Old Warden, Bedfordshire

Old Warden

Old Warden, (“Warden” meaning watch-hill in old English) is a village whose appearance shows the efforts of two families during the 19^th century.  The Ongleys and Shuttleworths lavished money and imagination to develop their ideas.  Both families have now gone, but Old Warden Hall, built for the Shuttleworths in 1872, still stands in 500 acres of Old Warden Park.  It has been renamed The Mansion House and is used as a conference centre.

Shuttleworth Collection

Old Warden Park is home to the Shuttleworth Collection, one of the world’s most famous aircraft museums.  In 1930, Richard Shuttleworth bought his first aeroplane, a de Havilland Gypsy Moth.  He joined the RAF at the outbreak of war, but was killed in 1940.  His mother founded the Shuttleworth Trust in 1944 in his memory and expanded the collection.  There are regular flying days for these historic aircraft from the small airfield in the Park.

The Mansion House and Park

The Mansion House and Park are best seen from the hill opposite, on which St. Leonard’s Church stands.  The whole interior is a mass of dark carved oak, which Lord Ongley brought back from his travels in France, Belgium and Italy, in 1841.  The initials ‘AC’ appear in several places in the church.  This is said to relate to carvings taken from Anne of Cleves’s private chapel in Bruges.

Cottage, Old Warden

Hare and Hounds Pub, Old Warden

Old Warden Guest House, Clock House, Old Warden

Parsonage Piece, Old Warden

Pink Hawthorn Blossom, St. Leonard’s Churchyard, Old Warden

Pink Hawthorn Blossom, St. Leonard’s Churchyard, Old Warden

Pump in Shelter, Old Warden

St Leonard’s Church, Old Warden

St Leonard’s Church, Old Warden

St Leonard’s Church, Old Warden

Swiss Cottage, Old Warden

Thatched Cottage, Old Warden

Thatched Cottage, Old Warden

The Old Workhouse, Old Warden

Village Sign, Old Warden

Village Sign, Old Warden

War Memorial, Old Warden