Ampthill Park House - Ampthill Park, Bedfordshire, UK
Posted by: 
Dragontree
N 52° 02.244 W 000° 30.466
30U E 670937 N 5768129
Standing on this impressive estate is Ampthill Park House.
Waymark Code: WM7C19
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/03/2009
Views: 5
The house was built in 1686-88 for the Dowager Countess of Ailesbury and Elgin by Robert Grumbold.
The land originally belonged to the King but in 1615 James I gave the land to Mary Countess of Pembroke. Charles II then gave a portion of the land to John Ashburnham in 1661 whose descendent, the first Lord Ashburnham, went on to build Ampthill Park in 1694.
Also on the rest of the estate is the ruined Houghton House, a Grade II Listed building built in 1615 for Mary Countess of Pembroke.
It is believed that Wren was consulted by Lord Ashburnham on the design of the family pew in the estate's parish church. Captain William Wynne of Buckingham House advised on interior design in 1706.
Ampthill Park House comprises of eleven bays and has a basement and two storeys. Built of blue brick with red dressings it displays a coat of arms. Decoration includes some later 18th century work from when the house was enlarged and redecorated under Chambers in 1769-71.
After this period the second Earl of Upper Ossory owned the estate and it was he who was in charge when a cross, a Gothic Revival monument, to Katherine of Aragon was erected in the parkland by the architect James Essex. During 1771 and 1772 Capability Brown was employed to improve the grounds and it is this landscape we associate with Ampthill Park today.
In 1864 the Bedford family bought the estate and opened the parkland to the public who were permitted to enjoy organised sport in the grounds.
1914-1918 saw Ampthill Park used as an army training camp during the Great War. Following this in the Second World War the Park housed a Prisoner of war camp.
Bovril Limited bought the Park and adjacent land in the 1940s until in 1947 the Park was sold to the predecessors of Ampthill Town Council for just under £11,000.
Earliest Recorded Date of Construction: 01/01/1686
Additional Dates of Construction:
Altered between 1704-1707 under the direction of John Lumley and again by Robert Chambers between 1786-1772.
Architectural Period/Style: Baroque
Architect (if known): John Grumbold, the Cambridge mason and architect
Landscape Designer (if known): Capability Brown
Type of Building e.g. Country House, Stately Home, Manor:
Manor House
Interesting Historical Facts or Connections:
The Ampthill Castle is where Catherine of Aragon was held during her divorce from Henry VIII. There is a cross to commemorate her on top of the hill in Ampthill Park.
Bedfordshire Libraries details some of the connections:
http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.digitised_resources/ampthill_digitisation_timeline.htm
1690: Ampthill Park House sold to the first Lord Ashburnham.
1818: Ampthill Park House becomes the property of Lady Holland.
1947: Ampthill Council purchased Ampthill Park. The land covered some 153 acres.
1955: Park House sold to Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC for use as a Cheshire Home (moved in 1977 to new premises in Woburn Road).
Listed Building Status (if applicable): Grade II
Main Material of Construction: Blue Brick
Private/Public Access: Private
Related Website: [Web Link]
Rating: 
Admission Fee (if applicable): Not Listed
Opening Hours (if applicable): Not listed
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