Heritage > Historic Houses

Woburn Abbey

Family Rooms

The family rooms, other than those open to the public, are mainly in the south wing and the attic floor. All the bedrooms are named after estates once owned by the family, Chevington, Chenies, Bloomsbury, Endsleigh, etc. The best bedroom suite is called Covent Garden and consists of a bedroom, dressing-room and bathroom and is used when the family have important guests. There is a wonderful view from this window looking across the park to Basin Pond and the Abbot Oak in a clump of trees on the left, where the Abbot Robert Hobbes was hanged in 1538. This suite has recently been completely redecorated and most of the paintings hanging on the walls are views of Covent Garden at various periods of its history, (Covent Garden is closely linked with the Russell Heritage). They were painted by Balthazar Nebot, 1737, Pitter Angillis c. 1730, a very large painting of the view dated 1747 by Samuel Scott and another view showing the building in the process of construction in 1831 by Fredrick Christian Lewis, the father of John Fredrick, famous for his paintings of Oriental scenes; the Lewis family rented accommodation from the Duke of Bedford in Covent Garden. There is also an illuminated address to the 9th Duke from the market traders' association from when the hall was roofed. The furniture early 19th century.

On the ground floor is the West Hall, used by the family as their entrance to the house. It is also used on occasion by the family for luncheon and dinner, allowing the Canaletto Room to be open more frequently to the public. This hall was never intended to be the main entrance. That was in the east wing with a porte cochere built in the 1790s by the architect Henry Holland. When the visitors entered, they found themselves on the principal or first floor of the house, as it was Holland's intention that guests should not have to ascend long flights of stairs to reach their apartments. The West Hall entrance then was really the 'back door' and generally not used except that Mary, that 'Flying Duchess', who was rather anti-formality, found it very agreeable to slip in and out of the house through this door without having to pass long lines of household staff.

The West Hall was also the centre for the great breakfasts the 5th Duke, Francis, gave to his friends and noted agriculturists who attended the Woburn Sheep-shearing. This was an annual agricultural show which he started in the 1790s. Long tables would be placed running across the Hall and more than a hundred guests could be seated for this occasion. There is a print in the collection showing the 5th Duke at one of these gatherings, being presented with a silver-gilt salver from the Agriculturists of Great Britain: this large salver is on display in a showcase in the Silver Vaults. In the early nineteenth century the high ceiling echoed to the sound of laughter and music coming from the Theatre and Ballroom on either side of the Hall, when the 6th Duke and his lovely wife Georgiana were entertaining their guests with charades, theatricals and informal dances. The ceiling is supported by eight Roman Ionic pillars in couples and in the middle of the south and north walls are fireplaces with carved lime-stone reliefs by John Michael Rysbrack (1694-1770) set as overmantles into the chimney-pieces carved by John Deval (1701-1768), the subjects are the sacrifices to Diana and to Apollo. The West Hall really comes into its own at Christmas with log fires, holly and glowing candles.

The room which is now Lord and Lady Tavistock's private office was the Ballroom in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. This would be used mainly to entertain the house guests and not for the grand balls which were held in their London residence during the fashionable season. The wallpaper is hand-painted and came from China at about the same time as the paper in the Chinese Room; it is covered with willow branches and birds. The room is dominated by the full-length portrait of Francis, Marquess of Tavistock by Pompeo Batoni. Francis sat for this artist when he was in Rome on the Grand Tour in the early 1760's. In the two corner alcoves are displayed some of Lord Tavistock's collection of goats in various mediums. The large George II mahogany centre desk which Lord and Lady Tavistock

What colour are you?

All designs © Knight International Bulgarian Property Specialist 2001 - 2007