Editing Woburn Abbey

{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox building
| name                 = Woburn Abbey
| former_names         =
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| image                = Woburn Abbey.jpg
| image_alt            =
| caption              = The west front of Woburn Abbey
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| building_type        = [[Stately home]]
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| owner                = [[Duke of Bedford]]
| current_tenants      =
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| location             = [[Woburn, Bedfordshire|Woburn]], [[Bedfordshire]]
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| location_country     = [[England]]
| coordinates          = {{Coord|51.9831|-0.5968|display=inline,title}}
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{{Infobox historic site
| embed        = yes
| designation1 = UK Grade I
| designation1_offname = 
| designation1_date = 22 October 1952
| designation1_number = 1114006<ref name="NHLE 1114006">{{National Heritage List for England |num=1114006 |desc=Woburn Abbey |grade=I |access-date=14 December 2016}}</ref>
| designation2 = National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens
| designation2_offname = 
| designation2_date = 30 November 1986
| designation2_number = 1000364<ref name="NHLE 1000364">{{National Heritage List for England |num=1000364 |desc=Woburn Abbey (Park and Garden) |grade=I |access-date=14 December 2016}}</ref>
}}
}}
'''Woburn Abbey''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|w|oʊ|b|ər|n}}),{{#tag:ref|Locally until c.1960 referring to the Village or Abbey {{IPAc-en|w|uː|b|ər|n}}|group= n}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/woburn-abbey?showCookiePolicy=true|title=Woburn Abbey|access-date=23 September 2014|publisher=Collins Dictionary|date=n.d.}}</ref> occupying the east of the village of [[Woburn, Bedfordshire|Woburn]], [[Bedfordshire]], England, is a [[English country house|country house]], the [[family seat]] of the [[Duke of Bedford]].  Although it is still a family home to the current duke, it is open on specified days to visitors, along with the diverse estate surrounding it, including the historic [[English landscape garden|landscape gardens]] and [[Deer park (England)|deer park]] (by [[Humphry Repton]]), as well as more recently added attractions including [[Woburn Safari Park]], a miniature railway and a garden/visitor centre. It was built by [[William Russell, 1st Baron Russell of Thornhaugh]].

== 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"/>

== Second World War ==
Visiting Woburn Abbey in March 1939, the MP and diarist [[Henry Channon]] described the well-kept-up "feudal magnificance" of the estate shortly before the outbreak of war. This included more than twenty drawing rooms, thirty cars and whole rooms devoted each to collections of [[Joshua Reynolds]], [[Canaletto]]s and [[Van Dyck]] paintings.<ref>Henry ("Chips") Channon ''The Diaries 1938-43'' (Vol. 2), edited by Simon Heffer, Penguin 2021.</ref>

From 1941 Woburn Abbey was the headquarters of the secretive [[Political Warfare Executive]] (PWE) which had its London offices at the BBC's [[Bush House]].<ref>{{cite web|language=en |url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C8197 |title=Political Warfare Executive and Foreign Office, Political Intelligence Department: Papers (Ref: FO 898) |publisher=[[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|The National Archives]] |website=Discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk |date=1938–1973 |access-date=10 August 2017}}</ref>

== 1945 to 1970s ==
[[Image:Woburn Abbey - plan of the pleasure ground from Hortus Gramineus Woburnensis (1816).jpg|thumb|200px|The layout of Woburn before partial demolition. Building 'C' was demolished, and the upper half of building 'A' (the east part of the main western building) as well.]]
Following [[World War II]], [[dry rot]] was discovered and half the Abbey was subsequently demolished. When the [[Hastings William Sackville Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford|12th Duke]] died in 1953, his son the [[John Robert Russell, 13th Duke of Bedford|13th Duke]] was exposed to death duties of $14 million<ref name=bo>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=27 November 1963|page=1|title=Boxoffice Now Lifts The Family Mortgage}}</ref> and the Abbey was a half-demolished, half-derelict house. Instead of handing the family estates over to the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]], he kept ownership and opened the Abbey to the public for the first time in 1955. It soon gained in popularity and in its first ten years, it had ticket sales of $11 million, helping to pay off much of the death duties.<ref name=bo/> Other amusements were added, including [[Woburn Safari Park]] on the grounds of the Abbey in 1970. Asked about the unfavourable comments by other aristocrats when he turned the family home into a safari park, the 13th Duke said, "I do not relish the scorn of the peerage, but it is better to be looked down on than overlooked."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-10-29 |title=Duke of Bedford |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11912193.duke-of-bedford/ |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=The Herald |language=en}}</ref>

