Difference between revisions of "Bedfordshire"
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{{Infobox county | {{Infobox county | ||
|name=Bedfordshire | |name=Bedfordshire | ||
| − | |map image= | + | |map image=Bedfordshire Brit Isles Sect 5.svg |
| − | | | + | |flag=Bedfordshire County Flag.svg |
| − | |picture | + | |picture=04 Woburn Abbey (50).JPG |
| − | | | + | |picture caption=Woburn Abbey |
|county town=[[Bedford]] | |county town=[[Bedford]] | ||
|biggest town=[[Luton]] | |biggest town=[[Luton]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | + | The '''County of Bedford''' is a [[Counties of the United Kingdom|shire]] in southern England, lying between [[Huntingdonshire]] to the north-east, [[Northamptonshire]] to the north, [[Buckinghamshire]] to the west and [[Hertfordshire]] to the south-east. | |
| − | ''' | + | |
The county is generally low-lying, though the southern end of the county is swept by the chalk ridge of the [[Chiltern Hills]], where the county's highest elevation is found, at 800 feet, on the [[Dunstable Downs]]. The rest of the shire is part of the broad drainage basin of the [[River Great Ouse]] and its tributaries. | The county is generally low-lying, though the southern end of the county is swept by the chalk ridge of the [[Chiltern Hills]], where the county's highest elevation is found, at 800 feet, on the [[Dunstable Downs]]. The rest of the shire is part of the broad drainage basin of the [[River Great Ouse]] and its tributaries. | ||
| Line 17: | Line 16: | ||
Bedfordshire's soil of clay and sandstone has provided material for brick-making. Flint is extracted commercially too, leaving lakes, at Priory Country Park, at [[Wyboston]] and at [[Felmersham]]. | Bedfordshire's soil of clay and sandstone has provided material for brick-making. Flint is extracted commercially too, leaving lakes, at Priory Country Park, at [[Wyboston]] and at [[Felmersham]]. | ||
| − | Bedfordshire is divided into the nine hundreds: [[Barford | + | Bedfordshire is divided into the nine hundreds: [[Barford Hundred|Barford]], [[Biggleswade Hundred|Biggleswade]], [[Clifton Hundred|Clifton]], [[Flitt Hundred|Flitt]], [[Manshead Hundred|Manshead]], [[Redbournestoke Hundred|Redbournestoke]], [[Stodden Hundred|Stodden]], [[Willey Hundred|Willey]], [[Wixamtree Hundred|Wixamtree]], along with the liberty and borough of [[Bedford]]. |
| − | In 2002, the plant conservation charity | + | In 2002, the plant conservation charity Plantlife chose the bee orchid as Bedfordshire's [[county flower]]. |
The traditional nickname for people from Bedfordshire is "Bedfordshire Bulldogs" or "Clangers", this latter deriving from a local dish comprising a suet crust dumpling filled with meat or jam or both. | The traditional nickname for people from Bedfordshire is "Bedfordshire Bulldogs" or "Clangers", this latter deriving from a local dish comprising a suet crust dumpling filled with meat or jam or both. | ||
==Economy== | ==Economy== | ||
| − | [[Luton]] has long been an industrial town, which fuelled its growth into the county's largest town, maintained by its location by the M1 and the A5 and Luton Airport. Other towns on the A1, A5 and M1 corridors have likewise seen commercial development. | + | [[Luton]] has long been an industrial town, which fuelled its growth into the county's largest town, maintained by its location by the [[M1 motorway|M1]] and the A5 and Luton Airport. Other towns on the A1, A5 and M1 corridors have likewise seen commercial development. |
Bedford is not on the major north-south routes but has long been a commercial centre in its own right. | Bedford is not on the major north-south routes but has long been a commercial centre in its own right. | ||
| Line 31: | Line 30: | ||
==Visitor attractions== | ==Visitor attractions== | ||
| − | {{UKPlacesKey | + | {{UKPlacesKey}} |
| − | * [[ | + | *{{i-EH}} [[Bedford Castle]] |
| − | * The Corn Exchange, Bedford | + | *The Corn Exchange, Bedford |
| − | * | + | *{{i-Museum}} Bedford Museum and Art Gallery |
| − | * Bedford Park | + | *Bedford Park |
| − | * Cardington (R101 airship hangar) | + | *[[Cardington, Bedfordshire|Cardington]] (R101 airship hangar) |
| − | * | + | *{{i-OpenSpace}} [[Chiltern Hills]] |
| − | * [[ | + | *{{i-EH}} [[De Grey Mausoleum]] |
| − | * | + | *{{i-NTE}} [[Dunstable Downs]] |
| − | * [[ | + | *{{i-MuseumNotFree}} [[Elstow Moot Hall]] |
| − | * [[ | + | *{{i-EH}} [[Houghton House]] |
| − | * [[ | + | *{{i-HR}} [[Leighton Buzzard Light Railway]] |
