life, as did those of his order, to the worship of the old gods personified in Bacchus and Ariadne. As in the old tradition they met at night in the abbey, and later underground, secretly, and practiced something like orgies, but they did so in jesting parody. As they mocked the Christian church, so too did they mock the Devil and Hell, enjoying their reputations as rakehells.
Their meetings were a celebration of life and all its indulgences, which they lived as the motto of the abbey dictated “Do What You Will”. Sir Francis maintained this dictum right up to the end and never lost sight of his zest for life.
Their meetings were a celebration of life and all its indulgences, which they lived as the motto of the abbey dictated “Do What You Will”. Sir Francis maintained this dictum right up to the end and never lost sight of his zest for life.
