Woburn
General History
Cravens Directory 1853

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Woburn is a market town, situated on the high road from  London to the north, and consists of several broad and well-built streets, the houses of which are chiefly of a modem character, in consequence of two dreadful fires which destroyed the greater part of the dwellings in 1594 and 1724. It is 9 miles south east of Newport Pagnell, 9 miles north-west of Dunstable, 15 miles south-west of  Bedford, and 42 miles north-north-west of London. The town is particularly neat and well paved. The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and is a pretty structure, having a pinnacled tower, finished with an octagonal lantern and vane. The former was erected by Robert Hobbs, the last abbot of Woburn, and within it is a curious monument to Sir Francis Stanton and family, comprising twelve figures in the attitude of prayer. The pulpit is very ancient, supposed to be coeval with the abbey, and richly ornamented with niches, pillars, and tracery.

This place is chiefly remarkable for having the seat of the Duke of Bedford in the neighbourhood, called Woburn Abbey. It was built in the middle of the last century, on the site of a Cistertian abbey, which was originally founded in 1l45, and granted to the Russell family in the reign of Edward VI. The building is quadrangular, very spacious, and contains some splendid apartments, a rare collection of portraits, and a noble sculpture gallery, supported by elegant pillars of various marbles from the ruins of ancient Rome, and containing Canova's group of the Graces, and the Lanti Vase. Here are also a fine collection of paintings, a well- furnished library, particularly rich in maps, and a Mosaic pavement from a Roman villa. The park is upwards of 10 miles in circumference, well stocked .with deer and game, and tastefully diversified with abundance of wood and water, and many objects worthy of note. Queen Elizabeth paid a visit here in 1752, and Charles I slept at the abbey in 1645, although its occupant was at that time in the service of the parliament. Ridgmount Park is another demesne of the Duke's at a small distance. In the romantic wood of Aspley, nearly adjoining Woburn Park, broken fragments of trees are frequently picked up in a petrified state, a circumstance ascribed to the extreme coldness of the soil, said to be derived from a neighbouring petrifying spring.

Near the centre of the town there is an appropriately designed Market House, and near it a Reservoir for the supply of water in case of fire, both recently erected by the Duke of Bedford. The population, according to the census of 1851, was 2048, giving an increase of 223 over the number of 1841. Petty Sessions are held here for the hundred of Manshead. Gas Works were erected in 1850 at a cost of 2000. There is a Literary and Scientific Institution, of which His Grace the Duke of Bedford is patron, and Lord Charles James Fox Russell, president. Woburn Union comprises sixteen parishes, containing 29,740 acres, and the Workhouse will hold 318. It has been greatly improved within the last five years, at considerable expense. The General Baptists, Independents, and Wesleyan Methodists have places of worship here. There are also British Schools for youth of both sexes, and one for infants: the latter, together with several almshouses, have been endowed and supported almost entirely by the Bedford family. Many of the inhabitants are employed in making lace and straw plait. There is a market on Friday, and four fairs in the year, viz., January 1st, March 23rd, July 13th, and October 6th.

CLERGY, GENTRY, ETC.

Bedford His Grace the Duke of, Woburn abbey 
Russell the Right Honorable Charles James Fox, George street 
Andrews Rev. James, Independent minister, Leighton street
Archer Mrs. Emma, Bedford street
Bayley Rev. Emilius, incumbent of St. Mary's, Bedford street 
Best Mr. Bartholomew, Market square
Castleden Mr George, George street
Cawthra Mrs. Maria, Bedford street
Chew Mrs. Jane, day school, Chapel street
Circuitt Miss Ann, Bedford street
Daniel Miss Juliet, Leighton street
Faunch Mrs. Sarah, George street
Godwin Rev. Thomas, Baptist minister, Leighton street
Porter Miss Elizabeth, George street
Reddall Mrs. Ann, George street
Rodgers Mrs. Emily, George street
Skinner Mrs. Elizabeth, Bedford street
Weldale Miss Susannah, George street

