Philip was the son of Alan Basset of High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire.
[4] His elder brothers were Gilbert, a baronial leader, and Fulk, who became bishop of London.
[5] He inherited the manor of Wycombe; the town received market borough status in 1237.
Basset served as the Justiciar of England between the two terms served by his son-in-law, Hugh le Despencer, 1st Baron le Despencer.
[6] He served during the period that Henry III regained control of the government from the barons.