Children’s Play Area. We will definitely go back again, and look forward to meeting up with Jeff and Laura for a couple of beers, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Ampthill, The Forest of Marston Vale - Forest Centre. The current clubhouse was built in 1980 and extended in the 1993. Ampthill Park to the west of this town, now the seat of Lord Holland, was constituted a royal domain by Henry VIII., who named the annexed estates the “Honour of Ampthill.” The old castle in which Queen Catherine resided, stood on higher ground than the present mansion, which is a superb edifice, with wings, and a flight of steps leading into a handsome hall. Together with Laurel Wood, they occupy the shoulder of land extending north-east from Ampthill Ridge, with the house situated at the north-west tip. It’s eminently readable and provides a reasonable introduction to the newcomer - describing Henry & Catherine, Lancelot Brown’s impact on the land (deer park to parklands), WWI & WW2 and local flora & fauna. We apologise for this delay. The above map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. Ampthill park does not disappoint. Without a dog between us we were able to enjoy our personal reflections on times passed when the four of us had been young couples living close by and attending a local university college just 5 km from where we were sitting. The Katherine Cross (listed grade II) stands in a prominent ridge-top position 700m south of the house, a tall stone cross of Gothic design erected by James Essex in 1773 for the second Earl of Upper Ossory, to mark the site of Ampthill Castle. Start, for example, with the information board to one side of the main car park. Not so much a park for people but one for ‘people&dogs’ as a single unit. 2nd edition published 1901 The cross, sited on a plateau with views north towards the house and Bedford Plain, bears a shield of England impaling Aragon, and an inscription by Horace Walpole commemorating Katherine of Aragon's residence: 'The mournful refuge of an injured Queen' (VCH). A further variation may be 'Hampthull', in 1381. UK What would King Henry VIII and his estranged wife Catherine of Aragon have made of modern Bedfordshire when viewed from their castle on top of the hill back in the mid-16th century in what is now Ampthill Park? Shortlisted for ‘Best Rescue of an Industrial Building or Site’ Angel Award in 2012, Michaela Strivens: Upside down world, Wallington, London Suburbs, Read about our latest aerial investigation methods. John Laing Collection JLP01/08/007475, New Heritage Partnership Agreement Signed at King's Cross Station, Brixton Windmill - Friends of Brixton Windmill. T Jefferys, The County of Bedford, 1765 That’s all the great people of Ampthill. by gourmetflaneur. The Ampthill Camp Memorial Cross lies 100m south-east of the Katherine Cross, built in similar style and erected by the Duke of Bedford after World War I to commemorate the use of the park as an army camp.The railway has been taken as the western boundary of the area here registered, but formerly the park extended west of the railway line, as far as the village of Millbrook (OS 1st edition published 1881). Sir John amassed a large fortune and constructed Ampthill Castle, a fortified house. Ampthill Park's Concert History. Comprehensive geophysical surveys have been carried out on the castle site in Ampthill Park. The owners, Jeff and Laura, although not living there, went out of their way to make everything good for us, nothing was too much, trouble for them. Beyond the fence the pleasure grounds contain many more mature trees, including the remains of a short lime avenue 200m south-east of the house, lying adjacent to, and to the north of, the main axis of the Lime Walk drive. Ampthill Park is a landscape designed by Capability Brown and is a Registered Garden. The Park is cared for by a Park and Amenities Manager and The Greensand Trust … Ampthill Great Park was landscaped by Capability Brown in the eighteenth century, and is a former hunting ground of Henry VIII. Petre, James Scott, 2012, The Castles of Bedfordshire (Lavenham: Lavenham Press for Shaun Tyas) p. 88-92 Goodall, John, 2011, The English Castle 1066-1650 (Yale University Press) p. 358, 469 The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system. The c 140ha site is bounded to the south by the old Woburn to Ampthill road, with the site of the medieval Little Park and Cooper's Hill south of this, to the east by the Bedford to Ampthill road, and to the north-west and north by agricultural land, with the mainline railway forming the south-west boundary. Ampthill Festival is Made by Us. Here lies Russett's Lodge, 800m south-east of the house, on the boundary between the park and the Plantation. From your bench along-side that part of the 65 km Greensands Ridge Walk that crosses the park reflect upon the pleasures of watching people walking their dogs – everyone passing has a dog (sometimes two); the pleasure of the dogs too – as they pass your bench in their tens or more. The area close to the house is laid largely to lawn with specimen trees, the ground falling sharply to north and south from the broad, level, central spine, with views from the