18-24, HIGH STREET

A row of six cottages, numbered 18-24 High Street, were built in 1862 as part of the Bedford Estate by the 8th Duke. They are constructed of mottled pink brick with red brick dressings, and have clay tile roofs. The row has two storeys, with slightly projecting outer bays, each of which is gabled. The central bay is distinguished by a smaller gable flanked by two smaller gablets. The ground floor windows are arranged as 1:2:1, with three lights per window. The first floor windows are arranged as 1:4:1, with the central two and outer windows having two lights each, and the remaining windows having one light. All windows contain cast iron lattice casements set within gauged brick flat arches. Cottages 20 and 22 feature gabled porches within the angle formed by the projecting outer bays, with semi-circular archways and plank doors. Similar entrances are also present on the end elevations and in ground floor canted bays. The building has deep eaves and verges, ornamented with moulded drop finials to all gables. Red brick ridge stacks are visible.

The cottages were built in a period when the Dukes of Bedford aimed to provide comfortable housing for agricultural workers, prioritizing practicality over picturesque design. These cottages represent a high standard of design for working-class housing and are considered an influential contribution to the development of later housing models such as garden cities and early council housing. The Dukes constructed approximately 500 cottages locally between the late 1840s and World War I. The design of these cottages is similar to those shown in plans prepared by the 7th Duke. The increased use of ornamentation likely reflects the building's location near an entrance lodge to Woburn Park.