WOBURN, Bedfordshire, a market-town and the seat of a Poor Law Union, in the parish of Woburn, Is situated in 51' 59' N. let. 0' 37' W. long., distant 18 miles S.S.W. from Bedford, 41 miles N.W. by N. from Loudon by road, and 50 miles by the London and North Western railway. The population of the parish of Woburn in 1851 was 2049. The living is a perpetual curacy exempt from episcopal jurisdiction. Woburn Poor-Law Union contains 16 parishes and town ships, with an area of 29,603 acres, and a population in 1851 of 12,075.
Au abbey of Cistercian monks was founded at Woburn by Hugh de Bolebee in 1145. The last abbot, Robert Hobs, was executed for denying the king's supremacy ; and the site of the abbey was granted to Joins, lord Russell, afterwards earl of Bedford. The town of Woburn was destroyed by fire In 1724, after which it was rebuilt in a regular manner. The market-house has been snuoh improved by the present Duke of Bedford, who has also enlarged the parish church and school-house, and added to the church tower an elegant lantern and pinnacles. The Wesleyan Methodists and Independents have chapels, and there are a British school and some almshouses. Lace making and straw-hat making employ some of the females. Friday is the market-day; fairs are held on January 1st, March 28rd, July 18th, and October 6th.
The park, in which Is situated Woburn Abbey, the magnificent seat of the Mike of Bedford, is about three miles long by about a mile and a half wide. Part of the old abbey remains, but has been
incorporated with the buildings constituting the present mansion.
Woburn Abbey, as it now stands, wee erected about the middle and towards the end of the last century; it occupies four sides of a quad rangle, presenting four fronts of above 200 feet each. The principal front, on the west side, is of the Ionic order, with a rustic basement. The offices are at a short distance from the mansion, aud the park is finely diversified with wood and water. The tree on which Abbot Hobs was hung is still standing, and is carefully preserved. The abbey is adorned with several interesting historical portraits. In the dining-room is a floe collection of portraits by Vandyke ; and in the breakfast-room a numerous series of views in Venice, by Canaletti, painted originally for Bedford House. In the sculpture gallery are the antique vas t known as the Lanti vase, brought over to England by Lord Cawdor, and a very large ancient marble sarcophagus (brought from Ephesus) having bassi-rilievi on the four sides. In the park is a farm-yard on a very extensive scale, and furnished with every convenience. It originated with Francis, fifth duke of Bedford. The grounds and gardens have obtained great horticultural celebrity. The arboretum is a very fine one; the collection of willows is the finest in England.