Colworth House

Colworth House is an 18th-century mansion standing in parkland on the edge of Sharnbrook village in Bedfordshire. The Grade II* listed building was begun in 1715 by Mark Antonie, who aimed to join the landed gentry. Its grounds have been occupied since prehistoric times, and the house passed through generations of the Antonie family. In 1760 Richard Antonie brought a slave from Jamaica to the house. Later owners included the astronomer John Fiott Lee and the industrialist Henry Mond, 2nd Baron Melchett. The house became a research laboratory in 1948 after Unilever bought it in 1947. At its peak in the 1990s the site employed up to 1,100 people. In 2004 Unilever formed a joint venture to create Colworth Science Park, which now hosts around 750 Unilever staff and 200 workers from smaller science companies. A Channel 4 Time Team programme filmed in 2009 uncovered a Roman villa and farm in a nearby field. The house also lends its name to the Colworth Medal, awarded since 1963 for outstanding biochemistry research. Visitors walk through the landscaped parkland that surrounds the mansion. The restored 18th-century building sits among mature trees and wide lawns. Archaeological discoveries include Roman remains found close to the property. The science park’s modern laboratories stand alongside restored historic structures. The Colworth Medal, displayed in the house, honours young researchers. The estate offers a quiet setting where history and science meet.