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WARDEN (OLD), a parish in the hundred of WIXAMTREE, county of BEDFORD, 3¾ miles (W. by S.) from Biggleswade, containing 670 inhabitants. The living is a discharged vicarage, united with that of Southill, in the archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese of Lincoln, endowed with £200 private benefaction, and £200 royal bounty. The church is dedicated to St. Leonard: in the cemetery is the mausoleum of Lord Ongley. A market and fair, granted in 1218, were formerly held, but both have been long disused. An abbey for Cistercian monks from Rivaulx was founded here, in 1135, by Walter L'Espec : it was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and at the dissolution had a revenue of £442.11.11.
[A Topographical Dictionary of England - Samuel Lewis - 1831]
The 1851 Census Index for Old Warden can be found in the 1851 Index to Census of Bedfordshire, Volume 3, Book 5 available from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.
Church of England
The church of St. Leonard is a building of stone in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave, south aisle, south porch and an embattled western tower containing 4 bells: it underwent considerable repairs in 1841-2,when the interior was renovated, pews of black oak, elaborately carved, substituted, and several stained windows inserted, the whole being executed at the expense of Robert Henley, third and last baron Ongley, and late owner of the estate, who died in 1877, and whose munificence has been recorded on a mural tablet of brass: in the nave is a marble statue of Sir Samuel Ongley, knt. and there are tablets to several of his descendants: there is a picture in the church, a copy of one by Guercino : in 1890, the stained east window was erected, and there is a memorial window on the north side of the chancel, erected in 1885, and one containing some fragments of ancient glass said to have been removed from the abbey: a new organ was placed in the church in 1887 by Major F. Shuttleworth: there are 250 sittings : the churchyard is planted with evergreens and flowering shrubs, and contains a fine monument to Joseph Shuttleworth, erected by his sons, Alfred and Major Frank Shuttleworth J.P. The register dates from the year 1576.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
Non-conformist
Here is a Primitive Methodist chapel, erected in 1878, with 120 sittings.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
Church of England
The parish record transcripts for St. Leonard are available on microfiche for the period 1576-1812 from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.
Of the Cistercian Abbey of St. Mary, founded by Walter De Espec A.D. 1136, and one mile west from the church, the refectory is the only portion now remaining; it was surrendered December 4th, 1538, by the abbot and 14 monks, the revenue being estimated at from £389 to £442. Near the church is the site of a supposed Roman encampment, known as "Quince Hill": various relics found here are now in the Fitswilliam Museum, at Cambridge. Old Warden House, formerly the seat of Lord Ongley, was some years ago taken down, and a stone mansion, in the Tudor style, erected on the same site by the late owner Joseph Shuttleworth esq. J.P. ; the park and pleasure grounds, beautifully studded with tree, extend over 550 acres and contain a lake; the estate is held by Major Frank Shuttleworth J.P. late 7th Hussars, second son of the late Joseph Shuttleworth. Samuel Whitbread esq. is lord of the manor.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
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[Last updated 5 August 2003 Martin Edwards]