TRADES

Atwood George, victualler, "Bedford Arms" Family and Commercial Hotel and Posting House, and farmer, George street
Baker George William, farm bailiff, Woburn park 
Beard John, baker, Bedford street
Bedells John Geard, chemist, druggist, and grocer, Market square
Bell John, boot and shoemaker, Bedford street
Bell William, victualler, "Royal Oak," and cattle dealer; licensed to let horses for hire, George street
Bennett Joseph, butcher, Leighton street
Bennett Thomas, land steward, Woburn park
Bird John, wheelwright and blacksmith, Leighton street
Birtchnell Thomas, stonemason, Leighton street
Birtchnell William, stonemason, Leighton street
Botsford John, shopkeeper, George street
Brewer William, town crier and parish clerk, George street
Brittain Maria , Berlin repository, Bedford street
Brown George, butcher, Bedford street
Brown Henry, lodge keeper
Brown Humphrey. shopkeeper and boot and shoemaker, George street
Bunker Thomas, joiner and builder, and china, glass, and earthenware warehouse, Market place
Burtt Ann, victualler, "Greyhound" Leighton street
Button John, tinman and brazier, Bedford street
Carling Francis, saddler and harness maker, Bedford street
Clarke David, printer, chemist, druggist, grocer, provision merchant, and proprietor of the Wheat Protector, Park street
Clarke George Bowdler, surgeon dentist, Park street
Clarke Josiah, grocer and tea dealer, Bedford street
Crofts William, printer, bookseller, and stationer, Market place
Day Charles Richard, solicitor, High street
Dodd Stephen, printer, bookseller, stationer, and pianoforte warehouse, Bedford street
Dodd and Peeling, printers, booksellers, stationers, bookbinders, news agents, music sellers, and pianoforte warehouse, Bedford street
Down Henry, proprietor of the Farmers' Friend for the prevention of smut in
wheat, Market place
Dumbleton John, tailor and draper, George street
Dyke Emma, British schoolmistress, Bedford street
Edmonds George, butcher, Chapel-street
Edwards Henry, managing ironmonger, Bedford street
Evans Henry, hairdresser, perfumer, fancy repository, and register office for servants, Park street
Farrow William, managing provision merchant, Market place
Forbes James, gardener to the Duke of Bedford, Woburn  park 
Fowler James, brewer and maltster,  Leighton street
Foxley Benjamin, grocer and tea dealer, Chapel street
Foxley Joseph, beer retailer and poulterer,  George street
Foxley Samuel, beer retailer, Northampton road
Freeman William Edward Rogers, grocer, seedsman, and druggist, Market
place
Garner Robert, tailor, George street
Gilby John, linen and woollen draper and hatter, Market place
Green William, surgeon, George street
Greene John, solicitor, George street, High street
Hacker Charles, clerk of the works, Woburn park
Hall Ann, baker, Market square
Handscomb Ebenezer, clock and watchmaker and jeweller, High street
Handscomb Mary, milliner and dressmaker, High street
Hannell William, carpenter and builder, Leighton street
Harland William, bookseller and stationer, Market square
Harland William, solicitor's clerk, Market square
Hartlebury Henry, farmer, Speedwell farm, London road 
Harvey Lewis, tailor and draper; Park street
Havart Mary, boarding and day school, Drakloe lodge
Haymes Ann, blacksmith, Bedford street
Heighington Edward, grocer, provision merchant, chemist, druggist, and wine, spirit, corn, and seed merchant, High street, Cottage, Bedford street
Heighington Thomas, boot and shoemaker, Market place
Hennell Emma Frances, ladies' boarding school, George street
Hensman and Son, agricultural implement manufacturers, and iron and brassfounders, Bedford street
Hensman William, ironfounder and engineer, Bedford street
Hensman William jun., iron founder and engineer, Bedford street
Herbert James Andrew, joiner, cabinet maker, upholsterer, and paper-hanger, Park street
Hill John, victualler, " Magpie," , Bedford street
Hopkins Samuel, cabinet maker, Leighton street
House Eliza, milliner and dressmaker, George street
Hunter John, manager of the Gas Works, Leighton street
Jarvis Henry, baker and flour dealer, New street
Jones Edward, coachman, Woburn park
Kemp George, victualler, " Sun,"  George street
Kinns Edward, tailor and draper, Bedford street
Kinns William, tailor and draper, George street
Knott Ann, gardener, Bedford street
Lewis Jesse, victualler, "White Horse," and shoemaker, Leighton street
Lilley Robert James, confectioner, Bedford street
Lucas Henry, deer keeper, Woburn park
Mc Kay James, tea dealer and draper, George street
Mapley John, beer retailer, Chapel street
Martin John, librarian, Woburn park
Millard Charles, British schoolmaster, Leighton street.
Millard Peter Woods, plumber, painter, and glazier, Park street
Nixon Robert, plumber, painter, and glazier, Bedford street
Norris William, victualler, "Wheat Sheaf," maltster, corn dealer, and mealman, Market place
Nottingham Maria, blacksmith, Chapel street
Odell Susannah, saddler and harness maker, Market square
Palfreeman John, house steward, Woburn abbey
Parker Thomas, surgeon,  Bedford street
Parker and Veasey, surgeons,  Bedford street
Pearson John, hairdresser, perfumer, and fancy repository, High street
Peeling John Charles, printer, bookseller, and postmaster, Bedford street
Perkins William, linen and woollen draper, hosier, hatter, and general outfitter, Bedford street
Pickering William, boarding and day school, Leighton street
Price John, clerk, Park street
Pursell Henry, victualler, "White Lion," and carrier; Bedford street
Purser Charles, boot and shoemaker, George street
Rawlinson John, managing draper, Bedford street
Readman Henry, farmer, Grange farm, Leighton road
Reddall John, victualler, "Black Horse," Bedford street
Reddall Robert, watch and clockmaker, George street
Roberts William, boot and shoemaker, Market place
Roebuck James, baker, Leighton street
Rosson William, victualler, " Bell", Bedford st.
Rush Joseph, boot and shoemaker, George st.
Rutland Thomas, boot and shoemaker, Leighton street
Smith George, victualler, "Shoulder of Mutton," and tailor,  Leighton street
Smith Peter, cooper, Bedford street
Snook Francis, joiner and builder, George st.
Steers John, butcher, Bedford street
Stephens Richiard, forester, Woburn park
Stevens Martha, Infant schoolmistress, Bedford street
Stinn John, linen and woollen draper, silk mercer, hosier, and hatter, Marketplace
Stratfold Robert Collett, coal merchant and agent, Leighton street, Market square
Thurlow Charles, victualler, "Rose and Crown," Park street
Tooley Alfred, clock and watchmaker, Market place
Tutt James, plasterer, Bedford street
Whitlock Frederick, timber merchant and auctioneer,  Bedford street
Wilson George, chief accountant to the Duke of Bedford, Park street
Wolfe Henry Thomas, ironmonger. and brazier, George street
Woods William, stud groom, Woburn park
Woodstock Charles, managing grocer and druggist, Bedford street
Woodward James, land surveyor, Bedford street
Veasey Henry, surgeon, Bedford street, George street
Yates Joseph, cabinet maker, upholsterer, and joiner, Bedford street
Young William Ralph, superintendent of police and keeper of the lockup, Leighton street

Page last updated: 4th February 2014