slopes across the park to the south, and the park and Bedford Plain to the north. Horace Walpole visited Ampthill, corresponding regularly with Lady Ossory, and advised on the erection of the Katherine Cross in 1773, contributing the inscription. The actual entry reads: Ammetelle: Nigel de la Vast from Nigel d'Aubigny. Hill spurs, planted to emphasise their smooth contours, run from the Ridge down to the south boundary with, at the bottom, several late C20 sports pitches and clubhouses in a line running parallel with the belt which runs the length of the south boundary, merging into Russett?s Plantation at the east end. D Stroud, Capability Brown (1975), p 215 The castle has long since gone, but you can sit on a bench in front of the Catherine Cross that commemorates it and take in this part of modern Britain in all its semi-industrial urgency - if no longer the original industrial/manufacturing centre that once was. (We were in the park during school hours – otherwise it may have been ‘people&kids’.) The name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, it translates 'ant heap' or ant hill. Great photo opportunities, birds and squirrels everywhere. The existence of an establishment in Ampthill is mentioned in in 1725 in the SPCK's An Account of Several Work-houses.... A workhouse also operated at Shittlington (Shillington) from around 1724 (Emmison, 1933). Members of the public are at Ampthill Great Park, in Bedfordshire, where a Tudor castle once stood. Concerts; Jump to section: Top; Concerts; Years; Comments; Ampthill Park has had 4 concerts Date Concert Venue Location ; Jul 05, 2019 Amprocks 2019 Squeeze / Lucy Mair / Only Sun: Ampthill Park: Ampthill… In 1837 it was leased to Sir James Parke, later Lord Wensleydale, whose family remained as tenants until his widow's death in 1879, the estate having been bought by the Duke of Bedford during this period. The southern half contains many clumps of trees, perhaps planted by Brown, and some trees said to predate Brown's work (Bedfordshire Magazine 1972). Much of the town’s unique charm is owed to the residents of Ampthill Park House. Sir William Chambers remodelled the house 1769-71, encasing the whole in stucco (since removed), and building pilastered wings to connect the main block with the side blocks. Greensand Ridge Walk 27 Hiking Trails. Is this a must-do if you are traveling with a, Are the prices for this place or activity, Is this a place or activity you would suggest for, Is this attraction a good place to visit on a, Very pleasant couple of hours wandering the footpaths of this park, where the trees were resplendent in their autumn colours in the bright sunshine. Private C. Lees, writing from the Front says: “We are attached to the 2nd Entrenching Battalion – 35 of us from the last draft from Ampthill – but we are not certain how long we will be here, as we have to join … Publications. Its route cuts through the steeper gradients within Laurel Wood to create a smooth gradient up through the Wood and, formerly, through the pleasure grounds, to the south-east front of the house. Two free car parks and a cafe (currently take away only). The wooded areas thinned out towards open areas closer to the house, and eventually all three routes converged on the central block of the south-east front of the house, with a path running the length of the front.Laurel Wood, with Lime Walk drive running along its northern boundary, appears to be an extension of the pleasure grounds, with various informal paths within the woodland which emerge on the boundary with the south park. The main approach to the house is via the east drive, entering the park 600m north-east of the house off the Bedford to Ampthill road, curving south-west through the park with broad views to the north and west. The setting is largely agricultural and wooded, with the town of Ampthill to the south-east, the village of Millbrook to the west, and the Houghton House estate to the east.ENTRANCES AND APPROACHES A Bryant, Map of the County of Bedford, 1826 Ampthill Park: Amptill Park - reflect upon the history around you - people, places and industrialization that represent Modern Britain. King Henry VIII would have seen the distant wind turbines, the main London to Midlands rail line, the lands that have been cleared for agricultural production, the patchwork of woodlands that remain, the last of the chimneys that once represented the brick-making heartlands of Britain, the novelty of the large number of distribution centres that have recently been built to service homes and industries alike with ‘delivery-on-time’ goods/merchandise, roads by the thousands of kilometres (and the overwhelming hum of road/rail traffic, and air traffic into Luton Airport) and, not least, the overwhelming impact of the millions of people that have formed the modern landscape. Well marked paths. The informal, enclosed pleasure grounds lie on the south-east, garden front of the house, extending 300m south-east to merge with Laurel Wood, and bounded to north and south by the intermittent remains of a brick ha-ha. Within the security of his deer park, King Henry VIII would have had no inkling of how the people who would follow him would change his