Culture and Heritage

Through the many religious and historic buildings found in Mid Bedfordshire you can discover elements of our past, our culture and people. This itinerary takes you from the Far East to the far west of our district and is just a small sample of the many places that await you.

The itinerary starts at John the Baptist Church in Cockayne Hatley. Situated in the far east of the district this dramatic church stands alone and dominates over the surrounding rolling countryside. It was first recorded as one of fourteen that formed part of the original endowment of Newnham Priory, Bedford, founded in 1166. Externally the remote graveyard is the final resting place of the poet William Ernest Henley and his daughter Margaret. Henry worked with Robert Louis Stevenson on a number of plays. Following the amputation of one of his legs and subsequent use of a crutch he became the inspiration of Long John Silver in the book ‘Treasure Island’. The Henley family literary connections do not stop there; their daughter, Margaret, died young at the age of five years, inspired JM Barrie's character, Wendy Darling, in Peter Pan because of her slight lisp and the inability to say the word 'friendly'.

Travelling in a westerly direction, the churches of St. John the Baptist, Flitton and St. Mary’s, Maulden are worth a visit. Both are ancient churches with many interesting architectural features, not least the Mausoleums that are part of the overall building. At Flitton the Mausoleum is dedicated to the de Grey family of Wrest Park. It is built round the east end of the church and is the responsibility of English Heritage. Open by appointment tel: Mrs Stimpson 01525 860094.

Alongside Maulden Church is the Gothic Mausoleum, which is dedicated to the Bruce family. The Bruces were a noble Scottish family descended from Robert the Bruce. They were supporters of James V1 of Scotland who succeeded to the English Throne on the death of Elizabeth I.

Continuing your journey west, take time to visit the haunting ruins of a former Jacobean-hunting lodge Houghton House located on the outskirts of Ampthill. The House dates back to circa 1615 and is said to be House Beautiful in John Bunyan’s book, The Pilgrim’s Progress. It is believed that two architects were responsible for the house, John Thorpe and the renowned master of classical architecture, Inigo Jones.

From Ampthill journey on to Woburn for a visit to the 18th century palatial mansion Woburn Abbey. Home to the Russell family – the Dukes of Bedford, for over 400 years. The Abbey and the family have been the feature of a fly on the wall documentary series where the curtains have been drawn on both the upstairs and downstairs life at this most noted country house.