English: Vale Royal Abbey Golf Club house The Club house was built on the site of what was England's largest Cistercian Abbey, founded by Edward I, who in 1277 laid the first foundation stone. It took a further 53 years to complete the Abbey. When constructed, the Abbey was larger than Westminster Abbey. In the 16th century, following Henry VIII's Reformation and Dissolution of the Monasteries Acts, Thomas Holdcroft purchased the estate and pulled down the Abbey and built the Great House.