[Beeston & Beeston Green]
[Blunham]
[Broom]
[Clifton]
[Cockayne Hatley]
[Upper Caldecote, Northill & Ickwell]
[Everton]
[Gamlingay]
[Moggerhanger]
[Potton]
[Sandy]
[Sutton]
[Tempsford]
The village of Beeston straddles the A 1 just south of the Sandy roundabout. Apart from about half the houses in the village that front on to the A1 (including the village pub, The Cross), the rest of the houses face a unique, square green of some 13 acres.
Beeston Green is a
registered Common and therefore is not subject to development. The Lord of the
Manor is Mid Beds District Council who maintains the Green and cuts the grass.
By
which ever road you enter Blunham you pass a bridge. Coming from Willington you
cross over the old railway bridge, from Great Barford you pass over Barford
bridge which is half in Blunham. From Moggerhanger the boundary is again the
railway at the site of the demolished bridge. From Tempsford you cross first the
little bridge on a bend and then the double humped Ivel Bridge just before the
High Street.
The
rivers Ivel and Ouse half moat the northern end of the parish which would have
made a good settlement area. The land is low lying and has some fen
characteristics which have encouraged market gardening.
In
1621, John Donne, poet and preacher, was made rector of Blunham. He was also for
a shorter time the Dean of St Paul's. The church is large and the east base of
the tower dates from 1100. From then there have been many additions and
alterations. The Baptist chapel in the High Street was built in 1751.
The
bulk of the village is the usual Bedfordshire mixture with studwork, thatched
cottages, Victorian brick and slate. some good council houses from the 30s and a
fair quantity of the architectural whims of the late 20th century.
There has been no large scale development.
Broom, a small
village one mile west of the main Al trunk road, is a hamlet, possessing no
church. The Parish Church is located in the next village, Southill, where the
nearest school can also be found. A bus service is run for pupils.
Although the
village lost its only shop and small sub Post Office a couple of years ago the
village has two public houses. ‘The White Horse’ is opposite the village
green, and ‘The Cock’, further along the High Street. ‘The Cock’ is
memorable for having no bar, beer being served straight from the cellar.
There is a fairly
active village life and various events are hold in the village hall, next to the
Green, during the year; the main event being the traditional Village Fete held
on the village green each summer.
Clifton is a
pretty village with thatched cottages, an attractive duck pond and many
flowering trees and shrubs. The village lies in a triangle formed by the River
Ivel and the River Ivel Navigation canal.
In the early
1800's five descending locks were constructed from Shefford to Biggleswade and
one of them was at Clifton. In Norman times the mill paid annual dues of 150
eels to the Lord. In the 17th century the Clifton traders produced their own
trade tokens so Clifton must have been an important trading centre.
From 1860-1916,
the Slater family of Clifton ran a business as wood turners from a workshop in
Grange Street which was adjoining their house. Their specialty was the
manufacture of rakes.
The village
church. All Saints Church, dates from 1320. The north aisle and chapel were
added about 1450 and much of this remains in spite of extensive restoration work
in 1862, when a large west window was inserted and parts of the tower rebuilt.
The village war
memorial was at one time the village pump and well. It was converted to a war
memorial after the First World War.
Two footpaths
should be mentioned, one leading from Broad Street to Stockbridge Road branching
off the Brickle and one which follows the Clifton Henlow ditch into Henlow.
Situated 2 miles east of Potton. There is a fine 14th century church with brasses, mediaeval stained glass window and European 16th century woodwork. Burial place of Peter Pan's “Wendy” and Treasure Islands “Long John Silver”.
Everton is a small
parish on the extreme north east of Bedfordshire straddling the border with
Cambridgeshire. The church of St Mary which dates from the twelfth century is
situated at the entrance to Woodbury Park and is built of cobbles and ironstone.
It has a memorial to Sir Humphrey Winches, Kt., Chief Justice of the Kings Bench
in Ireland, who sentenced nine women accused of witchcraft to death and was MP
for Bedford on four occasions.
