Shortmead House in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, is a two-storey Georgian manor house, first mentioned in 1543. The Grade II listed[1] building is lived in by the present owners as well as being used as business premises which are licensed as a wedding venue for civil ceremonies.
There has been a house at Shortmead since the early 16th century with the first mention in 1543 when a Thomas Butcher, the owner of Shortmead Farm, gave money in his will to St Andrew’s Church in Biggleswade. In the 1790s the house was remodelled into a Georgian manor house. In 1884 the house and estate, which covered 133 acres (54 ha) were auctioned in lots thereby reducing the total size. Today the estate covers only 20 acres (8.1 ha).
The estate was purchased by Ian Bond in 1999 with the house requiring major renovation both internally and externally to correct years of neglect. In 2002 Ian was joined by his wife Marilyn, who systematically cleared, restored and developed the grounds into formal and informal gardens.
The estate is one of scientific interest, providing a safe haven for the Great Crested Newt, an endangered species in the United Kingdom, as well as the Wollemi Pine, a tree only discovered in 1994 in Australia.