Colworth House is an 18th-century mansion set in an area of parkland on the edge of the village of Sharnbrook in Bedfordshire. It is a Grade II* listed building.[1]
The surrounding site has been occupied since prehistoric times. The current house was started in 1715 by Mark Antonie, a self-made man who aspired to become part of the landed gentry. It passed down to John Antonie, who bequeathed it on his death to a cousin, the MP William Lee, who then adopted the additional surname of Antonie. On his own death in 1815 William Lee Antonie left it to his nephew, the astronomer and antiquarian John Fiott, who thereupon adopted the surname of Lee.[2]
The house and extensive grounds were acquired in 1935 by Henry Mond, 2nd Baron Melchett and subsequently sold to Unilever in November 1947, who restored and developed them into a research laboratory through 1948, with the first staff moving in during 1950. Unilever employed up to 1,750 people at Colworth during the 1970s and constructed several laboratory buildings surrounding a central grassed park.
In 2004 Unilever entered into a joint venture with property investment company Arlington Securities to manage Colworth Science Park, with the aim of turning it into a science cluster by attracting science businesses, academic outposts, and science-based entrepreneurs. Arlington was subsequently acquired by Goodman, a property group involved in long-term ownership, development, and management of commercial and industrial property. In 2015, the joint venture vehicle was acquired by Palmer Capital and Wrenbridge Land. Colworth Science Park remains one of Unilever's six research centres located around the world with around 750 Unilever employees. An additional 200 personnel are employed by several small companies located on the site.[3]
The Colworth House grounds was the location of a Channel 4Time Team programme, first broadcast on February 22, 2009. Numerous finds by amateur archaeologists led to the discovery of a Roman villa and farm in a field adjacent to the property.[4]
Colworth House has also given its name to the Colworth Medal, established by the late Professor Tony James of Unilever Research and Professor Henry Arnstein of the Biochemical Society in 1963. The award recognises outstanding research by a young biochemist of any nationality who has carried out the majority of their work in the UK.
^. Luton Today. Luton, United Kingdom: Johnston Publishing Ltd. 14 January 2009. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
Michael Jones (1997). Colworth in Context: A History of Colworth Estate, Bedfordshire from 1720 to 1947. Newnorth Print Limited.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Colworth House.
Colworth Park
Time Team: Mystery of the Ice-Cream Villa - Colworth, Bedfordshire
Unilever
October 20, 2023
colworth, house, 18th, century, mansion, area, parkland, edge, village, sharnbrook, bedfordshire, grade, listed, building, general, informationtypemanor, house, science, parklocationsharnbrook, bedfordshirecountryenglandcoordinates52, 23053, 56505, 23053, 5650. Colworth House is an 18th century mansion set in an area of parkland on the edge of the village of Sharnbrook in Bedfordshire It is a Grade II listed building 1 Colworth HouseGeneral informationTypeManor house Science parkLocationSharnbrook BedfordshireCountryEnglandCoordinates52 13 50 N 0 33 54 W 52 23053 N 0 56505 W 52 23053 0 56505Ordnance SurveySP9810060108Construction started1715ClientMark AntonieOwnerWrenbridgeDesignationsGrade II listedHistory EditThe surrounding site has been occupied since prehistoric times The current house was started in 1715 by Mark Antonie a self made man who aspired to become part of the landed gentry It passed down to John Antonie who bequeathed it on his death to a cousin the MP William Lee who then adopted the additional surname of Antonie On his own death in 1815 William Lee Antonie left it to his nephew the astronomer and antiquarian John Fiott who thereupon adopted the surname of Lee 2 The house and extensive grounds were acquired in 1935 by Henry Mond 2nd Baron Melchett and subsequently sold to Unilever in November 1947 who restored and developed them into a research laboratory through 1948 with the first staff moving in during 1950 Unilever employed up to 1 750 people at Colworth during the 1970s and constructed several laboratory buildings surrounding a central grassed park In 2004 Unilever entered into a joint venture with property investment company Arlington Securities to manage Colworth Science Park with the aim of turning it into a science cluster by attracting science businesses academic outposts and science based entrepreneurs Arlington was subsequently acquired by Goodman a property group involved in long term ownership development and management of commercial and industrial property In 2015 the joint venture vehicle was acquired by Palmer Capital and Wrenbridge Land Colworth Science Park remains one of Unilever s six research centres located around the world with around 750 Unilever employees An additional 200 personnel are employed by several small companies located on the site 3 The Colworth House grounds was the location of a Channel 4 Time Team programme first broadcast on February 22 2009 Numerous finds by amateur archaeologists led to the discovery of a Roman villa and farm in a field adjacent to the property 4 Colworth House has also given its name to the Colworth Medal established by the late Professor Tony James of Unilever Research and Professor Henry Arnstein of the Biochemical Society in 1963 The award recognises outstanding research by a young biochemist of any nationality who has carried out the majority of their work in the UK References Edit Historic England COLWORTH HOUSE List entry Number 1160878 1160878 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 25 April 2015 Parishes Sharnbrook British History Online Retrieved 17 February 2017 Unilever website Colworth UK Online reference Roman villa unearthed in Sharnbrook Luton Today Luton United Kingdom Johnston Publishing Ltd 14 January 2009 Archived from the original on 6 August 2014 Retrieved 6 August 2014 Michael Jones 1997 Colworth in Context A History of Colworth Estate Bedfordshire from 1720 to 1947 Newnorth Print Limited External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Colworth House Colworth Park Time Team Mystery of the Ice Cream Villa Colworth Bedfordshire Colworth Medal Unilever Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Colworth House amp oldid 1180302193, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