John Tiptoft was
born in Everton in 1429, who as Earl of Worcester earned the nickname of the
'Butcher of England' during the War of the Roses, for executing in the most
savage way, anyone who opposed him. He himself also died savagely by axe on
Tower Hill.
The
villages of Northill, Ickwell and Upper Caldecote are small but generally
lively. They contain a good mixture of people working locally, often as small
holders or farmers, and others who commute to neighbouring towns and even
London. Ickwell is noted for its Green on which cricket is played in summer and
football in winter. Mayday is still celebrated by dancing around the maypole, a
ceremony involving practically the whole village in some capacity.
Of
considerable interest in the immediate vicinity are:
Ickwell
Bury was built in 1680 as a mansion set in a country park. It is now the home of
the Yoga for Health Foundation, a registered charity which believes that Yoga
can increase the health and happiness of everyone whether they are already
healthy or severely disabled. Anyone is welcome to visit the Foundation which
runs evening and residential Yoga classes and also cares for disabled people,
notably those with Multiple Sclerosis.
The
Shuttleworth Collection Old
Warden Aerodrome, open from spring until autumn boasts a unique collection of
early aircraft. cars, vans, lorries and motor-cycles. Of particular interest are
its flying days during selected weekends and occasional summer evenings.
The
Swiss Garden lying
close to the Aerodrome was originally conceived in the early 19th century and
has been beautifully restored in the last ten years by the Bedfordshire County
Council. It reflects the romantic and sentimental ideals of the early 19th
century and contains in its 8 acres, ponds, arbours, groves and shrubberies
forming a series of intimate and tranquil vistas. Notable among its features are
a cruciform grotto, thatched tree, Swiss cottage and a number of unusual
specimen trees.
Adapted from an
original article by Jim Brown
Gamlingay has always been the largest village in West Cambridgeshire, sprawling beside the borders of Bedfordshire and the old county of Huntingdonshire. Despite being badly damaged by fire in 1600, there are still a few reminders of the village's long history among the faceless housing estates and the modern shops and amenities.
Mill Street was
largely burned down in the early 19th century; what is left is mostly Victorian
or more modern. Church Street contains several interesting buildings, foremost
among them The Cock, a late Tudor inn. At the bottom of Church Street stands the
solid medieval church of St Mary, built of local fieldstones and sandstone. The
quarry from which the sandstone was taken is used today as a children's play
area, but saw earlier service as the village butts, and later as the village
pound, where stray animals were locked up.
Beside the church
is the Emplins, a late-medieval timber-framed budding which was originally the
rectory. Inside are some splendid 16th century wall paintings. Dutter End is the
most picturesque part o the village, presenting the visitor with a view of many
17th and 18th century houses, some of them thatched. Beyond Dutter End is a
large field, empty now, but the site of the earliest settlement (Neolithic), and
of the medieval manor of Avenel's. Merton manor house still survives, however, a
superb timber-framed early Tudor farmhouse opposite the village college in
Station Road.
On, the western
edge of the parish are the remains of Gamlingay Park, an imposing 18th century
mansion built by Sir George Downing, founder of Downing College in Cambridge.
The house was demolished 200 years ago; all that is left is the estate,
consisting of ornamental fishponds, a lake, plantation and a red brick folly
known locally as "The Moon". Gamlingay's most famous son, William
Purchase, has left no tangible remains; he moved to London in the middle of the
15th century and became its Mayor in 1497.
Moggerhanger is bisected by the A603
Bedford to Sandy road. The village has a population of about 650 people. Housing
is mostly around the church and the southern end of the village. The Post
Office, school, playing fields, village hall, Church of St John the Evangelist
and the old vicarage are in Blunharn Road. The church was built in 1861 by Mrs
Dawkins of Moggerhanger House as a memorial to her husband, Rev Henry Dawkins.
There are two suggestions as to the origins of the name:
Mugger
- Gypsy, Hanger - Wood
The locals
pronounce it Morhanger.
The village was part of Blunham until mid 19th century. It is surrounded by agricultural land with only one factory on the site of South Mills. A mile towards Blunham is the hamlet of Chalton where, at the farmhouse, there is an old dovecote. A mile out of the village to the south is Dead Man's Oak where criminals were hanged.
