Regency Estates: Luton Hoo

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The History of Luton … (1855)

The manor of Hoo or Luton Hoo was the ancient inheritance of the family of Hoo or De Hoo who are said by Sir Henry Chauncy to have been settled there before the Norman conquest Sir Robert de Hoo was knight of the shire in the reign of Edward 1 Sir Thomas Hoo KG who was made Lord Hoo of Hoo in Bedfordshire and Lord Hastings in 1447 died in 1454 without male issue Anne his only daughter by his second wife brought this manor in marriage to Sir Geffrey Boleyn who was lord mayor of London in 1460 The tradition of the place is that his great grand daughter Anne Boleyn queen to King Henry VIII was born at this place Her father fold the manor of Luton Hoo in 1523 to Richard Farmer merchant whose heir conveyed it in 1575 to John Brocket esq In 1601 it was purchased of Mr Brocket's representatives by Robert Napier esquire and passed with the manor of Luton to the Marquis of Bute Luton Hoo the marquis's seat stands in the midst of a well wooded park about three miles from the town The old park which consisted of about 300 acres inclosed by Sir Robert Napier was enlarged to 1200 by the late Lord Bute
who employed Brown to lay it out It now contains about 1500 acres The river Lea which rises in the neighbouring parish of Houghton Regis a little beyond Leagrave a hamlet of this parish runs through the park where it supplies two pieces of water the one containing 14 the other 50 acres A part of the house at Luton Iloo was rebuilt by the Napiers but some parts of it appear to be of a more ancient date The late Earl of Bute began building a very stately mansion on the site from a design by Mr Adam the east front and the fouth wing only were completed The principal rooms particularly the library which is 146 feet in length the drawing room and the faloon are on a magnificent scale The collection of pictures is very large and valuable chiefly of the Italian and Flemish schools Among the portrạits are Margaret queen of Scots with her second husband Archibald Douglas the first Earl of Pembroke the Earl of Strafford General Ireton Mr Pym Mrs Lane who assisted King Charles II in his escape after the battle of Worcester Lord Chancellor Jeffreys Ben Jonson Dr Samuel Johnson Dr Armstrong and the late Earl of Bute by Sir Joshua Reynolds The chapel is fitted up with very rich Gothic carving in wood said to have been originally executed for Sir Thomas Pope at Tittenhanger in 1548 and brought to Luton by Sir Robert Napier The late Earl of Bute formed a botanic garden at Luton but he afterwards removed his valuable collection of plants to his seat at Christ Church in Hampshire Ancient records describe several estates in this parish by the name of Manors besides those already mentioned as Fennel's Grove Langley's Bennett's Northwood Stapleforih East Hide West Hide Stoppesley Great Hampsted Someries Hayes Bailiffs Dallowe Leagrave Lightgrave or Lucy's Biscot & c It is probable that some of these originated from the divisions and sub divisions of the manor among the heirs of Sibella countess of Derby None of them possess at present any manerial rights The eight first are enumerated in the conveyance from Mr Lawley to bishop Rotherham All traces of Bennett's and Northwood appear to be lost A wood called Fennel's Grove belongs to the Marquis of Bute Langley's and Stapleforth are two farms which passed to the Napiers and now belong to the Marquis of Bute the latter now forms part of Luton park East Hide a reputed manor which pays a quit rent to the lord of the manor of Luton was purchased in the early part of the last century by Philadelphia relict of Sir Thomas Cotton bart who not long afterwards fold it to Mr Floyer Governor of Fort St David It was purchased of him by Dr Bettesworth chan cellor of the diocese of London who died in 1779 and is now the property and residence of his widow The house was built by Lady Cotton The manor of West Hide alias Àynell's belongs to the Marquis of Bute Stoppesley was anciently
in the Hoos in queen Elizabeth's reign this manor and Hayes belonged to the family of Catesby and were afterwards in the Cheynes Stoppesley now belongs to the Marquis of Bute Hayes which is a small estate within Stoppesley is the property of Mr Morris Dallowe and Bailiffs or Bailies both belong to the Marquis of Bute Bailiffs was formerly in the family of Field Dallowe in the Crawleys of whom it was purchased by the Napiers

Magna Britannia: Bedfordshire, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire (1813)

1829 engraving of Luton Hoo, as designed by Robert Adam. Two major sets of alterations were made after the image was published.

The Luton Hoo of the Regency era was one of the largest homes Adam designed.  His efforts were complimented by the work by Capability Brown, who  expanded from 300 acres to 1,200 acres the park. Brown’s redesign included daming the River Lea to form two lakes.

By 1830, the 2nd Marquess would once again redevelop the estate into what we know today as it’s current form.  A 1843 fire destroyed much of the house and contents, but was restored in 1848 by John Shaw Leigh.

There is a nice timeline available: The History of Luton … – Google Books

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