Editing Woburn Abbey (section)

== Pre-20th century ==
=== Monastic origins ===
Woburn Abbey, comprising Woburn Park and its buildings, was set out and founded as a [[Cistercian]] [[abbey]] in 1145.<ref name="BedfordBoroughCouncil">{{cite web |title=The Cistercian Abbey of Woburn |url=https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityHistories/Woburn/TheCistercianAbbeyOfWoburn.aspx |website=bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk |access-date=28 April 2023 |date=20 January 2023}}</ref>
The Cistercian community was dissolved by [[Henry VIII]] in 1538.<ref name="BedfordBoroughCouncil" />

=== Early Russell family rebuilding projects ===
In 1547 the estate became the seat of the Russell family and the [[Dukes of Bedford]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Motton |first1=David |title=Woburn Abbey |url=https://www.britain-magazine.com/features/history/stately-homes/woburn-abbey/ |website=Britain Magazine {{!}} The official magazine of Visit Britain {{!}} Best of British History, Royal Family, Travel and Culture |access-date=28 April 2023 |date=1 March 2013}}</ref> Around 1630, [[Francis Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford]] undertook the first rebuilding, demolishing or incorporating original abbey building and built the manor house on the monastic site, although the name ''Abbey'' was retained.<ref name="BedfordBoroughCouncilArch" >{{cite web |title=Woburn Abbey |url=https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityHistories/Woburn/WoburnAbbey.aspx |website=bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk |access-date=28 April 2023 |date=22 June 2019 |quote=The ministry reckoned that the current building does incorporate some of the fabric of the medieval abbey and notes that the first rebuilding took place around 1630 by Francis, the 4th Earl.}}</ref>

=== Eighteenth Century ===
The second rebuilding occurred under architects [[Henry Flitcroft]] and John Sanderson between 1747 and 1761.<ref name="BedfordBoroughCouncilArch"/>

In April 1786 [[John Adams]] and [[Thomas Jefferson]], both future Presidents of the United States, visited Woburn Abbey and other notable houses in the area.  After visiting them Adams wrote in his diary "[[Stowe House|Stowe]], [[Hagley Hall|Hagley]], and [[Blenheim Palace|Blenheim]], are superb; Woburn, [[Caversham Park|Caversham]], and [[the Leasowes]] are beautiful. [[Wotton House|Wotton]] is both great and elegant, though neglected".{{sfn|Adams|Adams|1851|p=394}} However he was also damning about the means used to finance the large estates, and he did not think that the embellishments to the landscape made by the owners of the great country houses would suit the more rugged American countryside.{{sfn|Adams|Adams|1851|p=394}}

Further rework undertaken between 1787 and 1790 was directed by [[Henry Holland (architect)|Henry Holland]].<ref name="BedfordBoroughCouncilArch"/>