A Guide to Moggerhanger House

A brief guide to the history of the Moggerhanger House estate in Bedfordshire, rebuilt by Sir John Soane during 1790 – 1816. Commissioned by Godfrey Thornton who became Governor of the Bank of England in 1793, Soane rebuilt the house turning it from a double fronted villa about the size of a mid-eighteenth century vicarage into a ‘country residence’ befitting a gentleman. This included moving the entrance to the east side of the house and enlarging the property by adding a new hall, drawing room and some additional accommodation.

Moggerhanger House is one of the very few examples of Soane’s mature country houses to survive. The interiors illustrate the subtlety of Soane’s work and are a significant example of his domestic design. The architecture of the house itself contains the seeds of many of Soane’s public works, and reflects his achievements on a scale that is both accessible and pleasing to all who visit. In 2002 a major project to restore Moggerhanger House was launched by World Monuments Fund working with the House Preservation Trust and this resulted in a holistic presentation of much of Soane’s original design, whose legacy can once again be enjoyed by all.

This 36 page guide to the estate compiled by Jenny Cooper gives a detailed description of the house with colour photographs and illustrations as well as brief histories of Sir John Soane and the Thornton Family.

Dimensions: 15x21cm