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Bedfordshire History and Genealogy
...bringing our past into the future.
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Towns and Villages

There are many locations throughout Bedfordshire with historic backgrounds, what of the towns and villages?

These indexed pages attempt to briefly describe some of these towns and villages and, hopefully, over a period of time, more will be added with photographs where possible.

Please CONTACT ME with photographs and information about the Bedfordshire towns and village.

Parish/Hamlet Year 1st PR Hundred Poor Law Union Notes
Aley Green       Hamlet in Caddington
Ampthill 1604 Redbornestoke Ampthill  
Arlesey 1604 Redbornestoke Ampthill  
Aspley Guise 1563 Clifton Biggleswade A small portion was in Buckinghamshire, transferred to Ampthill Union 26 Sep 1899
Aspley Heath 1883/5 Manshead & Newport Pagnell Woburn Civil parish only, transferred to Ampthill Union 26 Sep 1899, created from part of Aspley Guise (1883) and Wavendon, Bucks (1885)
Astwick 1564 Biggleswade Biggleswade  
Barford, Great 1559 Barford Bedford  
Barford, Little 1661 Biggleswade St Neots Transferred to the Bedford Registration District on 1 Oct 1935
Barton in the Clay 1558 Flitt Luton Renamed Barton-le-Clay 1956
Barworth       Hamlet in Studham
Battlesden 1677 Manshead Woburn Transferred to Ampthill Union 26 Sep 1899
Bedford, All Saints 1895   Bedford Borough of Bedford, Ecclesiastical parish only
Bedford, Christ Church 1920   Bedford Borough of Bedford, Ecclesiastical parish only
Bedford, Holy Trinity 1841   Bedford Borough of Bedford, Ecclesiastical parish only
Bedford, St Andrew 1915   Bedford Borough of Bedford, Ecclesiastical parish only
Bedford, St Cuthbert 1607   Bedford Borough of Bedford
Bedford, St John 1669   Bedford Borough of Bedford
Bedford, St Leonard 1889   Bedford Borough of Bedford, Ecclesiastical parish only
Bedford, St Mark 1983   Reg District Bedford Borough of Bedford, Ecclesiastical parish only
Bedford, St Martin 1896   Bedford Borough of Bedford, Ecclesiastical parish only
Bedford, St Mary 1539   Bedford Borough of Bedford
Bedford, St Michael 1934   Reg District Bedford Borough of Bedford, Ecclesiastical parish only
Bedford, St Paul 1565   Bedford Borough of Bedford
Bedford, St Peter 1572   Bedford Borough of Bedford
Beeston       Hamlet in Sandy/Northill
Biddenham 1663 Willey Bedford Part transferred for civil purposes to Bedford in 1933
Bidwell       Hamlet in Houghton Regis
Biggleswade 1697 Biggleswade Biggleswade Peculiar parish
Billington 1653 Manshead Leighton Buzzard Peculiar parish, civil parish created 1866
Biscot (Bishopcote)       see Limbury-cum-Biscot
Bletsoe 1582 Willey Bedford  
Blunham 1571 Wixamtree Biggleswade  
Bolnhurst 1685 Stodden Bedford  
Bolnhurst & Keysoe 1933/4     Civil parish only created from Bolnhurst & Keysoe
Brogborough 1989     Civil parish only created from Husborne Crawley & Ridgmont
Bromham 1570 Willey Bedford  
Broom       Hamlet in Southill
Budna       Hamlet in Northill
Bushmead       Hamlet in Eaton Socon
Caddington 1558 Dacorum & Flitt Luton Transferred to Dunstable Reg. District on 1 Apr 1964; was partly in Herts until 1894/7; part trf. To Luton in 1928 & 1993 when part trf. To Dunstable
Caddington & Slip End 1933     Created as a civil parish 1933 when part of the ecclesiastical parish transferred to Luton
Cainhoe       Hamlet in Clophill
Caldecote 1928     Former hamlet in Northill became Ecclesiastical parish in 1928
Campton 1568 Clifton Biggleswade  
Campton & Chicksands 1985     Created from Campton and Chicksands in 1985
Cardington 1572 Wixamtree Bedford Transferred to Bedford Registration District on 1 Oct 1935
Carlton 1554 Willey Bedford Carlton and Chellingham were consolidated before 1801 and after 1972
