The refurbishment of Woburn Abbey

Last month, the historic Woburn Abbey closed its doors for a period of 18 months. During the closure, it will be undergoing a major refurbishment – the biggest since it first opened to the public in 1955.

Originally a 12^th century monastery, Woburn Abbey became a private estate following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and was used as a grand stately home from the 17^th century. Today, it houses one of the world’s most celebrated private art collections, packed with generations’ worth of treasures. As well as having impressive exhibits of the Dutch and Flemish Masters (including Rembrandt and Van Dyck) and Venetian views by Canaletto, it also hold pieces by Reynolds, Gainsborough and Tintoretto, amongst many others. During the renovation period, the collection will be hosted by the Queen’s House in Greenwich – allowing free access to these treasured pieces between February 2020 and January 2021.

When Woburn Abbey reopens at Easter 2021, it will benefit from many updates and improvements as a visitor attraction, including disabled access. As well as aiming to provide first-class facilities to its visitors, the house’s Sculpture Gallery will also be much improved. This significant investment will conserve the property and its collections for generations to come.