Park Farm Mill And Granary, Now Forming North West Block Of Bloomsbury Stud

SP 9433-9533 WOBURN WOBURN PARK 8/185 23.1.61 Park Farm Mill and Granary, now forming NW block of Bloomsbury Stud GV II Former mill and granary belonging to Park Farm, a model farm begun 1795 by Robert Salmon, resident architect and 'mechanist' to the estate, for Francis, 5th Duke of Bedford. Damaged by fire 1834, after which it was rebuilt and extended. Mottled red brick, with dressings mostly in gauged yellow bricks. Slate roofs. Main rectangular block is 2-storeyed, with single-storeyed block projecting to N. Slightly rustic Neo-classical style. W elevation: asymmetrical arrangement. 2-storeyed main block has hipped roof to RH end. 2 slightly projecting gables of 2 storeys and attics, one to LH end, other off-centre. Gables have doorways with flanking sidelights. These sidelights, the semi-circular gable attic windows and the 3-light casements elsewhere have ornamental geometric glazing bars. LH gable door part-glazed. Block between gables has single door to ground floor, double door to first floor, RH gable has double doors to both floors, all plank doors. To L of main block is single-storeyed block with plank door and 3-light casement. Deep eaves and verges with moulded timber cornices. Interior: retains mill machinery, probably C19 replacement of that originally designed by Salmon. Also, a 25 h.p. gas engine of 1895 by Crossley Brothers of Manchester. None of machinery now in use. The 5th Duke was greatly 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, depicted in George Garrard's painting of 1804 and engraving of the same subject. Bedfordshire Record Office: R Box 818 bundle 18/4-12, plans and elevations of mill ranging from late C18 to later C19; H Howes, Bedfordshire Mills Bedfordshire County Council, 1963, p.65; 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: SP9593133287