| − | * [[ | + | *{{i-House}} [[Luton Hoo]] |
| − | * | + | *{{i-Museum}} Luton Museum and Art Gallery |
| − | * | + | *{{i-OpenSpace}} Marston Vale Community Forest |
| − | * | + | *{{i-Museum}} Mossman Collection |
| − | * | + | *{{i-Park}} Priory Country Park |
| − | * | + | *{{i-Museum}} RAF Henlow |
| − | * RSPB: The Lodge, [[Sandy]] | + | *RSPB: The Lodge, [[Sandy]] |
| − | * [[ | + | *{{i-EH}} [[Someries Castle]] |
| − | * | + | *{{i-MuseumNotFree}} The Shuttleworth Collection |
| − | * | + | *{{i-Museum}} Stockwood Craft Museum |
| − | * | + | *{{i-OpenSpace}} Wardown Park |
| − | * | + | *{{i-OpenSpace}} Waulud's Bank |
| − | * | + | *{{i-Zoo}} Whipsnade Wildlife Park |
| − | * [[ | + | *{{i-NTE}} [[Whipsnade Tree Cathedral]] |
| − | * [[ | + | *{{i-NTE}} [[Willington Dovecote and Stables]] |
| − | * [[ | + | *{{i-House}} [[Woburn Abbey]] |
| − | * | + | *{{i-Zoo}} Woburn Safari Park |
| − | * | + | *{{i-Zoo}} Woodside Farm and Wildfowl Park |
| − | * [[ | + | *{{i-EH}} [[Wrest Park|Wrest Park Gardens]] |
==Transport== | ==Transport== | ||
| − | |||
Although not a major transport destination itself, Bedfordshire lies on many of the main transport routes which link [[London]] to the Midlands and the North. | Although not a major transport destination itself, Bedfordshire lies on many of the main transport routes which link [[London]] to the Midlands and the North. | ||
===Roads=== | ===Roads=== | ||
| − | Two of | + | Two of Britain's main trunk roads pass through Bedfordshire: |
* The '''A1''' [[London]] to [[Edinburgh]] road (The Great North Road) runs close by Biggleswade and Sandy | * The '''A1''' [[London]] to [[Edinburgh]] road (The Great North Road) runs close by Biggleswade and Sandy | ||
* The '''A5''' [[London]] to [[Holyhead]] road ([[Watling Street]]), passes through Dunstable. | * The '''A5''' [[London]] to [[Holyhead]] road ([[Watling Street]]), passes through Dunstable. | ||
| Line 75: | Line 73: | ||
To these was added in 1959: | To these was added in 1959: | ||
| − | * The '''M1 motorway''', the [[London]] to [[Leeds]] motorway. This has three junctions around Luton, one serving Bedford and another serving [[Milton Keynes]]. | + | * The '''[[M1 motorway]]''', the [[London]] to [[Leeds]] motorway. This has three junctions around Luton, one serving Bedford and another serving [[Milton Keynes]]. |
Former trunk roads, now local roads managed by the local highway authority include A428 running east-west through Bedford, and the '''A6''' from [[Rushden]] to [[Luton]]. | Former trunk roads, now local roads managed by the local highway authority include A428 running east-west through Bedford, and the '''A6''' from [[Rushden]] to [[Luton]]. | ||
| Line 82: | Line 80: | ||
Three main lines pass through Bedfordshire: | Three main lines pass through Bedfordshire: | ||
| − | * The | + | * The [[West Coast Main Line]] has but a short section in the far west of the county. The one station at Leighton Buzzard is served by trains to London Euston and [[Northampton]]. |
| − | * The | + | * The [[East Coast Main Line]] has stations at Arlesey, Biggleswade and Sandy, served by services to London's King's Cross Station and [[Peterborough]]. |
| − | * The | + | * The [[Midland Main Line]] serves Luton and Bedford with trains to many destinations between London St Pancras and [[Yorkshire]]. |
There are rural services also running between [[Bedford]] and [[Bletchley]] along the Marston Vale Line. | There are rural services also running between [[Bedford]] and [[Bletchley]] along the Marston Vale Line. | ||
===Waterways=== | ===Waterways=== | ||
| − | The [[ | + | The River [[Great Ouse]] links Bedfordshire to the [[Great Fen|Fenland]] waterways. As of 2004 there are plans by the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust to construct a new canal linking the Great Ouse at Bedford to the [[Grand Union Canal]] at Milton Keynes, 14 miles away.<ref>[http://www.b-mkwaterway.co.uk/trust/index.html Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust]</ref> |
===Air=== | ===Air=== | ||
[[Luton Airport]] (now '''London Luton Airport''') has flights to many British, European, North American and North African destinations. | [[Luton Airport]] (now '''London Luton Airport''') has flights to many British, European, North American and North African destinations. | ||
| − | ==Towns | + | ==Towns== |
| − | + | [[File:Bedfordshire Hundreds.svg|thumb|250px|The hundreds of Bedfordshire]] | |
