Woburn Abbey

Woburn Abbey has been the home of the Earls and Dukes of Bedford since the 1620s, and is currently the home of the 15th Duke and Duchess of Bedford. In World War 2, The Abbey was the headquarters of the secretive Political Warfare Executive (PWE) which had its London offices at the BBC’s Bush House. The building is listed in the highest category of architecture at Grade I.

Scope of work — working closely with Woburn Abbey Enterprises, Fanshaw LLP and English Heritage on this extensive refurbishment programme, Decontaminate worked on the removal of various types of asbestos from listed timber floors and high-level insulation to pipework to paint to brick walls using a mix of mechanical abrasive and non-abrasive techniques.

Partway through, an archaeological involvement was required — during the careful removal of flagstones within the basement vaults, our operatives identified bone fragments buried in the soil. Further assessment of the bones concluded that they weren’t human; it was probably where a previous occupant had fed his dogs!