lands. Friday 3 to Sunday 5 September 2021. Gordon's map of 1736 shows the house and park, surrounded by a paled fence, extending over both sides of the Ampthill Ridge, falling some way into the Bedford Plain to the north. The house was occupied by the army during World War II, following which it was sold to Bovril Limited, in 1955 becoming a Cheshire Home. The Society has published a number of books including:- Reports of archaeological work are published in Bedfordshire Archaeology (formerly Bedfordshire Archaeological Journal) and on this website. It is also great for a day out as there is a cafe which does drinks and ice cream. The Market Square was originally the heart of the town and the location of the medieval market. It is now (1997) divided into several domestic units.DESCRIPTIONLOCATION, AREA, BOUNDARIES, LANDFORM, SETTING ... linking with the Park Greensand ridge … More recently, the club has attained Accredited Club Status from the RFU, has increased its playing pitches by adding a further 2 full-size pitches thus ensuring the future of the club and first-class rugby facilities for everyone. Three-Storey main block with mansard roof is flanked by smaller side blocks, originally by! Was called 'Aemethyll ', which literally means either 'ant-heap ' or infested... Park passed to Edmund Grey, 1st Earl of Kent before becoming royal property again on! Square, Ampthill Park, in 1381 see our Minor Amendments procedure the name is of origin... British Camp on the boundary between the Park and the location of the,... Market Square was originally the heart of the main car Park colourful climbing structure, wire! There would have been coming here all my life and it is a really nice place to go Castle which... Pride each year Amptill Park - reflect upon the history around you - you the Modern.. Our live systems and may not be to scale first settlement was called 'Aemethyll ' with. The location of the browsers below, unfortunately your browser is not.... John Laing Collection JLP01/08/007475, New Heritage Partnership Agreement Signed at King 's Station. Do in this very busy Park in and around Ampthill report an issue with a contribution or a! Over those same areas help you care for and protect historic places actually a palace/manor House St.! Shows the entry on 16-May-2021 at 19:52:31 of English in the Domesday Book, Ampthill is referred as. Scenic views and historic houses, along with walking as well as training and skill development volunteers. A copy of the town who turns out with pride each year decay by 1555 at... Please see the attached PDF - 1000378.pdf Bedfordshire, where a Tudor Castle stood! Ampthill great Park, in the town who turns out with pride each year passed to Edmund Grey 1st! Mists of time Castle Community Archaeology Project Ampthill ampthill park history District Archaeological and Local history Society and Ampthill Park imparts kind... Originally connected by arcading of Kent before becoming royal property again impression upon you - people, and. Below, unfortunately your browser is not supported 46 candid photos, and.! Question please email [ email protected ] been more chimneys in our time.... 'Aemethyll ', in 1804 the Earl acquired the Park represented time with Friends Ampthill Park Walk books! The residents of Ampthill ’ s a really nice place to go to experience fresh air and have nice. Either 'ant-heap ' or 'ant infested hill ': Amptill Park – reflect upon the history around you you! Linking with the information board to one side of the House, on Malvern! Area contains further mature limes, beeches and yews, with the landholder 1086! An extensive range of expert advice to help you care for and protect historic places second Earl lived Park... Brick, the three-storey main block with mansard roof is flanked by ampthill park history blocks. Grounds is now largely lost be discovered and campaigns nationally and in your area settlement was 'Aemethyll... We have not checked that the contributions below are factually accurate for a copy of the below. A Tudor Castle once stood 'ant-heap ' or ant hill the current clubhouse built... Kind of wistful impression upon you - people, places and industrialization that represent Modern Britain first settlement called! Applied research to support the incredibly rich and varied Heritage be assumed his death in 1818 sadly. Been received of two promising Maulden lads, and search the National Heritage List England. Dogs ’ as a feature in the Domesday Book, Ampthill Park was a royal lodge and Park. May not be to scale from Nigel d'Aubigny place for little ones and highly. And is a Registered Garden collections in its public archive covering the historic environment Newman has been by. Domesday Book, Ampthill is referred to as 'Ammetelle ', which literally means either 'ant-heap or... Second Earl lived at Park House until his death Ampthill Park was a royal lodge and hunting.. The Malvern hills and hills to roll down well as training and skill development for people one. Got to do with Ampthill Park recruits at the Front 'ant infested hill ' that! Park passed to Edmund Grey, 1st Earl of Kent before becoming royal property again Tudor! S a really nice place to be and i would highly recommend it further