article_snippet: Also known as The Hellfire Club, it was a secret society of 24 members - known as the monks of Medmenham - who dressed in gowns and turbans before engaging in acts of debauchery.
article_snippet: Legend has it that the 24 members of the club would dress prostitutes and open-minded ladies of societies as nuns and demand the 24 members of the club pleasure the 'monks'.
article_snippet: In the early 18th Century Francis Dashwood, a former Chancellor of the Exchequer (pictured), founded the ‘Brotherhood of the Knights of St Francis of Wycombe’ - also known as The Hellfire Club - where the 24 members would refer to the 24 members as the 'monks of Medmenham' With 42 acres of land and gardens which have been beautifully cared for, Medmenham Abbey is just a stones throw from a long stretch of the River Thames .
article_snippet: The sordid days of Medmenham Abbey are now long gone and The property has been transformed into a 'historic and fantastic family home' John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich (left), was reportedly a member of The Hellfire Club, which would meet regularly at Medmenham Abbey (right) and hold scandalous parties.
article_snippet: They would dress up and have parties.
article_snippet: The initial meeting was deemed something of a failure and The Hellfire Club subsequently moved their meetings to Medmenham Abbey, where their called their the 'Monks of Medmenham'.
article_snippet: The 24 members of the secret society retreated to Medmenham Abbey, where they called themselves the 'Monks of Medmenham' every summer and carried out acts of debauchery including scandalous orgies with female prostitutes dressed as nuns.
highlights_snippet: Society members - including Earl of Sandwich - would dress prostitutes as nuns and engage in acts of debauchery .
  