ABOUT THE KNIFE AND CLEAVER INN

Earliest records date back to 1796 but the building is generally believed to be quite a bit older. It was originally named ‘The Butchers Arms’ and was owned at one time by the Earl of Upper Ossory who purchased the manor house in 1741 from Benedict who was the last of the male Conquest line. The Conquest family had held the manor from the 13th century when it was known as Conquestbury or Houghtonbury.

The Jacobean oak panelling in the dark- beamed bar has recently been authenticated as coming from nearby *Houghton House rumoured to be ‘House Beautiful’ in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress.

David & Pauline Loom have been running the Knife & Cleaver since1989. Their son, Rupert, joined them as Manager in August 2005.

All Saints is the largest parish church in Bedfordshire

Though 15th century in appearance the structure dates from 1393 when a Norman church on the site was rebuilt.

There are decorated Gothic arcades and a chancel arch with a faint Glory painting above.

The South doorway merits special attention.

Also worth seeing; the Conquest brasses dated 1493 and 1500.

 Built for the Countess of Pembroke between 1615/21 this was a grand late Tudor building by John Thorpe.

This famous Scottish family which produced a king of Ireland and three Scottish kings lived here from 1620 to 1738 after they came to England with James 1.

The house passed to the Russells in 1738.

Francis, Marquis of Tavistock came to live in Houghton House and brought home his bride Lady Elizabeth Keppel. However in 1767 he was killed in a riding accident and within the year his wife followed him, dead of a broken heart so the story goes.

No-one lived in the house after this. In 1794 the Duke of Bedford ordered the property to be dismantled. At this time various fittings found their way into properties large and small around Bedford. The staircase dated 1688 is in The Swan Hotel in Bedford and an 18th century gateway with screen stands at 28, Church Street in nearby Ampthill. It is believed that the Haynes Grange Room, which can be seen in The Victoria and Albert Museum, may have come from here. It is pine- panelled with Corinthian pilasters, and is rumoured to be by Inigo Jones.