The Woburn Estate

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The Bedford Estates, LondonThe Bedford Estates, London

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Home to the 15th Duke and Duchess of Bedford, Woburn Abbey and Gardens have been closed since 2019 for major restoration. Now, with the work nearing completion, we are beginning to share glimpses of the meticulous work that has been undertaken. 

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The recent dry weather is resulting in parterres and parchmarks showing up across the country ... and it is happening at Woburn Abbey, too! First, @ChatsworthOfficial shared traces of its ‘lost’ 17th century gardens, then @BlenheimPalace published their hidden 18th century parterre. Since then, photographs of parterres and parchmarks have been shared far and wide - not to be missed are those at @LongleatOfficial So, what has the prolonged hot, dry weather revealed in Woburn ... drumroll, please! Drone footage has been captured which shows where the historic steps and terraces along the walled garden previously existed. These lines to the west of Woburn Abbey relate to the 1661 gardens as shown on the Jonas Moore survey (the map shown here forms part of that survey). For added value, we have also included a description of Woburn Abbey and its gardens, circa 1695, from the diary of English traveller and writer Celia Fiennes (1662-1741), “Through England on a Side Saddle” (Page 97). In this extract, she speaks of the steps within the Abbey grounds. These gardens look quite different to the ones we have at Woburn today. The boundaries of the gardens to the west of the Abbey, which can be observed through the parchmarks seen here, were all swept away by Wriothesley, 2nd Duke of Bedford, in around 1709. The house itself was also developed over the course of the 18th century. #WoburnAbbey #Woburn #Parterres #Parchmarks #Bedfordshire
Afternoon Tea: The legacy of Duchess Anna Maria Russell This Afternoon Tea Week, we’re raising a china cup to Duchess Anna Maria Russell (1783-1857), wife of the 7th Duke of Bedford, who is fondly remembered for popularising this tradition - and for making Woburn Abbey “The Home of Afternoon Tea”. The habit of drinking tea in the afternoon was already a familiar custom in the Duchess’s family, so when she married Francis, the Marquess of Tavistock (later 7th Duke of Bedford) in 1808, it is unsurprising that she continued with this pastime. Her lifelong friendship with Queen Victoria and her position at Court, where she served as Lady of the Bedchamber from 1837 to 1841, helped the custom spread far beyond the walls of Woburn Abbey. The ritual of drinking tea became so important, that in her Coronation Year of 1837, Queen Victoria granted @twiningsuk their first Royal Warrant for tea. In appointing Twinings as supplier of teas to her household, she ensured a plentiful supply to the Palace for afternoon tea and beyond. #AfternoonTea #WoburnAbbey #tea #historichouse #Duchess
Nature has been putting on quite the show in the Gardens. 🌼🦋🐝🦉 From fluffy ducklings meandering among the lily pads to butterflies drifting between blooms, busy bumblebees gathering nectar and tawny owls captured on trail cameras in the Estate woodland, every corner is alive with the sights and sounds of summer.🌿 #WoburnAbbeyGardens #SummerGardens #BritishWildlife #GardenLife
One of the many privileges of working on the Woburn Estate is sharing it with some of its most iconic residents. Woburn’s commitment to deer conservation dates back to the 19th century, and today the Estate remains home to a number of deer species, each playing a part in its rich natural heritage. Here are a few photographs captured by the team this month. #WoburnEstate #WoburnDeerPark #DeerPark #HistoricLandscape
The blue hour on the Woburn Estate. Before the sun comes up, the landscape looks a little different in the Deer Park. Mist settles across the park, the deer are often out, and the morning light creates moments like this. Captured by a member of our team, this photograph offers a glimpse of the grounds at an hour that few people get to experience. #WoburnEstate #WoburnAbbey #BlueHour #MorningLight #NaturePhotography
Since our 2019 closure, 98 paintings in Woburn Abbey’s world-famous collection have been conserved. Among the artworks that have been cleaned and restored is the full series of 24 views painted by Canaletto. Purchased by Lord John Russell, later 4th Duke of Bedford, in 1731, this is the largest single commission the Italian artist ever received. The result is impressive, with the set now returned to the Abbey and ready to be hung. The first image shows the mid-clean “tideline” on this Canaletto depiction of The Grand Canal in Venice, from the Abbey’s collection. The second image was taken before the clean and the third shows the painting post clean. Take a moment to compare the colour of the water and the sky. #WoburnAbbey #ArtConservation #Canaletto
Woburn Abbey’s Gardens are part of this new chapter. Excitingly, the new visitor entrance and facilities are nearing completion. Meanwhile, Humphry Repton’s vision for Woburn continues to guide our plans for the grounds. His Red Book designs, commissioned in 1804, have been used as inspiration for renovations in the Gardens for the last 22 years. From the renewal of structures, including the Rockery pictured, to the reinstatement of lost historic views and woodland planting, each project reflects a commitment to his original ideas. As a result, Woburn now stands as the most fully realised example of Repton’s work. #HumphryRepton #Gardens #StatelyHomes
Have you visited our new website yet? If so, you might have seen this image on the homepage, but can you guess what it is? Comment and let us know your thoughts. Bonus points if you can identify the significance of the markings. We will let you know if you guess correctly! www.woburnabbey.co.uk #WoburnAbbey #RestorationProject #EnglishHeritage
Detail by detail, Woburn Abbey is being carefully restored. Preserved, for the enjoyment of many generations to come. To receive exclusive details about the restoration project and details on our reopening in Summer 2027, follow us on socials and subscribe to our newsletter. The links are in our bio. #WoburnAbbey #Restoration #EnglishHeritage #bedfordshire
It was Ian Russell, the 13th Duke of Bedford, whose innovations changed Woburn Abbey forever. When he inherited the Abbey in 1953, it was in state of disrepair and it required a lot of attention. He took the decision to commercialise the family home and opened the Abbey to the public in 1955. He also opened @woburnsafaripark in 1970. In 1974, his son Robin, the Marquess of Tavistock, later 14th Duke of Bedford, took over the running of the Estate and opened the first of three golf courses at @WoburnGolfClub in 1976. More than 70 years later, Ian’s grandson Andrew and his wife Louise, the 15th Duke and Duchess of Bedford, are readying Woburn Abbey for its eagerly awaited reopening, following an eight-year restoration project. #WoburnAbbey #EnglishHeritage #StatelyHomes
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