Centre North Block Of Bloomsbury Stud, Forming Part Of Park Farm Complex

SP 9433-9533 WOBURN WOBURN PARK 8/186 23.1.61 Centre N block of Bloomsbury Stud, forming part of Park Farm complex GV II Former cow houses belonging to Park Farm. This model farm was begun 1795 by Robert Salmon, resident architect and 'mechanist' to the estate, for Francis 5th Duke of Bedford. This block is of slightly later date and does not appear on George Garrard's painting of Woburn Sheep Shearing (1804, but probably depicting scene of c.1801). Coursed ironstone. Slate roofs. Low single-storeyed blocks arranged around small rectangular yard, main elevation facing E. Rustic Neo-classical style. E elevation: symmetrical, with central 2-storeyed slightly projecting gable and single-storeyed slightly projecting gables to each end. Central gable has elliptical-arched recess containing 4-light window. Arched head rises into first floor, and is surmounted by round-arched window. Impost string course is in line with eaves of flanking single-storey wings. Each of latter has 2 3-light windows. All windows except first floor one are casements with ornamental geometric glazing bars, possibly c.1830. Outer gables each have plank door. Deep eaves and verges with moulded timber cornices. Louvred ridge ventilators to roofs. The 5th and 6th Dukes were interested in estate management and agricultural developments. Park Farm was intended as a place to demonstrate new agricultural technology, and was the setting for the annual Woburn Sheep Shearing. Bedfordshire Record Office: R Box 818 bundle 18/26, plans and elevations for "Feeding Sheds", n.d. but probably early C19; J M Robinson, "Farming on a Princely Scale: Estate buildings of the 5th and 6th Dukes of Bedford at Woburn 1787-1839", Architectural Review, November 1976, pp 276-279.

Listing NGR: SP9596533296