Carlton & Chellington 1934     Ecclesiastical parish only - consolidated before 1801 and after 1972
Chalgrave 1539 Manshead Woburn Tranferred to Leighton Buzzard Union on 26 Sep 1899, part transferred to Hockliffe for civil purposes in 1929, transferred to Dunstable Reg. District 1 Apr 1964
Chalton       Hamlet in Toddington
Channel's End       Hamlet in Colmworth
Charlton       Hamlet in Moggerhanger
Chaul End       Hamlet in Caddington
Chawston       Hamlet in Roxton
Chellington 1567 Willey Bedford Carlton and Chellingham were consolidated before 1801 and after 1972
Chicksands 1858 Clifton Biggleswade Ex-parish now Campton & Chicksands
Clapham 1696 Stodden Bedford Part transferred for civil purposes to Bedford in 1933
Clifton 1538 Clifton Biggleswade  
Clipston       Hamlet in Eggington
Clophill 1567 Flitt Ampthill  
Cockayne Hatley 1701 Biggleswade Biggleswade  
Colesdon       Hamlet in Roxton
Colmworth 1735 Barford Bedford  
Colworth 1858 Wixamtree Bedford Formerly ex-parochial; amalgamated with Sharnbrook in 1895
Cople 1563 Wixamtree Bedford  
Cotton End       Hamlet in Cardington
Covington       Hamlet in Pertenhall
Cranfield 1600 Redbornestoke Ampthill  
Dean, Nether 1566 Stodden St Neots Transferred to Bedford Registration District on 1 Oct 1935
Dean, Upper &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Hamlet in Nether Dean
Dean & Shelton 1934     Created as a civil parish in 1934 from Dean and Shelton
Denel End       Hamlet in Flitwick
Dilwick       Hamlet in Stagsden
Duloe       Hamlet in Eaton Socon
Dunstable, St Augustine 1959   Reg District Dunstable Ecclesiastical parish only
Dunstable, St Femund 1968   Reg District Dunstable Ecclesiastical parish only
Dunstable, St Peter 1558 Manshead Luton Transferred to Dunstable Registration District on 1 Apr 1964
Dunton 1553 Biggleswade Biggleswade  
Eastcotts       Hamlet in Cardington; created a civil parish 1866; part transferred to Bedford in 1933
East Hyde       see Hyde, East
Eaton Bray 1559 Manshead Leighton Buzzard Transferred to Dubstable Reg District on 1 Apr 1964; transferred from Luton Union in 1846
Eaton Ford       Hamlet in Eaton Socon
Eaton Socon 1566 Barford St Neots Transferred to Bedford Registration District on 1 Oct 1935; part transferred to Hunts on 1 Apr 1965 which became Cam in 1974; the rwemaining part, for civil purposes, became Staploe
Edlesborough 1567     All in Buckinghamshire
Edworth 1552 Biggleswade Biggleswade  
Eggington 1813 Manshead Leighton Buzzard Peculiar formerly in Leighton Buzzard
Elstow 1641 Redbornestoke Bedford Part transferred for civil purposes to Bedford in 1933
Eversholt 1628 Manshead Woburn Transferred to Ampthill Union 26 Sep 1899
Everton 1650 Biggleswade Biggleswade Partly in Hunts, some trans. in 1844; Everton is/was in the Diocese of Ely the rest of Beds being in Diocese of St Albans
Eyeworth 1538 Biggleswade Biggleswade  
Fancott       Hamlet in Toddington
Farndish 1587 Willey & Hiham Ferrers Wellingborough Tranferred from the Wellingborough Reg. District to Bedford Reg. District on 1 Jul 1936; Pdington and Farndish combined in 1970
Felmersham 1600 Willey Bedford  
Fenlake       Hamlet in Cardington
Flitton 1518 Flitt Ampthill  
Flitton & Greenfield       Created from Flitton & Pulloxhill in 1932
Flitwick 1661 Redbornestoke Ampthill  
Girtford       Hamlet in Sandy
Gladley       Hamlet in Heath & Reach
Goldington 1559 Barford Bedford Transferred totally for civil purposes in 1933
Gravenhurst, Lower 1705 Flitt Ampthill Lower and Upper Gravenhurst were amalgamated in 1888 but abolished in 1972 to create Upper & Lower Gravenhurst
Gravenhurst, Upper 1567 Flitt Ampthill Lower and Upper Gravenhurst were amalgamated in 1888 but abolished in 1972 to create Upper & Lower Gravenhurst
