Warden Abbey

WARDEN ABBEY

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1222165
Date first listed:
16-Jan-1952
List Entry Name:
Warden Abbey
Statutory Address:
WARDEN ABBEY
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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1222165
Date first listed:
16-Jan-1952
List Entry Name:
Warden Abbey
Statutory Address 1:
WARDEN ABBEY

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
WARDEN ABBEY

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
Central Bedfordshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Old Warden
National Grid Reference:
TL 12062 43850

Details

TL 1243 OLD WARDEN

12/113 Warden Abbey 16.1.52 GV I

Small fragment of a house, built c,1560 for Robert Gostwick. Erected on site of the Cistercian abbey founded 1135 by Walter Espec, with church rebuilding completed later C14. Abbey dissolved 1537. C16 house includes a buttress from the Abbey church. Red brick with some ashlar dressings. Most window surrounds and mullions are in brick, but some have been rendered to imitate ashlar at a later stage. 2 bays, 2 storeys and attics. S elevation: projecting LH block has 2 ground floor windows, each of 3 3-centred arched lights under square heads, within 3-centred arched recesses of different sizes. First floor has canted bay window with 7 3-centred arched lights and moulded cornice. To R of this is integral chimney stack with crow-steps, twisted shaft and spurred cap, all in moulded brick. Recessed RH bay has 4- centred arched door within crocketed ogee-headed stone surround with finial. To first floor is square headed window containing 2 3-centred arched lights, with moulded label. 2-stage buttress to RH. First floor brick string course. Embattled parapet with stone coping. N elevation: first floor has 2-light window similar to S elevation. Semi-octagonal stair-turret (top stage rebuilt C20) has pairs of 3-centred arched lights. 2-stage buttress to LH. W elevation: projecting chimney breast with substantial ashlar lower stage. Interior: ground and first floor rooms retain finely moulded beams and original fireplaces. First floor room has Tudor arched doorway with carved foliate spandrels. 3-bay clasped purlin roof with curved wind braces. On site of Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Listing NGR: TL1206343851

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
414253
Legacy System:
LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Warden Abbey

Map

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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