Welcome to Putteridge Bury B&B

Putteridge Bury Bed and Breakfast is a beautifully restored and converted traditional farmhouse built c. 1700 and considerably extended during the nineteenth century. The house is conveniently located amongst the rolling Chiltern Hills, off the A505 between Luton and the historic market town of Hitchin. This is a very comfortable and peaceful guesthouse, popular with those attending functions and conferences at nearby Putteridge Bury Conference Centre and Offley Place. For those working locally, catching flights from Luton Airport or just passing through, you will find this accommodation more than suitable. Adjacent to the Icknield Way long distance trail, this location is ideal for horse riding, cycling or walking holidays.Putteridge Bury B&B also offers DIY livery with large brick built stables and extensive grazing.

Putteridge Bury B&B

Dog Kennel Farm

Lilley, Hertfordshire LU2 8LQ

Tel: 01462 769 888 Mob. 07778-517486

Email: info@putteridgebury.com

Forthcoming Events

Contact Alison 07778-517486  Email horses@putteridgebury.com  www.putteridgebury.com 

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History of the House

Crest of the Docwra and Sowerby families

 History of Dog Kennel Farm  

The history of Dog Kennel Farm is bound up in that of the two neighbouring great estates of Putteridge Bury Park and Offley Place. The current farmhouse on this site dates from the early eighteenth century, and seems to have been continually altered and enlarged throughout the nineteenth century. The farmhouse and land were once part of the estate of Putteridge Bury Park, ancient seat of the Docwra family, whose crest of the Silver Lion rampant adorns many houses in the picturesque nearby village of Lilley, and the Silver Lion pub, directly opposite Dog Kennel Farm on the other side of the A505 road. In 1788 the estate passed to John Sowerby, a Cumberland farm labourer, who had made a fortune through shrewd speculation and ended by becoming High Sherriff of Hertfordshire ! The Sowerbys subsequently adopted the crest of the Silver Lion. In 1808 the mansion was destroyed by fire and replaced by a typical Regency house, with gardens laid out by the eminent landscape designer John Claudius Loudon. Colonel George Sowerby died in a most unusual accident in 1888, being gored to death by a pet Egyptian stag in the park. His wife subsequently moved to a small house in the park. Captain Thomas Meadows Clutterbuck acquired the house in 1908. Since 1902 the Clutterbucks had rented Chequers (now the country residence of the Prime Minister) and they were so enamoured of the house that they commissioned the architects Ernest George and Yates (Lutyens had been a pupil of Sir Ernest George) to rebuild Putteridge Bury Park in a similar style. The result is a very good imitation of an Elizabethan country house and was completed in 1911. The gardens were laid out by Gertrude Jekyll. In 1921 the house and estate were bought by Sir Felix Cassel, a wealthy business man and patron of the local cricket club, the Cassel Village Hall in Lilley is named after him. Most of the land was purchased by The Crown Estate in the 1930’s and Putteridge Bury Park is now the conference and banqueting centre for the University of Luton.

The unusual name of Dog Kennel farm, clearly marked on the earliest Ordnance Survey map of Hertfordshire published in 1834, probably reflects previous usage as kennels and stabling for the local hunt. Nearby is Offley Place, in Great Offley village. This great house was built in the seventeenth century for Sir Richard Spencer, and in the 1750’s became the seat of the Salusbury family. Offley Place was the home of the aunt and uncle of Mrs Hester Thrale Piozzi (who was brought up at Offley), political hostess and friend of Dr. Samuel Johnson. The house is now a venue for functions and conferences.  

Some early photos of Dog Kennel Farm, the Silver Lion and Great Offley