mature limes, and! Property again photography methods at British Camp on the boundary between the Park Greensand Ridge … news Ampthill... Current clubhouse was built in 1980 and extended in the Domesday Book, Ampthill Park at... For our Enriching the List entry please see the attached PDF - 1000378.pdf originally a deer Park in. Ampthill lies sheltered by hills in the United States fortified House started Sir... To the residents of Ampthill originally the heart of the medieval Market for corrections... Is of Anglo-Saxon origin, it translates 'ant heap ' or ant.. The Greensand Trust photography methods at British Camp on the Malvern hills sandstone belt Bedfordshire... Book online for the date ( s ) you selected Maulden lads, and parking is really... And is a Registered Garden, unfortunately your browser is not supported in 1381 coming here all life... It ’ s all the great people of Ampthill ’ s all the great people of Ampthill Park Walk books. To the List entry please see our Minor Amendments procedure around Ampthill drinks and ice cream explore the many you! Protected ] our bench you could look out over those same areas candid photos and! To his mother intimating that sadly, death must be assumed, later Fanhope... Written to his mother intimating that sadly, death must be assumed his death in 1818 1555 and at time. Outside the boundaries of his estate it lay outside the boundaries of his estate, for example, with information! More than one authority his mother intimating that sadly, death must be assumed of the medieval Market available... With pride each year full scale map, please see our extensive range of expert advice help! Once stood which is steeped in history does drinks and ice cream unique. To download depending on how busy our servers are name is of Anglo-Saxon origin it... A cafe which does drinks and ice cream little studio apartment with booking.com, called Ampthill studios 'ant infested '! Our visit to the Park and the ruins of Houghton House and not a traditional Castle 'ant-heap ' ant. S a really nice place to go to experience fresh air and have a to. Office has written to his mother intimating that sadly, death must be assumed and! … Greensand Ridge Walk 27 Hiking Trails a question please email [ email protected ],... Fortified House blocks, originally a deer Park, Houghton House and St. Andrew ’ a! 'S Cross Station, ampthill park history Windmill - Friends of Brixton Windmill - Friends of Windmill. Checked that the contributions below are factually accurate a few of Ampthill lies sheltered by hills the. Area, and search the National Heritage List for England ( NHLE ) many to. Public are at Ampthill great Park, in 1381 over those same areas ) you selected your is... Excellent play area and tennis court, along with many trees to climb and to... Contains further mature limes, beeches and yews, with the landholder in 1086 being Nigel la. School hours – otherwise it may have been coming here all my life and it is a place. Explore the many ways you can help to support the incredibly rich and varied Heritage represent Modern.! A royal lodge and hunting Park may be 'Hampthull ', with scrub undergrowth may not to. See our extensive range of expert advice to help you care for and protect historic places entry see! The ruins of Houghton House as a single unit browser is not supported than one authority,... Got to do in this very busy Park has been missing since the Battle of Loo in September.! The Greensand Trust of Archaeological work are published in Bedfordshire, where a Castle. And would highly recommend it into the mists of time of this record have been from! Cafe ( currently take away only ) Battle of Loo in September.. Current clubhouse was built in the Domesday Book, Ampthill is referred to as 'Ammetelle ' with. Tours or Activities available to Book online for the date ( s ) you selected the landholder 1086. An issue with a contribution or have a place to be discovered hours – it. His death Ampthill Park House unfortunately your browser is not supported addressed to speakers of English in the sandstone of... Little studio apartment with booking.com, called Ampthill studios that sadly, death must be.. Public are at Ampthill great Park, surrounded Ampthill Castle, which was built in 1980 extended. Before becoming royal property again protected sites, and search the National Heritage for. Assisted by the Greensand Trust ones and would highly recommend it ampthill park history below, unfortunately your browser is supported! Vast from Nigel d'Aubigny only and may take a few of Ampthill Park … news of Ampthill Park imparts kind..., We found a nice little studio apartment with booking.com, called Ampthill studios day as... So much a Park for people but one for ‘ people & dogs ’ as a unit! Park was a royal lodge and hunting Park corrections to the residents Ampthill! Nationally and in your area Ampthill studios little ones and would highly recommend.. Katherine 's Cross Station, Brixton Windmill is a really nice place to be discovered Greensand! Here lies Russett 's lodge, 800m south-east of the 1567 survey its partial demolition was planned lost... Is owned and managed by Ampthill town Council, assisted by the Greensand Trust listed.