Manor
Farm House and St Johns are on the east side. St Johns was built in the 1850s by
William Thornton as a shooting box. In 1977
it was sold to the Sue Ryder Foundation and is now a Hospice. In the 1790s
Godfrey Thornton built Moggerhanger House. It was until recently Park Hospital.
With a population
of approximately 4,300 inhabitants, Potton is an ancient market town recorded in
the Doomsday Book. Site of a famous horse fair till the early part of the 20th
century that attracted dealers from all over the country. The central market
square is part of the conservation area. Many of the buildings in this area
being from the 17th,
18th and 19th centuries. Although
the market no longer takes place, the attractive Clock House which houses the
Library remains on the site of the Shambles. There are mixed shopping facilities
in the market square.
There are a number of companies providing employment within the town but there is an active exchange of workforces between Potton and other Bedfordshire and North Hertfordshire towns.
Local Societies
and interest groups are both numerous and active within the town. There is an
active and prolific history society which stores and publishes many old
photographs, documents and commentaries. Music and Theatre groups are
particularly notable, one ‘Shannon Express’ a Barbershop Harmony club has
achieved national and international fame.
The town is
twinned with Langenlonsheim
in the heart of Germany's Nahe
wine producing country.
St
Mary the Virgin Parish Church
A fine 13th and 14th century church with a mediaeval rod staircase and a good peel of bells recently restored. Interesting gravestones.
Sandy, which
includes Beeston, has an interesting history which goes beyond Roman and Anglo
Saxon times. It is mentioned in Doomsday but before all this was occupied by the
British tribe Cassi being part of the Kingdom of Mercia.
The name occurs
under various spellings 'Sandeia', 'Sandeis', 'Selenae', 'Sandye' which latter
name appears in the Parish Registers 1538 and continued until the construction
of the Great Northern Railway (later the LNER) in 1850 when the 'E' appears to
have been dropped.
Despite its
origin, Sandy has not been content to exist in the past or rest on its laurels
and by careful planning and forward working has today numerous advantages of
modem living, work and leisure without losing the peaceful character of a
country town.
Sandy is situated in the north east of Bedfordshire amongst rural areas of scenic beauty; the River Ivel running through the parish joining the River Ouse on the north boundary at Tempsford.
Its lies on the A1
dual carriageway and the main electrified railway from London to Edinburgh.
There are good secondary roads to other places, notably Bedford (8 miles) and
Cambridge (24 miles) and regular bus services to these as well as to St Neots
and outlying villages. There is a daily coach service to London.
In earlier times,
almost to the present date, Sandy was principally noted as a centre of
agriculture and horticulture. These are still carried on but in a less labour
intensive form, and latterly there has been a shift in employment towards light
industry.
Within the last 30
years there has been a marked expansion of the town’s population and recently
there has been a major development to the north of the Town.
This development
necessitated an improvement in services ‑ as a result 16 additional acres
of public open space was laid down at Sunderland Road, making approx 40 acres in
all (5 Bedford Road, 11 Beeston Green, 8 The Pinnacle) 2 new schools, Robert
Peel Lower and Sandy Upper School, making 5 in all with Sandye Place Middle,
Laburnum Lower School, St Swithuns Lower (a new school replacing St Swithuns C
of E school built 1868). These Schools provide a full range of education from
nursery to College and University levels. Some facilities at Sandy Upper School
are for Joint Management Adult use.
A wide variety of
trade and commerce has been extended and several premises have modernized within
the past few years, notably Barclays and Lloyds Banks. Post Office Building
Society, Estate Agents and Solicitors. The Chamber of Trade formed in 1964 has
done much to weld these and industry together.
The weekly Friday
market has been reinstated but on a larger scale off the High Street and this
also attracts people from surrounding villages.
Several other
public services exist and there are many voluntary organizations and services
catering for all ages.
Places of interest
include:-
Hassells Hall c 1600
A mile north east.
