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The picturesque Chilterns escarpment runs through the little county of Bedfordshire - which lies between the Home Counties (those which surround London)
and the Midlands. Bedford is known for its connection with John Bunyan, who wrote The Pilgrim's Progress and spent considerable time in jail for refusing
to conform. Luton, one of London's secondary airports, is in Bedfordshire.
Click on the headings to find out more:
Woburn Abbey, an 18th Century Palladian mansion owned by the Duke of Bedford, is best known for the Safari Park in its grounds. About 45 years ago, the
Bedfords faced a financial crisis - dreary tax collectors and associated riff-raff threatened to bankrupt the estate unless some novel way could be
found to turn a large number of honest pennies. A way was found - and Woburn Abbey became one of the first of England's huge stately homes to open up
to the public. The real stroke of genius was the 350-acre (142 hectare) safari park, which grew rapidly into one of England's top attractions.
Heard of the bongo antelope? You can see it here, along with rare African white rhinos, various types of monkeys and, of course, the park's famous
Bengal tigers. The latter are potential man-eaters - the idea is not to give them the chance to prove it. Visitors must stay in their cars; they
are warned by large signs in all sorts of languages not to get out under any circumstances.
Woburn Abbey itself, by the way, is built on the foundations of a 12th Century Cistercian monastery. It owes much to Henry Holland, the Prince Regent's
architect. Woburn houses an important collection of Tudor portraits, along with works by Reynolds and some wonderful Venetian scenes by
Canaletto.
Elstow Moot Hall is a medieval market hall filled with exhibits of 17th Century life, including period furniture.
Bushmead Priory at Colmworth, founded about 1195, offers medieval wall paintings, stained glass and a splendid 13th Century timber roof of
crown-post construction.
If you're into coaches (of the horse-drawn sort) this is your day. The Mossman Collection at Luton houses Britain's largest collection, all
displayed in a new purpose-built building.
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