History & Descriptions

Dorney was described in 1806 in "Magna Britannia" as follows:


DORNEY, in the hundred and deanery of Burnham, lies two miles and a half nearly west of Eton. The manor was parcel of the possessions of Burnham abbey, and afterwards in the Garrard family. It is now the seat of Sir Charles Harcourt Palmer bart. His ancestor, Sir, James Palmer knt. gentleman of the Privy Chamber to King Charles I. married the daughter and heir of Sir William Garrard, who died in 1607. Sir Philip Palmer knt. son of Sir James, was cup-bearer to King Charles II. On the death of Sir Thomas Palmer bart. of Wingham, in Kent, which happened in 1725, without issue, Charles Palmer esq. of Dorney, succeeded to the title. In the church is the monument of Sir William Garrard above-mentioned.

Sir C.H. Palmer is impropriator of the great tithes, which formerly belonged to Burnham abbey, and patron of the donative.

The learned bishop Montague was born at Dorney, about the year 1577, his father being then minister of the parish.

Names, Geographical

The name Dorney means 'Island, or dry ground in marsh, frequented by bumble-bees'.