The ancestral home of the Pym family for many years but now converted to luxury
flats. The present owner of the
estate Francis L Pym, a former Foreign Secretary and created Lord Pym of Sandy
in 1987, now resides in the grounds at Everton Park on the boundary with Everton
parish.
The
Lodge
Built 1870 for Viscount Peel, fifth son of Sir Robert Peel, founder of the Police force. The mansion and grounds were acquired in 1960 by the Royal Society for Protection of Birds as its HQ. There have been extensions including the Entrance Lodge known as Swiss Cottage at Potton Road.
Sandye
Place
Park Road, built
in the 16th century set in 35 acres was originally the principal mansion of the
manor of Sandy which covered the whole parish (except Beeston) until dissolved
into 3 manors of Sandy, Hassels and Girtford. It was acquired by Bedfordshire
Education Committee in 1950 and is now Sandye Place Middle School. The grounds
were used for many years (70) for the Sandy Show, a large 1 day show in August
each year until 1954.
An ancient
dovecote still exists in the grounds but a mulberry reputedly 200 or more years
old no longer exists.
St Swithuns Parish Church
11th
century, largely restored in 1861 with further subsequent works. A fine peel of
bells.
The small village
of Sutton has a population of 350 and lies between Potton and Biggleswade. The
history of the village is closely linked to that of the Burgoyne family. The
manor of Sutton was granted to the family by Henry VIII and remained in their
ownership until 1938. The Sutton Park was acquired after the second world war
and converted into a golf course with club house. The John O’Gaunt Golf club
(36 holes) is now one of the foremost golf courses in the county.
The beautiful church was mainly built during the 14th century, with the tower being added in the 15th. The interior has many interesting features, in particular the memorial to Sir John Burgoyne ‑ a life‑sized effigy in armour. On the south wall is a plaque commemorating John Symcott and his wife. One of their 7 children, Dr John Symcott was physician to Oliver Cromwell. The Sacred Barrell Organ dates from 1820 and is one of only a handful left in the country. Every year a Flower festival is held in the church during September and is very popular with visitors.
The only road
through the village has to ford a stream and here is found the 14th century
Packhorse bridge, the only one left in the county. Sutton is an attractive
village with a strong community spirit, a mixture of thatched cottages and modem
homes, surrounded by fertile farmland.
Tempsford covers some 2,000 acres. The western boundary is made by the River Ivel which is a tributary of the River Ouse. The parish is mainly agricultural and there is a population of 500 which has hardly changed since the beginning of the century. The village is divided by the A1 or Great North Road. The railway station is now closed but at one time it was very busy with freight traffic.
In 921 the Danes
moved from their headquarters at Huntingdon and sailed up the River Ouse. They
had a battle at Tempsford. On the same site Gannocks Castle was built. There is
still some evidence of the castle but the moat is derelict. The field was
eventually given to the village by the owners of the Tempsford Estate about 400
years ago.
In the late 19th
century the Stuart family bought the Hall, which was then gutted by fire in
1898. They rebuilt it and re‑occupied it in 1903. In 1925 the Stuart
Memorial Hall was completed in memory of the son and heir of Colonel Dugal
Stuart who was killed in action on the Somme in 1916.
St Peters Church
was built mainly in the 14th and 15th centuries apart from some restoration work
which was carried out in 1874. There is a rare iron bound muniment chest carved
from the wood of a single oak. In the church there is also a remembrance plaque
to RAF
Tempsford Airfield home to
the World War II Special Operations Executive and the French resistance workers
supplied and flown out from there.
The Methodist
chapel in the village was built in 1804 and is the oldest in the St Neots
Methodist circuit.
Village 4 miles west of Sandy, with an ancient dovecote and other building.
Lies 15 miles north of Sandy. Inland reservoir for supply of water over a wide area. Facilities for sailing, fishing, recreational and picnic areas.
World famous University city 24 miles east of Sandy, with many fine colleges, buildings etc. FitzWilliam arts museum. Relax punting on the river Cam or visit the many shops.
© The Rotary Club of Sandy 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002. Whilst every effort has been made to check the accuracy of the information the club can not be held liable for any inaccuracy however caused.
Last updated 10/07/05
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