Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire, England

The following is from the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.  

HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT

Woburn Abbey, founded in 1145 on the site of the present house, was given in 1547 to Sir John Russell of Chenies (Buckinghamshire), later 1st Earl of Bedford. In 1619 Francis, Lord Russell, later 4th Earl, established Woburn as the principal family seat, extending the adapted ecclesiastical buildings and, in the 1620s or 1630s, commissioning the Grotto in the new north wing, probably from Isaac de Caus (Strong 1979).

By 1661 (Mapp of the Mannor of Woburn, 1661) a series of enclosed gardens had been laid out to the west of the house, within a park enclosing various areas of woodland with straight rides cut through. The park was extended and further formalised by 1738 (Plan of the Manor & Parish of Woburn, 1738), the circular Bason Pond [sic] having been created by George London (died 1714) as part of his grand West Approach.

Charles Bridgeman (died 1738) was consulted in the 1730s, his work including the removal of much of the formal 17th-century gardens surrounding the house. In 1747 the 4th Duke employed Henry Flitcroft (1697-1769) to rebuild the great west range of the house.

The 5th Duke employed Henry Holland (1745-1806) to build the south wing in the 1790s to 1800s, together with the Chinese Dairy, Sculpture Gallery and great London Entrance. At the same time the informal gardens to the east and south were enclosed and developed.

The 6th Duke employed Humphry Repton (1752-1818) in 1804, who produced his most splendid Red Book for Woburn in January 1805, with suggestions covering both park and gardens. Repton was employed until at least 1810, although some of his suggested features were not executed or were implemented later in the 19th century, Woburn being probably his largest and most complete work.

The 6th Duke was a keen plant collector, which is reflected in the publication between 1816 and 1833 of several catalogues with extensive lists of plants in cultivation at Woburn. He also extended the park to its current boundaries.

The gardens were further developed by Percy Cane in about 1930, and in 1955 the house and gardens were opened to the public, with the subsequent development of the safari park in the north park (although a collection of exotic animals has been kept since at least the 19th century), and other visitor facilities close to the house. The estate remains (1997) in private ownership.