Barton-Le-Clay
| Barton-le-Clay | |
| Bedfordshire | |
|---|---|
 The village sign, Barton-le-Clay | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TL082310 |
| Location: | 51°58’1"N, 0°25’27"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 5,000 (2002 est.) |
| Post town: | Bedford |
| Postcode: | MK45 |
| Dialling code: | 01582 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Central Bedfordshire |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Mid Bedfordshire |
Barton-le-Clay is a large village in Bedfordshire. The village is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. Until quite recently it was known as Barton in the Clay.
Barton-le-Clay is to be found between Bedford and Luton. Nearby villages include Sharpenhoe, Silsoe, Westoning and Pulloxhill. The A6 London-Carlisle road follows the ancient Roman Watling Street in Bedfordshire, but the route of the A6 now bypasses Barton, the bypass built in 1990.
In the southeast of the parish are the Barton Hills, which form the northeast extremity of the Chiltern Hills. Much of this area of chalk downland is now a nature reserve.
Churches
- Church of England:
- Baptist: Hope Chapel
- Methodist: Barton-le-Clay Methodist Church
History
To the south west of the village, across the A6 is Sharpenhoe Clappers, an Iron Age hill fort.
The Domesday Book
In the Domesday Book it is recorded:
In FLITT Hundred M. The Abbot also holds Barton (in-the-clay). It answers for 11 hides.
Land for 12 ploughs. In lordship 3 hides; 2 ploughs there; a third possible. 20 villagers have 9 ploughs. 7 smallholders and 6 slaves. 1 mill, 2s, meadow for 6 ploughs; woodland, 200 pigs. In total, value £10; the same when acquired; in the time of King Edward £12. This manor always lay in (the lands of) St Benedict's Church. With this manor the Abbot claims against Nigel of Aubigny and Walter the Fleming 12 acres of meadow which lay there in the time of King Edward, but John of Les Roches dispossessed him wrongfully, and this the Hundred testifies.
Big Society
- Barton le Clay Rotary Club
- Amateur dramatics:
- Barton Players
- Up-Stage - Youth drama
- Boy Scouts
- Girl Guides
- Local history group
Sport
Football: Barton Rovers FC
War memorials
There are two World War memorials, one near the main road (on the junction between Luton Road and Hexton Road) and the other in the Parish Church - both have identical names.
Local newspapers
Two weekly newspapers are delivered free to many houses in Barton, with news about Barton and the surrounding area.
- http://www.lutontoday.co.uk Herald and Post]
- Luton and Dunstable Express
Pictures
-
A map of Barton-le-Clay from 1890. -
The Bull Hotel in 1902. -
St Nicholas's Church. The tower in perpendicular style with chequered pattern of ashlar stone and cobbles
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Barton-Le-Clay) |
- Parish council
- Pictures of England - Barton-le-Clay
- Barton-Le-Clay Community
- Barton [-in-the-Clay] in the Domesday Book