The Marquess of Camden was a made a Marquess in 1812.

He was the son of Charles Pratt, born 1714 that became Attorney General in 1759 and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in 1762. From 1766-70 Charles was Lord Chancellor and later President of the Council. In 1765 he was created Baron Camden and in 1786 an Earl. He died in 1794 and his son, John, was made a Marquess in 1812.

Originally the family lived in the Georgian house, which overlooks the Bayham Abbey Ruins. Overlooking a folly was a fashionable trait of the time. However, as the Camden family stature and wealth increased during the late 1800’s they commissioned the building of Bayham which became their principal residence for the next 100 years.

Many magnificent trees and shrubs in the grounds were planted by visiting Royalty during this period including the Duchess of Kent in 1936 (Marina, Princess of Greece) and Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (Queen Victoria’s daughter).