Colworth House
Encyclopedia
Colworth House is an 18th century mansion set in an area of parkland on the edge of the village of Sharnbrook
in Bedfordshire
. The current house was first built on a site occupied since prehistoric times and starting in 1715 by Mark Antonie, a self made man who aspired to become part of the landed gentry.
, were acquired by Unilever
in November 1947 and restored and developed into a research laboratory in 1948, with the first staff moving in in 1950. Unilever employed up to 1,750 people during the 1970s and constructed several adjacent laboratory buildings.
In 2004 Unilever entered into a joint venture with property investment company Arlington Securities to manage Colworth Science Park, with the aim of turning it into a science cluster by attracting science businesses, academic outposts, and science-based entrepreneurs. Arlington was subsequently acquired by Goodman, a property group involved in long-term ownership, development, and management of commercial and industrial property. Colworth Science Park remains one of Unilever's six research centres and currently employs around 750 people, with an additional 200 personnel employed by several of small companies located on the site.
The Colworth House grounds was the location of a Channel 4
Time Team
programme, first broadcast on February 2, 2008. Numerous finds by amateur archaeologists led to the discovery of a Roman villa
and farm in a field adjacent to the property.
Colworth House has also given its name to the Colworth Medal
, established by the late Professor Tony James of Unilever Research and Professor Henry Arnstein of the Biochemical Society in 1963. The award recognises outstanding research by a young biochemist of any nationality who has carried out the majority of their work in the UK.
Sharnbrook
Sharnbrook is a village and civil parish located in the Bedford Borough of Bedfordshire, England.The settlement was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a parish within the Hundred of Willey but was probably first developed in Saxon times. The oldest surviving building, St Peter's Church, is...
in Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
. The current house was first built on a site occupied since prehistoric times and starting in 1715 by Mark Antonie, a self made man who aspired to become part of the landed gentry.
History
The house and extensive grounds, once the home of Henry Mond, 2nd Baron MelchettHenry Mond, 2nd Baron Melchett
Henry Ludwig Mond, 2nd Baron Melchett was a British politician, industrialist and financier.-Early life and education:...
, were acquired by Unilever
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
in November 1947 and restored and developed into a research laboratory in 1948, with the first staff moving in in 1950. Unilever employed up to 1,750 people during the 1970s and constructed several adjacent laboratory buildings.
In 2004 Unilever entered into a joint venture with property investment company Arlington Securities to manage Colworth Science Park, with the aim of turning it into a science cluster by attracting science businesses, academic outposts, and science-based entrepreneurs. Arlington was subsequently acquired by Goodman, a property group involved in long-term ownership, development, and management of commercial and industrial property. Colworth Science Park remains one of Unilever's six research centres and currently employs around 750 people, with an additional 200 personnel employed by several of small companies located on the site.
The Colworth House grounds was the location of a Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
Time Team
Time Team
Time Team is a British television series which has been aired on Channel 4 since 1994. Created by television producer Tim Taylor and presented by actor Tony Robinson, each episode features a team of specialists carrying out an archaeological dig over a period of three days, with Robinson explaining...
programme, first broadcast on February 2, 2008. Numerous finds by amateur archaeologists led to the discovery of a Roman villa
Roman villa
A Roman villa is a villa that was built or lived in during the Roman republic and the Roman Empire. A villa was originally a Roman country house built for the upper class...
and farm in a field adjacent to the property.
Colworth House has also given its name to the Colworth Medal
Colworth Medal
The Colworth medal is awarded annually to a biochemist under the age of 35 and working mainly in the United Kingdom. The award was established by Professors Tony James and Henry Arnstein...
, established by the late Professor Tony James of Unilever Research and Professor Henry Arnstein of the Biochemical Society in 1963. The award recognises outstanding research by a young biochemist of any nationality who has carried out the majority of their work in the UK.