Clapham, Bedfordshire
| Clapham | |
| Bedfordshire | |
|---|---|
 St Thomas, Clapham | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TL024529 |
| Location: | 52°9’54"N, -0°30’7"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 3,643 (2001) |
| Post town: | Bedford |
| Postcode: | MK41 |
| Dialling code: | 01234 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Bedford |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
North East Bedfordshire |
Clapham is a village in Bedfordshire, a place with a population of 3,643 in 2001.
Churches
- Church of England: St Thomas of Canterbury
St Thomas has an Anglo-Saxon tower housing 6 bells, but is otherwise a Norman church.
About the village
Clapham has three public houses, the Horse and Groom, the Fox and Hounds and the Star;. There is also a club called "Clapham Club", and an Italian restaurant. It has several small shops; including a post office, Chinese and Indian takeaways, fish and chips, a florist, a hairdresser and its two churches.
The village has its own lower school: the middle school is in nearby Oakley
RAF Twinwood Farm, a disused airfield on the western outskirts of the village, is where the famous bandleader Glenn Miller took off on his last fateful flight, having performed for the American soldiers based at the airfield (51 Operational Training Unit Royal Air Force was the main unit based at Twinwood Farm) and at Bedford Corn Exchange. The Glenn Miller Museum is now open on site if you are in the mood, with many events taking place during the summer months.
Clapham Park, a large new country house, was built by James Howard, member of parliament for Bedford, in 1872.
There is also a derelict Italian prisoner of war camp (which is now owned by the farmer).
Sport and recreation
Clapham has a King George V Playing Field, created in memorial to King George V.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Clapham, Bedfordshire) |
- Clapham community
- Places I've visited – Clapham by Ian Meadows
- Information on Twin Woods
- Clapham Historical Society