Woburn Abbey

About this place

Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire has been the seat of the Dukes of Bedford for several centuries, built on the site of a Cistercian monastery dissolved under Henry VIII.

The Russell family have held the estate since the sixteenth century, and the current house was developed substantially during the eighteenth century.

It holds one of the more significant private art collections in England and sits within an extensive deer park.

The estate is also home to a safari park, which operates as a separate visitor attraction alongside the house.

History

The site was originally a Cistercian monastery, dissolved under Henry VIII in the sixteenth century. The estate subsequently passed to the Russell family, who became Dukes of Bedford and have held it ever since. The current house replaced earlier structures on the site and was developed significantly during the eighteenth century.

Architecture

The house is a substantial Palladian structure, though the precise architect and dates of the main building phases are not confirmed by the sources available for this entry.

Worth knowing

The thirteenth Duke of Bedford opened Woburn to the public in 1955, an early and influential example of a British aristocratic family commercialising a historic estate to meet rising maintenance costs.

Gardens & grounds

The grounds include a deer park and extensive parkland, which form a significant part of the visitor experience.

Facilities