Two towns in the county have populations over 50,000: | Two towns in the county have populations over 50,000: | ||
| − | *[[Luton]] 203,800 | + | *[[Luton]], 203,800 |
| − | *[[Bedford]] 79,190 | + | *[[Bedford]], 79,190 |
Smaller towns are: | Smaller towns are: | ||
| − | *[[Leighton Buzzard]] 37,000 | + | *[[Leighton Buzzard]], 37,000 |
| − | *[[Dunstable]] 35,120 | + | *[[Dunstable]] ''(partly in [[Hertfordshire]])'', 35,120 |
| − | *[[Kempston]] 19,440 | + | *[[Kempston]], 19,440 |
| − | *[[Houghton Regis]] 16,670 | + | *[[Houghton Regis]], 16,670 |
| − | *[[Biggleswade]] 16,420 | + | *[[Biggleswade]], 16,420 |
| − | *[[Leagrave]] 12,910 | + | *[[Leagrave]], 12,910 |
| − | *[[Flitwick]] 13,370 | + | *[[Flitwick]], 13,370 |
| − | *[[Sandy, Bedfordshire|Sandy]] 11,620 | + | *[[Sandy, Bedfordshire|Sandy]], 11,620 |
| − | *[[Ampthill]] 6,767 | + | *[[Ampthill]], 6,767 |
| − | *[[Stotfold]] 6,209 | + | *[[Stotfold]], 6,209 |
| − | *[[Arlesey]] 5,449 | + | *[[Arlesey]], 5,449 |
| − | *[[Cranfield]] 5,443 | + | *[[Cranfield]], 5,443 |
| − | *[[Shefford, Bedfordshire|Shefford]] 5,400 | + | *[[Shefford, Bedfordshire|Shefford]], 5,400 |
| − | *[[Barton-Le-Clay]] 5,000 | + | *[[Barton-Le-Clay]], 5,000 |
==Bibliographical references== | ==Bibliographical references== | ||
Latest revision as of 10:17, 29 April 2021
| Bedfordshire United Kingdom | |
.JPG) Woburn Abbey | |
|---|---|
| |
| Flag | |
| Constant Be | |
| |
| [Interactive map] | |
| Area: | 468 square miles |
| Population: | 602,847 |
| County town: | Bedford |
| Biggest town: | Luton |
| County flower: | Bee orchid [1] |
The County of Bedford is a shire in southern England, lying between Huntingdonshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east.
The county is generally low-lying, though the southern end of the county is swept by the chalk ridge of the Chiltern Hills, where the county's highest elevation is found, at 800 feet, on the Dunstable Downs. The rest of the shire is part of the broad drainage basin of the River Great Ouse and its tributaries.
The Greensand Ridge is an escarpment across the county from near Leighton Buzzard to near Gamlingay in Cambridgeshire.
Bedfordshire's soil of clay and sandstone has provided material for brick-making. Flint is extracted commercially too, leaving lakes, at Priory Country Park, at Wyboston and at Felmersham.
Bedfordshire is divided into the nine hundreds: Barford, Biggleswade, Clifton, Flitt, Manshead, Redbournestoke, Stodden, Willey, Wixamtree, along with the liberty and borough of Bedford.
In 2002, the plant conservation charity Plantlife chose the bee orchid as Bedfordshire's county flower.
The traditional nickname for people from Bedfordshire is "Bedfordshire Bulldogs" or "Clangers", this latter deriving from a local dish comprising a suet crust dumpling filled with meat or jam or both.
Contents
Economy
Luton has long been an industrial town, which fuelled its growth into the county's largest town, maintained by its location by the M1 and the A5 and Luton Airport. Other towns on the A1, A5 and M1 corridors have likewise seen commercial development.
Bedford is not on the major north-south routes but has long been a commercial centre in its own right.
Bedfordshire is the location of a number of notable British and international companies which have either headquarters or major bases in the county.
Visitor attractions
| Key | |
 |
Cathedral/Abbey/Priory |
 |
Accessible open space |
 |
Amusement/Theme Park |
 |
Castle |
 |
Country Park |
 |
English Heritage |
 |
Forestry Commission |
 |
Heritage railway |
 |
Historic House |
 .svg){kind=icon} |
Museum (free/not free) |
 |
National Trust |
 |
Zoo |
Bedford Castle- The Corn Exchange, Bedford
Bedford Museum and Art Gallery- Bedford Park
- Cardington (R101 airship hangar)
Chiltern Hills- De Grey Mausoleum
Dunstable Downs
Elstow Moot Hall- Houghton House
Leighton Buzzard Light Railway
Luton Hoo- Luton Museum and Art Gallery
- Marston Vale Community Forest
- Mossman Collection
Priory Country Park- RAF Henlow
- RSPB: The Lodge, Sandy
- Someries Castle
- The Shuttleworth Collection
- Stockwood Craft Museum
- Wardown Park
- Waulud's Bank
Whipsnade Wildlife Park- Whipsnade Tree Cathedral
- Willington Dovecote and Stables
- Woburn Abbey
- Woburn Safari Park
- Woodside Farm and Wildfowl Park
- Wrest Park Gardens
Transport
Although not a major transport destination itself, Bedfordshire lies on many of the main transport routes which link London to the Midlands and the North.
