Description

HUSBORNE CRAWLEY TURNPIKE ROAD
SP 9535
12/43 Nos 40 to 45 (consecutive)
and detacned outnouses
22.1.86
GV II

Row of Bedford Estate cottages erected by the 7th Duke. Dated 1854. Red brick
laid in rat-trap bond. C20 tile roofs. Symmetrical one storey and attics
block. 6-bay facade, central and outer bays gabled. 2nd and 5th bays with
gablets. Ground floor has 2 3-light windows flanking 4 2-light windows.
Attic has 6 2-light windows. All are cast iron lattice casements under
slightly cambered heads. 4 doorways, all surmounted by gabled hoods with
curved brackets and drop finials. Nos 40 and 45 have porches to side
elevations. Red brick multiple chimney stacks.

The 7th Duke of Bedford recognised the advantages of housing agricultural
labourers in comfortable dwellings. From the late 1840's onwards the emphasis
in Bedford Estate cottage building was on the utilitarian rather than the
Picturesque. The cottages are remarkable for the high quality of construction
at such an early date. They represent an influential contribution to the
development of working class housing which culminated in the garden cities and
early council housing. The Dukes of Bedford built about 500 cottages in the
locality between the 1840's and World War I. This block typifies the plain
but substantial dwellings of the earliest phase in this building programme,
and is similar to designs in the 7th Duke's Plans and Elevations. The
brickwork is an interesting example of early cavity walling (cf. note by
Charles Hacker in above work). This block is part of an important linear
grouping of estate cottages along a road which forms part of the boundary of
Woburn Park and is included for group value.

The (7th) Duke of Bedford:Plans and Elevations of Cottages for Agricultural
Labourers, London, 1850 (reprint of letter and plans sent 1849 to the Earl of
Chichester, President of the Royal Agricultural Society); Tne (11th) Duke of
Bedford: A Great Agricultural Estate, being the Story of the Origin and
Administration of Woburn and Thorney , London, 1897; Rev. C.H. Hartshorne: The
System of building Labourers' Cottages pursued on the estates of His Grace the
Duke of Bedford n.d. but probably 1849.

Listing NGR: SP9593835588

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26451633

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  For the Record
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas