Mid Bedfordshire towns and villages
Stretching in an arc from the Georgian towns of Woburn and Ampthill in the west to the historic market towns of Sandy and Biggleswade in the east, Mid Bedfordshire is in the heart of Bedfordshire. Part of the area consists of wide open countryside rich in enchanting villages and towns and beautiful rural scenery.
Mid Bedfordshire is noted for its rich and colourful history, which can be traced through the numerous churches, religious monuments and grand country houses, all hosted by the many picturesque villages and hamlets and complement the districts small market towns.
Town or village, bustling or secluded many of the communities within Mid Bedfordshire have ancient or historic origins. Whilst greatly adapted over time they are all a reflection of our past and remain part of our present.
Ampthill
A Georgian Town with over 200 listed buildings. Situated on the slope of a hill that rises from the Ouse Valley, the town is renowned for its numerous antique shops that line its narrow streets. Bordering the town is Ampthill Park with its monument, a cross that marks the site of Ampthill Castle, where Katherine of Aragon was kept under house arrest during her divorce from Henry VIII. Close to the town stands the ruins of Houghton House, an English Heritage property thought to be the House Beautiful in John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress.
Arlesey
The historic town of Arlesey is located close to Biggleswade in the east of Bedfordshire. This small town was once a royal manor owned by William d’Eu Count of Eu, and a market town and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. The St. Peters church was also built over 900 years ago by the monks of Waltham Abbey.
The town has very good links with transport because they have their own train station and are very close to the A1. Arlesey has a range of facilities for visitors and locals, including a clinic, library, four churches and a post office. In 1991 a football team was formed here and is sponsored by their local Indian Restaurant, Raj Villa. Another man-made feature of Arlesey is the ‘green lagoon’ which has been formed through excavating lime and cement, and the blue lagoon which was dug for chalk.
Aspley Guise
Aspley Guise Town Square Situated amongst the sandy hills on the edge of the pinewoods of Aspley Heath. In bygone time the setting and natural environment of the village gave it a reputation of being a health resort and became a country retreat for many wealthy folk.
Biggleswade
A thriving market town close to the River Ivel. A famous local son of the town was Dan Albone racing cyclist and pioneer who established the Ivel Cycle Works where he invented the tandem and ladies bicycle. Albone also developed the Ivel Agricultural Tractor - the ancestor of all modern tractors.
Blunham
Blunham is a historical, old village just one mile from the A1 and 3 miles from Sandy Train Station. This ancient village is mentioned in the 1086 doomsday book and has managed to stay a calm and rural village since then. The village was also a home to John Donne, a famous preacher and poet. He was the rector of the village church up until his death in 1631. not only that but in this time he maintained his position as the dean of
St. Paul’s Cathedral.
The main body of the St. Edmunds church is from the 14th century while the tower is even older, dating back to the 11th century. Blunham has several local businesses including a post office, butchers, cricket club, primary school and garden toy centre. There is an attraction near by known as the Swiss Garden which, is a perfect example of early 19th century gardening.
Clophill
Lying in the Vale of the River Flit, Clophill is a village of two churches, one in the centre and the other a romantic ruin reached by a lane to the north of the village. There are a number of listed buildings within the village including a converted mill. A number of 17th and 18th Century houses edge the green which is also the location for the old village lock up and pound.
Harlington
Harlington is noted for its half-timbered houses dating from the 15-18th Century. The village is closely associated with John Bunyan. He was interrogated at Harlington House resulting in his arrest for unauthorised religious gathering. Some of the stained glass windows in St. Mary's Church depict scenes from the Pilgrims Progress.
Haynes
A charming village dominated by Haynes Park and the 18th century Clarendon House. The house was once the home of Sir George Cartaret, who founded New Jersey in America from lands granted to him by Charles II. Haynes Park is not open to the public.
Ickwell and Northill
Ickwell is a typical old English village with beautiful cottages built around a large village green. A permanent May Pole stands on the green, which hosts a traditional May Day Festival each year. Close to the green is a former Smithy the birthplace of Thomas Tompion, the father of English clock making.
The 14th Century Church of St. Mary dominates the village of Northill. The Church is noted for its 17th Century painted glass and its one-handed clock built by Tompion.
Maulden
A small picturesque village bordered by Maulden Wood. This 183 hectares of woodland is mixed, with pine trees to the south and oak and ash on the Northern side. The area is an SSSI due to its remnants of ancient woodland and its rare and unique insect species. The Wood is ideal for those who enjoy walking as there are a number of footpaths throughout. From its entrance off the A6, two 6km tracks lead through the wood enabling visitors to enjoy wild flowers, abundant in spring and summer. Cycling is also permitted in parts on the main tracks.
Millbrook
Millbrook village has often been described as one of the most beautiful in England. The village once belonged to the Duke of Bedford. The cottages, most over 100 years old, were tenanted by farm workers. The wooded valley close to the church is reputed to be the Valley of the Shadow of Death in John Bunyan's Pilgrim Progress
Moggerhanger
Moggerhanger Park House is a Grade I listed building close to the centre of the hilltop village of Moggerhanger. The house sits amongst gardens and parkland originally designed by Humphrey Repton. An extensive restoration programme is being undertaken to return the estate to its former glory.
Old Warden
A picturesque village recreated in a Swiss style in the early 19th Century by the third Long Ongley. The Ongley family bought the estate in 1700 and remained here for almost 200 years. The 12th Century Church of St. Leonard is noted for its woodcarvings, some said to have come from the private chapel of Anne of Cleaves, one of Henry VIII's wives.
Potton
An ancient market town centred on an enclosed medieval square. A neo-Georgian clock house is the centrepiece of the square built in 1956, and now used as a library.
Ridgmont
The birthplace of the Countess of Strathmore, mother of Queen Elizabeth, the late Queen Mother. An estate village of Woburn, it has many groups of gabled brick houses. To the east of the village lie the ruins of old Segenhoe Church.
Sandy
Set against a backdrop of greensand hills with their parkland, woodland and heath is the town of Sandy once the centre for market gardening. The 14th Century Church is dedicated to St. Swithun. Within the Church stands the statue of Captain Sir William Peel, who is reputed to have thrown a live shell back at the Russians during the Crimean War. He was one of the first recipients of the Victoria Cross. Sandy is also the location for the Tourist Information Centre. For further details about Mid Bedfordshire and the places on the Scenic Route call into the centre at 5 Shannon Court, High Street, Sandy.
Shefford
In the 19th Century, Shefford enjoyed a brief status of an inland port when the Ivel Navigation was built to bring coal and other goods by boat from Kings Lynn via the River Ouse. A plaque on the wall of 19 North Bridge Street marks the home of the 19th Century poet Robert Bloomfield, who is buried in nearby Campton churchyard.
Silsoe
Over 130 listed buildings are situated in the small village of Silsoe which is edged by the historic gardens of Wrest Park and the land surrounding the research centre of Silsoe Institute.
Southill
A charming estate village dominated by Southill Park, home of the Whitbread Family since 1795. Samuel Whitbread I founded the famous brewery of the same name. Before the Whitbread Family, Southill Park was home to the Byngs. In All Saints Church lies the body of Admiral Sir John Byng who was blamed for the loss of Minorca to the French and executed on the deck of his own ship in 1757.
Steppingley
Steppingley is a picturesque rural Bedfordshire village on the Greensand ridge between Ampthill, Flitwick and Woburn. With a population of approximately 230, Steppingley has a strong sense of community and an active social calendar.
Sutton
Noted for its medieval twin arched packhorse bridge, Sutton is a small picturesque village edged in parts by parkland and a golf course. All Saints is a medieval Church with many interesting features including a sacred barrel organ of 1830 and a `squire's' pew, a monument dedicated to Sir Roger Burgoyne.
Upper Gravenhurst
Upper Gravenhurst is a small, pretty village of only 250 homes. It is located just 5 miles from Shefford and 11 miles from Bedford Town centre. It is easily accessed with the A6 just a mile away and two nearby train stations, one in Flitwick and one in Harlington.
Although it is small there are quite a few local businesses including a lower school, village hall, drama group, women’s institute and a Pub. Woburn is not to far away and receives many visits to its historical buildings, safari and golf club. Another place of interest is Wrest Park Gardens which go back as far as the 18th century. These gardens were laid by the De Grey family and their mausoleum is only a few miles away. There is also a village pub named the Green Dragon which does really good food and ales at great value for money.
Westoning
Westoning is a picturesque village situated four miles from Ampthill and two miles from the M1 Motorway. The nearest train station is just one mile away at Harlington. Westoning is very popular for its drama productions that are held at the village hall on a weekly basis and attracts people from in and outside of Bedfordshire. The drama group, known as the Westoning players, was put together in 1975 and is a member of the Bedfordshire Drama association.
The village has a newsagent, butchers, two public houses, football and tennis club! The weekend football games attract several surrounding villages and the tennis club holds many events and has teams of men, women and mixed doubles, however this is mainly popular during the summer months. A place of interest located just two miles away is the De Gray family mausoleum which is attached to Flitton church. It has numerous chambers and monuments dating back to 1545 and is one of the greatest collections in England.
Woburn
A Georgian town of village proportions. More than 200 listed buildings are found in Woburn, many of which line the main thoroughfare. It is noted for its antique hall, unique and individual shops its tea-rooms and restaurants. The history and development of Woburn is centred on the Abbey, which has been the home of the Russell Family, the Dukes of Bedford for over 450 years.