Enfilade

Grotto at Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire. Originally a Cistercian abbey, Woburn became the seat of the Russell family and the Dukes of Bedford in the 16th century. The house was rebuilt in the early 17th century, with a second rebuilding undertaken in the mid-18th century to designs by Henry Flitcroft and John Sanderson. The Grotto is one of the few surviving 17th-century shellwork rooms in Britain.

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From the Rijksmuseum:

Matthew Hirst | The Transformation of Woburn Abbey

Daniel Marot Lecture, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, 16 September 2025

Matthew Hirst will speak about the restoration and refurbishment of Woburn Abbey, home of the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, and one of the great historic treasure houses of Britain.

In November 2019 Woburn Abbey closed to visitors to undergo a generational programme of restoration and refurbishment which will ensure the survival of this remarkable house and collection for centuries to come. Works are still underway—the house has undergone a transformation—and when it reopens the collections, much of which will have been conserved, will be redisplayed to dramatic effect. The new presentation will showcase the history and development of Woburn Abbey from monastic times to the present day. Matthew will highlight some of the changes that can be expected, in particular the renaissance of the Grotto Apartment, a suite of three rooms from the early 17th century created for the 4th Earl of Bedford. He will also share some of the more intriguing discoveries that have been made along the way and give a flavour of what can be expected when the Abbey reopens to the public.

Matthew Hirst is Curator of the Woburn Abbey Collection. He began his career at Waddesdon Manor. In 2007 he took up the new post of Head of Arts & Historic Collections for the Devonshire Collections, managing a major conservation programme and the representation of many of the historic interiors at Chatsworth. In 2015 Matthew moved to Woburn Abbey, and has since researched and developed a major representation and restoration of the house, marking the largest programme of works at the Abbey since it opened to the public in 1955. Matthew is also a trustee of the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust and the Leche Trust.

Every year, the Daniel Marot Fund/Rijksmuseum Fund organises the Daniel Marot Lecture, which provides a podium for a national or international expert in the field of interior history and applied art.

West front, Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire.

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From Woburn:

Much work has been completed including the project to reinstate and restore the curtain walls that enclose the Great Court to the rear of the Abbey. These impressive structures were in a state of decay due to the nature the stone used to build them in the eighteenth century. Following a lengthy planning process they have now been completely rebuilt, using Portland stone and traditional materials with modern engineering.

The curtain walls project is just one aspect of our current programme of works. Dramatic changes to the guest arrival are now underway, and thanks to a grant from Historic England, we have restored the east range of the North Court and reinstated the original roofline, not seen since it was destroyed by fire in 1947.

Guided both by rigorous research and the requirements of modern family life, the Abbey’s interiors are being conserved and re-presented, underpinned by essential services work and using traditional materials and methods.

Major highlights of our conservation programme include the restoration of Issac de Caus’s 17th-century Grotto with the famous shell-lined interior at its centre. A remarkable survival through successive architectural change, this fantastical room is unique and will be at the heart of the home, serving as the new guest entrance.

For the first time in over 250 years and following a five-year conservation programme, the Mortlake Tapestries will hang once again in the room for which they were commissioned by the 5th Earl of Bedford, and elsewhere wall-finishes will be recreated from historic evidence. The Long Gallery and the family’s Dining Room, with its famous collection of Venetian paintings by Canaletto, will be redecorated to reflect the taste of the present generation, informed and guided by the past.