== 1970s to present ==
The 13th Duke moved to [[Monte Carlo]] in 1975.<ref>"The Duchess of Bedford" by Nicole Nobody</ref> His son [[Robin Russell, 14th Duke of Bedford|Robin]], who enjoyed the courtesy title Marquess of Tavistock, ran the Abbey with his wife in his father's absence.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}} In the early 1990s, the Marquess and [[The Tussauds Group]] planned to turn the Abbey into a large [[theme park]] with the help of [[John Wardley]], creator of the [[roller coaster]]s "[[Nemesis (roller coaster)|Nemesis]]" and "[[Oblivion (roller coaster)|Oblivion]]". However, Tussauds bought [[Alton Towers]] and built one there instead.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}} From 1999 to 2002, the Marquess and the Marchioness, the former Henrietta Joan Tiarks, were the subjects of the [[Tiger Aspect Productions]] [[reality series]] ''Country House'' in three series, totalling 29 episodes, which aired on [[BBC Two]]. It detailed the daily life and the business of running the Abbey.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tigeraspect.co.uk/?p=746|title=Benidorm Series 1|work=TigerAspect.co.uk|date=9 May 2013}}</ref> The Marquess of Tavistock became the 14th Duke on the death of his father in November 2002 in [[Santa Fe, New Mexico]], United States. The 14th Duke was the briefest holder of the Dukedom and died in June 2003.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}} On the death of the 14th Duke, his son [[Andrew Russell, 15th Duke of Bedford|Andrew]] became the 15th Duke, and he continues his father's work in running the Woburn Abbey Estate.  The building is a [[Listed building|Grade I listed building]].<ref name="NHLE 1114006"/>

== Collection ==
The art collection of the [[Duke of Bedford]] is extensive and encompasses a wide range of western artwork.  The holdings comprise some 250 paintings, including works by Rubens, Van Dyck, Canaletto and Velasquez.  Moreover, the collection encompasses examples of the finest manufacturers of furniture, French and English in many periods, and a diverse collection of porcelain and silverware.<ref name="NHLE 1000364"/>{{failed verification|date=January 2020}}

=== Paintings ===
[[File:View of the entrance to the Arsenal by Canaletto, 1732.jpg|thumb|right|View of the entrance to the Arsenal, [[Canaletto]], 1732]]
[[Image:Elizabeth I (Armada Portrait).jpg|thumb|right|[[Armada Portrait|The Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I]], 1588?]]

''Dutch School''
:*Asselyn, Jan – 1 painting
:*[[Aelbert Jacobsz Cuyp|Cuyp, Aelbert Jacobsz]] – 5 paintings
:*Delen, Dirk van – 1 painting
:*[[Govert Flinck|Flinck, Govert]] – 1 painting
:*Goyen, Jan van – 1 painting
:*[[Paulus Potter|Potter, Paulus]] – 2 paintings (''A Hawking Party'', 1653)
:*[[Rembrandt|Rembrandt, Harmenszoon van Rijn]] – 2 paintings (''[[Boaz and Ruth (paintings)|Boaz]]'', 1643 and ''Self-portrait'', 1640)
:*[[Jacob Isaakszoon van Ruisdael|Ruisdael, Jacob van]] – 2 paintings
:*[[Jan Steen|Steen, Jan]] – 2 paintings
:*[[Willem van de Velde the Younger|Velde, Willem van de Velde (the Younger)]] – 1 painting
:*Werff, Adrian van der – 1 painting