Roads
Two of Britain's main trunk roads pass through Bedfordshire:
- The A1 London to Edinburgh road (The Great North Road) runs close by Biggleswade and Sandy
- The A5 London to Holyhead road (Watling Street), passes through Dunstable.
To these was added in 1959:
- The M1 motorway, the London to Leeds motorway. This has three junctions around Luton, one serving Bedford and another serving Milton Keynes.
Former trunk roads, now local roads managed by the local highway authority include A428 running east-west through Bedford, and the A6 from Rushden to Luton.
Railways
Three main lines pass through Bedfordshire:
- The West Coast Main Line has but a short section in the far west of the county. The one station at Leighton Buzzard is served by trains to London Euston and Northampton.
- The East Coast Main Line has stations at Arlesey, Biggleswade and Sandy, served by services to London's King's Cross Station and Peterborough.
- The Midland Main Line serves Luton and Bedford with trains to many destinations between London St Pancras and Yorkshire.
There are rural services also running between Bedford and Bletchley along the Marston Vale Line.
Waterways
The River Great Ouse links Bedfordshire to the Fenland waterways. As of 2004 there are plans by the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust to construct a new canal linking the Great Ouse at Bedford to the Grand Union Canal at Milton Keynes, 14 miles away.[1]
Air
Luton Airport (now London Luton Airport) has flights to many British, European, North American and North African destinations.
Towns
Two towns in the county have populations over 50,000:
Smaller towns are:
- Leighton Buzzard, 37,000
- Dunstable (partly in Hertfordshire), 35,120
- Kempston, 19,440
- Houghton Regis, 16,670
- Biggleswade, 16,420
- Leagrave, 12,910
- Flitwick, 13,370
- Sandy, 11,620
- Ampthill, 6,767
- Stotfold, 6,209
- Arlesey, 5,449
- Cranfield, 5,443
- Shefford, 5,400
- Barton-Le-Clay, 5,000
Bibliographical references
- Bedfordshire Magazine (quarterly)[2]
- Elstow Moot Hall leaflets on John Bunyan and 17th century subjects[2]
- Guide to the Bedfordshire Record Office 1957 with supplements.[2]
- Guide to the Russell Estate Collections Published in 1966.[2]
- Conisbe, L. R. (1962) A Bedfordshire Bibliography (supplement, 1967)[2]
- Dony, John (1953) A Bedfordshire Flora. Luton: Corporation of Luton Museum & Art Gallery[2]
- Dony, John (1942) A History of the Straw Hat Industry. Luton: Gibbs, Bamforth & Co.[2]
- Freeman, Charles (1958) Pillow Lace in the East Midlands. Luton: Luton Museum and Art Gallery[2]
- Godber, Joyce (1969) History of Bedfordshire 1066-1888[2]
- White, H. O. Bedfordshire Historical Record Society (published annually)[2]
References
| Counties of the United Kingdom |
|---|
|
Aberdeen • Anglesey • Angus • Antrim • Argyll • Armagh • Ayr • Banff • Bedford • Berks • Berwick • Brecknock • Buckingham • Bute • Caernarfon • Caithness • Cambridge • Cardigan • Carmarthen • Chester • Clackmannan • Cornwall • Cromarty • Cumberland • Denbigh • Derby • Devon • Dorset • Down • Dumfries • Dunbarton • Durham • East Lothian • Essex • Fermanagh • Fife • Flint • Glamorgan • Gloucester • Hants • Hereford • Hertford • Huntingdon • Inverness • Kent • Kincardine • Kinross • Kirkcudbright • Lanark • Lancaster • Leicester • Lincoln • Londonderry • Merioneth • Middlesex • Midlothian • Monmouth • Montgomery • Moray • Nairn • Norfolk • Northampton • Northumberland • Nottingham • Orkney • Oxford • Peebles • Pembroke • Perth • Radnor • Renfrew • Ross • Roxburgh • Rutland • Selkirk • Shetland • Salop • Somerset • Stafford • Stirling • Suffolk • Surrey • Sussex • Sutherland • Tyrone • Warwick • West Lothian • Westmorland • Wigtown • Wilts • Worcester • York |
