Welcome To The Houghton Regis Heritage Society Website

The Red House on the Green is an important building in the Heritage of the Town. THE WHITEHEAD FAMILY AND THE RED HOUSE The Whitehead family had a house on the green called “Strangers” known today as The Red House. Thomas Whitehead claims in his Will to have been born there, but no baptismal entry can be traced for him. He is probably the Thomas who studied for Matric at Magdelene College, 1635, and studied for his degree between 1638 and 1639.

A ‘relative’ (probably his father) had been headmaster at Repton School, Derbyshire, where Thomas became First Usher (senior master) from 1642 until he died in 1654. At the age of 43, Thomas became seriously ill. He returned to Houghton Regis, but by the time he made his Will, he was so weak he could only scratch his mark; however, he was perfectly clear in his mind as to what to do with the family property. ‘Strangers’, the house which Thomas Whitehead had inherited, faced the village Green; it had various outbuildings and ¼ acre of land. He instructed that either it should be converted into a school or be pulled down and the materials used to build a new specially designed school. The first two schoolmasters were local vicars who did not need a school house and it is likely that the first group of boys were taught in the church while a new building was being erected. Later documents describe a school house and classroom which suggests that the premises were purpose built. In addition to the house and garden, Thomas Whitehead left the large sum of £250, and when the expenses of setting up the school were complete, the remainder was invested in 15 acres in England’s Field (the ‘inlands’ behind Station Road) in Dunstable. In his Will Thomas Whitehead stipulated that the school would be made up of 15 boys from poor families in Houghton and five boys from poor families in the hamlets (probably Thorn, Calcott and Sewell). The Red House was not pulled down. In 1654, Thomas Whitehead, a native of Houghton Regis, founded one of the earliest schools in England – an elementary school to educate, free of charge, twenty poor boys of the village. It had to compete with the ‘plait schools’ where children from as young as 4 years of age, were paid for the plaiting of straw.
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Renovation of the Red House


Scaffolding around the Red House 2019

The Heritage Society has been pressing Central Bedfordshire Council for some years to tell us what they were planning to do with the Red House when the last housing tenant vacated the building. In 2016 Central Bedfordshire Council was granted planning permission to build All Saints View, an independent living scheme for people aged 55 and over. It will include 168 one and two bedroom apartments for rent, shared ownership and outright purchase. The planning permission included listed building consent to renovate the Red House and this is nearing completion.

The importance of the Red House is illustrated in a report from Albion Archaeology, which is set out below.

Extract from LE18001: THE RED HOUSE, HOUGHTON REGIS, LU5 5DY – REFURBISHMENT WORKS FOR CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL   2018 Albion Archaeology ‘Historic Building Assessment Report (Reference: C02821-216-147 Version 1)’ identifies the ‘Heritage Values’ of the building as follows:

Evidential Value: The primary range of the building dates from the 17th century. Although subject to later alterations, the original plan from this period remains largely intact and readable. It also retains historic building fabric with elements of the timber frame in the walls and ceilings being visible inside the building. Changes made to the house during the 18th century are evident in the façade, which was replaced in brick with sash windows. It is quite likely that other alterations would have been made at this time but no evidence remains for this. The most significant 19th century feature of the building is the outbuilding that forms the present southern range. Apart from its plan form and much- altered openings, nothing remains to indicate its original internal layout and function. The flint and brick construction is typical of the late 19th century when its use was revived during the vernacular revival. A single storey outshot would have stood at the rear of the building and is indicated in the continuation of the brickwork in the north-west elevation. However, later alteration and extension has removed most of the historic fabric in this part of the building.

Historical Illustrative Value: The earliest surviving parts of the building are an example of a type of house that developed during this period. It has a central fireplace and similar-sized bays to either side, producing a near symmetrical plan. The clasped purlin roof over the primary range appears to form part of its 17th century construction and is an interesting example partly due to its unusually steep pitch. The re-fronting of the house in brick during the 18th century is an example of how buildings were updated in accordance with the aesthetic tastes of the period.

Historical Associative Value: It is clear from the design of the building with 2½ stories and its high roof line that it would have been a building of some standing when it was built.

Aesthetic Value: The Red House forms a very significant element in the character and aesthetic value of the historic village green. It is the only surviving historic building on this side of the Green. The front of the building survives largely intact with the mid-20th-century porch respecting the character of the building.