Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    G/DDA
  • Title
    LUTON HOO
  • Date free text
    1768-1859
  • Production date
    From: 1768 To: 1859
  • Admin/biog history
    Luton Hoo was previously the home of the Napiers. (For Napier deeds, see DW; and for Luton court books, see X312). Sir Robert Napier, who acquired the manors of Luton and Luton Hoo in 1611, built a house at the Hoo; and in 1623 his successor, Sir John, had license to enclose 300 a. (Austin,ii,274). It continued with the family till Frances Napier left it to her nephew, Francis Herne (VCH ii, 353,355); he in 1763 sold it to the 3rd Earl of Bute, fn politician and botanist, who made the Botanic Garden and added 1,000 acres to the park. In 1771 there was a fire at the Hoo (Austin,ii,82; Davis,20);and the Earl had it rebuilt by Robert Adam. It seems to have been not quite finished in 1780 when the Wrest Park family visited it (L 30/12/34/13). (Colvin says c 1768-75). Some of these documents relate to the 3rd Earl's son, who inherited in 1792, and four years later was created 1st Marquess. In political matters, he seems to belong, but not fervently, to the Whig group led by the Duke of Bedford and Samuel Whitbread; the Duke urged upon him that a single vote might matter (146/4), and Whitbread addressed an impassioned plea (148/3-4); but the Tory candidate Sir John Osborn also writes (144/17). However, his influence or that of his masterful steward, Thomas Brown, was enough to put the Luton apothecary, John Chase (who attended the Hoo professionally) in an agonising position, since he felt obliged to the Osborns (146/5). The Marquess' political interest also extent to Herts. (145/9-11). There are also more private papers about house, garden and estate. An under-butler in 1802 left as chief possessions a watch and a pair of silver buckles, and 12s. cash (144/2). There was trouble with water-supply to the Hoo, owing to the pipes not being sufficiently strong (145/1-3). Work in the Botanic Garden (153) is indicated in 1800-1, but not in sufficient detail to give botanical information. The pleasure-grounds in 1803-4 were too well kept for the Marquess to convince the tax authorities that he ought not to pay a surcharge on his gardener, Gamby (145/13-5). In estate matters, he was concerned with enclosure at Caddington (143) and Barton (147/9); and was somewhat involved over his father's exchanges in the common fields at Luton (144/3-6). Some local matters occur. The Marquess was not very successful in finding Luton men for the commission of the peace (146/2; Richard Parkes was steward at this time according to Austin,ii,111). He engaged for 5 gns. a substitute to take his place in the Volunteer Cavalry in 1798 (161); and subscribed cosiderably for this in 1803, but there was some uncertainty as to how the money was to be spent (147/2-8). He made a loan of £1,000 towards rebuilding Bedford bridge (148/1-2). His son predeceased him, and he was succeeded by his grandson. The 2nd Marquess succeeded at the age of 21. There was a certain number of housekeeping bills soon after his accession; papers and plan of alterations to the Hoo in 1829; and estate papers, mainly 1834, and some for 1842. Housekeeping bills indicate that in 1817 the butcher supplied in one week a hindquarter of beef, a hindquarter of veal, a side of mutton, and oddments; the price being 7d. - 9 1/2 d. per Ib ., and the total bill for the week £12 - £13 (155). Vegetables bought seem to be mainly potatoes and cabbage, but there are a few others. Dairy produce (for one week?) consumed consists of about 17 pints of cream, 19 Ib. butter, 140 eggs, 29 quarts of milk - nearly half of it skimmed. Wine for a year was a pipe of madeira, 2 pipes of port, a hogshead of claret, and a butt of sherry. Fn. An entry in the Gents. Mag. for October (VCH,ii,353,n.84; and Davis,19); although Austin (ii,275) and Dyer-Stygall-Dony (113) say 1762. See also Lysons, 109, who says the Napier house included older parts, perhaps deriving from the Hoo family,1245-1486. The Fermors held the manor in the 16th century. The 2nd Marquess had extensive alterations made by Robert Smirke. From these papers (149/1-3) this work seems to have been done in 1829, though Colvin says ""c.1816"". A sidelight on the mansion is the supply of coal (150/43); this was carted by the tenants (150/101) and amounted to 58 tons. Estate matters however bulk largest. The stewart in 1834 (from which most papers survive) was Thomas Collingdon. His method was to draft and amend letters, and this draft he kept and marked ""copy""; so both sides of the correspondence appear. The Luton solicitor was Frederick Chase; and there was also a London firm for which Roy or Holcroft write. Michael Rowed was called in for valuations. Most letters refer to local property. There was some difficulty with unsuccessful tenants: Yardley at Someries farm (150/39), and Bates at Park farm (150/110). A number of documents relate to Hyde mill (150/77, 80,83,85,87,90. Brickmaking appears at White Hill close (150/99,102-6, 112; see also 150/98). The George Inn was sold to Austin in this year. There was a proposal from Thomas Waller to improve Luton marketplace by throwing into it the site of the old Shambles (150/92). Odd matters are Lord Bute's intention to help establish a classical school at Luton (150/66). He went so far as to enquire the number of unemployed (150/123). He took shares to the extent of £100 in the New Building (Assembly Rooms or General Library) at Bedford (150/128). A smaller number of letters cover 1842. The impression is given that the Marquess was often absent in Scotland or at Cardiff; and Collingdon himself is often at Kensington, and refers to going to Cardiff and Scotland. The Marquess seems not very popular in Luton, - a proposal to subscribe for his portrait was dropped for lack of support (151/16). There are references to Luton National School (151/4), and Luton Horticultural Society (151/6); again to improving the marketplace (151/10); and to the duty on strawplait (151/11); also to the sale of that part of the Luton-Bedford road which was diverted (151/23-4); and there are tenders for the leather Bottle at New Mill End (151/16-50,56,72). The tithe commission is in progress. There is a detailed list of trees on two farms in 1844 (160). In 1843 there was another fire at Luton Hoo (for picture, see Dony-Dyer-Stygall,xix); and the next year the Marquess sold it to Ward (V.C.H.,ii,353; Davis, 22); who in 1848 sold it to John Shaw Leigh of Liverpool. ** James Stuart, 1st Earl of Bute, c.1660-1710 (cr.1703), James Stuart, 2nd Earl of Bute, c.1693-1723, John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, 1713-92 (bought Luton) politician & botanist; rebuilt Hoo; 1770's;John Stuart, 4th Earl & 1st Marquess (cr.1796),1744-1814, John Stuart, 1767-94,John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess, 1793-1848 (sold Luton) altered the Hoo in 1829.**
  • Scope and Content
    Bute Estate Papers consisting mostly of letters, various bills and receipts
  • Archival history
    First Deposit December 1965 by Glamorgan County Record Office, to whom they had been given to by Arthur Andrews Esq., 3,5 & 7 The Hayes, Cardiff, whose father acquired them some years previously at a public auction. Second deposit December 1967 by Glamorgan County Record Office, from Arthur Andrews Esq, 67 Queen Street, Cardiff.
  • System of arrangement
    This collection follows Glamorgan County Record Office numbering system, and therefore commences at no.143
  • Microfilmed see MIC135
  • Level of description
    fonds
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