''English School''
:*[[Thomas Gainsborough|Gainsborough, Thomas]] – 1 painting
:*[[Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger|Gheeraerts, Marcus (the Younger)]] – 2 paintings
:*Hayter, Sir George – 4 paintings
:*Hoppner, John – 2 paintings
:*Knapton, George – 1 painting
:*[[Edwin Henry Landseer|Landseer, Edwin Henry]] – 2 paintings
:*[[Joshua Reynolds|Reynolds, Joshua]] – 12 paintings
:*[[George Gower]] – (''[[Armada Portrait|The Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I]]'', 1588?, one of the greatest English portraits in existence)

''Flemish School''
:*[[John de Critz|Critz, John de]] – 1 painting
:*[[Anthony van Dyck|Dyck, Anthony van]] – 10 paintings (''Aubert Lemire, Dean of Antwerp'', c. 1630)
:*[[Hans Eworth|Eworth, Hans]] – 1 painting

''French School''
:*Bercham, Nicholas – 1 painting
:*[[Claude Lorrain|Lorrain, Claude (known as Claude Gellée)]] – 2 paintings
:*[[Claude Lefebvre (artist)|Lefebvre, Claude]] – 1 painting
:*[[Charles-André van Loo|Loo, Carl van]] – 1 painting (''Portrait of Louis XV'')
:*[[Nicolas Poussin|Poussin, Nicolas]] – 2 paintings
:*[[Claude Joseph Vernet|Vernet, Claude Joseph]] – 2 paintings

''German School''
:*[[Hans Holbein the Younger|Holbein, Hans (the Younger)]] – 1 painting

''Italian School''
:*[[Pompeo Batoni|Batoni, Pompeo]] – 1 painting
:*[[Canaletto]] – 24 paintings (''View of the Entrance to the Venetian Arsenal'', c. 1732 – one of Canaletto's greatest works)
:*[[Sebastiano Ricci|Ricci, Sebastiano]] – 1 painting
:*[[Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato|Salvi, Giovanni (Il Sassoferrato)]] – 2 paintings

''Spanish School''
:*[[Bartolomé Esteban Murillo|Murillo, Bartolomé Esteban]] – 1 painting
:*[[Diego Velázquez|Velázquez, Diego]] – 1 painting (''Portrait of Admiral Pulido Pareja, Captain General of the Armada Fleet of New Spain'')

== See also ==
* [[List of monastic houses in Bedfordshire]]
* [[Woburn Place]], [[Woburn Walk]], [[Woburn Square]] in [[Central London]]
* [[Robert Salmon (inventor)|Robert Salmon]] (1763–1821), architect of many buildings on the Duke of Bedford's estate

==Notes and references==
;Notes 
{{Reflist|group=n}}  
;References

{{Reflist|2}}

==References==
*{{cite book|last1=Adams |first1=John |last2=Adams |first2=Charles Francis |year= 1851 |title=The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: Autobiography, continued. Diary. Essays and controversial papers of the Revolution |volume=3 |series=The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States |publisher=Little, Brown |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=lWcsAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA394 394]}}

'''Attribution:'''
*{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Woburn (England) |display=Woburn |volume=28 |page=767}}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite book |title=The Woburn Abbey Collection of Classical Antiquities, Monumenta Artis Romanae XX|first=Elizabeth|last=Angelicoussis|year=1992|publisher=Zabern|isbn= 978-3-8053-1303-2}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Woburn Abbey}}
* {{Official website|http://www.woburnabbey.co.uk}}
*The [http://www.arachne.uni-koeln.de/drupal/ Woburn Abbey Collection of Classical Antiquities] in the [[Arachne (archaeological database)]]
*https://web.archive.org/web/20110612053031/http://www.mspong.org/picturesque/woburn_abbey.html
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