This species is not mentioned by Jenyns in his notes, which suggests it was not known from Cambridgeshire during his day. However, this may be due to being overlooked among the similar silver-washed fritillaries that were abundant. At present it is also thought to be extinct in the county, but a handful of historical records do exist, from after Jenyns’ time. 

In more recent decades the high brown fritillary has undergone some of the most extreme declines of any butterfly in the UK, with it reducing to around 50 sites and 5% of its former range. Conservation efforts are now focussed on protecting this species and preventing its national extinction, which is thought to have been driven by changing forest management. A reduction in coppicing means that their woodland clearing habitats have become overgrown.