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mother of James DuprS, efq. of Wilton-park, who is the 

 prefent proprietor. The old manor-houfe was a palace of 

 the bifhops of Lincoln, ftveral of whom died here. The 

 marquis and the duke of Wharton are faid to have expended 

 incredible fums of money on the houfe and gardens : of the 

 latter, which m a former age were highly celebrated, fcarcely 

 a veftio^e now remains. The manfion was pulled down m 

 171:0 ;''when one of the wings was fitted up as a dweihng- 

 houfe, which has fince been enlarged and improved, and is 

 now occupied by the countefs of Orkney. The parifti- 

 church is a fpacious and ancient ftruaure, with a nave, two 

 aides, and a tower. The latter was built about the year 

 1480', as appears by the epitaph of John Goodwin and 

 Pernell his wife, who are called its founders. In the chan- 

 cel are fcveral monuments of the families of Bertie and 

 Wharton, among which is one of grey marble to the me- 

 mory of Philip, lord Wharton, who died in 1695. T**^ ^°^^ 

 is a curious piece of ancient fculpture. This parifh con- 

 tains 2596 acres, chieHy difpofed in arable and wood land. 

 In the population return of the year 181 1, the inhabitants 

 were eftimated at 1604; the number of houfes at 318. An 

 annual fair is held, for which lord Wharton obtained a 

 charter in l636. A' fair was alfo granted bj king 

 Henry VI., but is now difcontinued. — Beauties of England 

 and Wales, vol. I. Buckinghamfhire. By J. Britton and 

 E. W. Brayley, 1802. Lyfons' Magna Britannia, vol. i. 

 Buckinghamlhire, 1806. 



WOBUUS, or Old Wobuin, a market-town in the hundred 

 of Manfhead, and county of Bedford, England, is fituated 

 near the wellera confines of the county, at the diftance of 

 14 miles S.W. by S. from the county-town, and 42 miles 

 N.W. by N. from London. Great part of the town was 

 confumed by fire in 1724, which, though diftreffing to indi- 

 viduals, proved ultimately beneficial, as the houfes were re- 

 built in a more convenient and regular manner, with the ad- 

 dition of feveral good inns, and a market-houfe. The whole 

 expence of the new buildings was defrayed by the duke of 

 Bedford. The market-houfe was finifhed in 1737, but has 

 been materially improved by the late duke Francis. It con- 

 fifts of two floors ; the lower fitted up for butchers' 

 fhambles, over which is a fpacious room for a corn-market. 

 In the population return of the year 1 8 11 , the inhabitants of 

 the parifh are ftated to be 1506, occupying 299 houfes. A 

 weekly market is held on Fridays, which was granted in 

 1242 to the abbot of Woburn, and four fairs annually. 

 The church was erefted by Robert Hobbs, the laft abbot 

 of Woburn. This ftruaure furnifties a peculiar inftance of 

 capricious tafte ; the body being completely detached from 

 the tower, which ftands at about fix yards diftance. The 

 tower is a fmall fquare building, with large buttreffes at the 

 comers, and four pinnacles ; the church conCfts of three 

 aides and a chancel ; the whole has recently undergone a 

 thorough repair. Adjoining to the church-yard is a free- 

 fchool, founded by Francis, earl of Bedford. Here are alfo 

 alms-houfes for twelve poor perfons, founded by the Bedford 

 family, and endowed with 50/. per annum, which was con- 

 firmed by aft of parliament in 1 761. 



About a mile eaft of the town is Woburn abbey, the feat 

 of the duke of Bedford. This magnificent manfion is 

 fituated in the midft of an extenfive park, and occupies the 

 four fides of a quadrangle of more than 200 feet. It was 

 erefted about the middle of the laft century by Flitcroft, for 

 John, the fourth duke of Bedford, of the Ruffel family, on 

 the fcite of an old abbey. The original building was 

 founded in the year 1 145, by Hughde Bolebec, for monks 

 of the Ciftercian order. In 1234 the monaftery was fo 

 reduced, that the eftablilhment was for a time broken up, 



WOE 



and the monks difperfed into different convents till their 

 debts were paid. But by various benefaftions their re- 

 venues were fo much improved, that at the general diflblu- 

 tion they were eftimated at 391/- i8j. zd. clear yearly value. 

