Houghton House
Historic residence · Ampthill, England
Politicians, royals & nobility
History
Houghton House is a ruined mansion house in the parish of Houghton Conquest, Bedfordshire. It is a Grade I listed building, positioned above the surrounding countryside, and commands excellent views. Built from 1615 to 1621, it is said that the house was the model for House Beautiful in John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress (1678). It was abandoned in 1794 and stripped of its interiors and roof for sale as building supplies. Today the property is owned by English Heritage, and is open to free public access during daylight hours.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Houghton House”, CC BY-SA 4.0.
About Robert Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury
Robert Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury and 2nd Earl of Elgin, PC, FRS, was a Scottish politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1663, when he inherited his father's title as Earl of Elgin.
From the Wikipedia article “Robert Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury”, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Visiting
This building is recorded as a residence of the people listed; it may be privately owned and not open to the public. Opening times, tickets and access change, so check the official website before you travel. Get directions.