 The laft abbot was hanged for denying the king's fupre- 

 macy. The fcite of the abbey was granted in 1547 to John, 

 lord Ruflel, afterwards earl of Bedford, and has ever fince 

 been the principal feat of that noble family. There are no 

 remains of the conventual buildings. The prefent manfion, 

 originally fitted up in a very coftly ftyle, has received many 

 confiderable improvements, particularly during the time it 

 was in the poifeffion of the late duke. Mr. Holland, the 

 architeft of Drury-lane theatre, has difplayed much tafte 

 and ability in the additional buildings which have been exe- 

 cuted under his direftion. The weft front is built of the 

 Ionic order, with a rufticated bafement. The principal 

 floor, or fuite of rooms on this fide, confift of a faloon, ftate 

 bed-rooms, drawing and dining-rooms ; the fouth fide con- 

 tains the library, breakfaft, Etrufcan, and duke's rooms ; the 

 eaft, the veftibule, fervants' offices, &c. ; and the north, the 

 French bed-rooms, and various other chambers. Moft of 

 the apartments are embelUflied with fine paintings : the gal- 

 lery, in particular, exhibits a large and valuable coUedlion 

 of portraits by the old mafters. The late duke's favourite 

 purfuits are well known to have been experimental agricul- 

 ture and breeding of cattle. For this purpofe he kept 

 feveral farms in his own hands. The principal of thefe, 

 diftinguiftied by the name of the Park-farm, is fituated in 

 the park, about half a mile from the houfe. All inge- 

 nious contrivances to fhorten labour, and facilitate ufeful 

 operations, are here concentrated. The farm-yard is replete 

 with conveniences. It contains barns, ftables, fatting- 

 houfes, &c. ; a very complete mill, furniftied with a curious 

 machine which threflies and drefles at the fame time ; a 

 maltern ; two pair of ftones for grinding wheat and barley ; 

 and every requifite for drelfing flour, making oatmeal, &c. 

 In another part is a fmall water-wheel, which gives motion to 

 fome very ingenious machinery for bruifing malt, and cutting 

 chaff. This farm originated with the late duke, through 

 whofe patronage and exertions many improvements haw 

 been made in the different branches of hufbandry. The 

 prefent duke follows the fleps of his brother in patronifing 

 agricultural improvements, and keeps up all the eftablifhments 

 which he formed with a view to that purpofe. — Beauties of 

 England and Wales, vol. I. Bedfordfhire. By J. Britton 

 and E. W. Brayley, 1801. Lyfons' Magna Britannia, 

 vol. I. Bedfordfhire, 1806. 



Woburn, a town of the ftate of Maffachufetts, in the 

 county of Middlefex, containing 1277 inhabitants ; ij miles 

 N.W. of Bofton. 



WOCANELLY, a town of Hindooftan, in Golconda ; 

 40 miles N.W. of Adoni. 



WODEN, in Mythology. See Odin. 



WODERCUM, in Geography. See Worcum. 



WODNAN Y, or WoDNiAN, a town of Bohemia, in the 

 circle of Prachatitz ; 12 miles N.E. of Prachatitz. N. lat. 

 49° 10'. E. long. 14° 2'. 



WODWALLA, a town of Sweden, anciently a fea- 

 port, but now much reduced, and its privileges removed to 

 Gotheburg, at eight miles diftance. 



WOEL, a town of France, in the department of the 

 Meufe ; 12 miles N.E. of St. Mihel. 



WOELFLIES, a town of Saxony, in the principality 

 of Gotha ; 21 miles S.E.of Gotha. 



WOERAMATTA, a fmall ifland in the Eaft Indian 

 fea. S.lat. 7°2'. E. long. 131° 36'. 



WOERDEN, or WoRDEN, a town of Holland, built 



by 