Great Barford       see Barford, Great
Greenfield       Hamlet in Flitton and Pulloxhill
Harlington 1653 Manshead Woburn Transferred to Ampthill Union 26 Sep 1899
Harrold 1598 Willey Bedford  
Harrowden       Hamlet in Cardington
Hassells       Hamlet in Sandy/Clifton/Stotfold
Hatch       Hamlet in Northill
Hawnes       alternative spelling of Haynes
Haynes 1596 Flitt Ampthill  
Heath & Reach 1813 Manshead Leighton Buzzard Peculiar; formerly a chapelry of Leighton Buzzard; civil parish created 1866; part transferred for civil purposes to Leighton Buzzard 1933
Henlow 1558 Clifton Biggleswade  
Herne       Hamlet in Toddington/Chalgrave
Hexton 1538     In Hertfordshire
Higham Gobion 1654 Flitt Ampthill  
Hinwick       Hamlet in Podington
Hockliffe 1696 Manshead Woburn Transferred to Dunstable Reg. District on 1 Apr 1964
Holcot       An alternative spelling of Hulcote
Holme       Hamlet im Biggleswade
Holwell 1560 Clifton Hitchin Trasnferred to Herts in 1897
Honeydon       Hamlet in Eaton Socon
Houghton Conquest 1595 Redbornestoke Ampthill  
Houghton Regis 1538 Manshead Luton Transferred to Dunstable Reg. District on 1 April 1964; part of Houghton Regis was transferred for civil purposes to Dunstable in 1907 and part to Luton 1939
Hulcote 1658 Manshead Woburn Transferred to Ampthill Union 26 Sep 1899; Hulcote & Salford became a combined parish in 1750 but maintained separate registers
Hulcote & Salford 1933     Civil parish created from Hulcote & Salford in 1933
Humbershoe       Hamlet in Studham, transferred to Herts in 1888
Husborne Crawley 1558 Manshead Ampthill  
Hyde 1895     Civil parish created 1895 formerly a Hamlet in Luton
Hyde, East 1841 Flitt Luton  
Ickleford 1749     Partly in Herts until fully transferred in 1832/44
Ickwell       Hamlet in Northill
Kempston, All Saints 1570 Redbornestoke Bedford  
Kempston, Rural 1895     Created in 1895 from outlying parts of Kempston which did not join Bedford
Kempston, St John 1868 Redbornestoke Bedford  
Kempston, St Stephen 1887 Redbornestoke Bedford  
Kempston, Transfiguration 1940   Reg District Bedford  
Kensworth 1615 Dacorum Luton Tranferred from Herts 1897 then transferred to Dunstable Reg. District on 1 Apr 1964
Keysoe 1735 Stodden Bedford  
Kinwick       Hamlet in Sandy
Knotting 1592 Stodden Bedford  
Knotting & Souldrop 1933/4     Created in 1933/4
Langford 1717 Biggleswade Biggleswade  
Leagrave       Formerly a hamlet in Limbury; see Luton, St Luke's
Leighton Buzzard, All Saints 1562 Manshead Leighton Buzzard Peculiar
Leighton Buzzard, St Andrew 1868 Manshead Leighton Buzzard Ecclesiastical parish only
Leighton-Linslade 1965     Civil parish only; created from Leighton Buzzrd and Linslade, Bucks
Lewsey       Hamlet in Luton
Lidlington 1564 Redbornestoke Ampthill  
Limbury-cum-Biscot 1866     Formerly a hamlet in Luton; Leagrace (Limbury) created a civil parish in 1895; transferred totally to Luton in 1928; became ecclesiastical parish of Luton, St Luke in 1936
Little Barford       see Barford, Little
Little Staughton       see Staughton, Little
Lower Gravenhurst       see Gravenhurst, Lower
Lower Stondon       see Stondon, Lower
Luton, All Saints 1922 Flitt Luton Ecclesiastical parish only
Luton, Christ Church 1860 Flitt Luton Ecclesiastical parish only
Luton, Holy Cross (Marsh Farm) 1968   Reg. District Luton Ecclesiastical parish only
Luton, St Andrew 1887 Flitt Luton Ecclesiastical parish only
Luton, St Anne 1938   Reg. District Luton Ecclesiastical parish only
Luton, St Augustine 1966     Created from Limbury-cum-Biscot in 1971
Luton, St Christopher (Round Green) 1939   Reg. District Luton Ecclesiastical parish only
Luton, St Hugh (Cockernhoe) 1955   Reg. District Luton Ecclesiastical parish only
Luton, St Hugh (Lewsey) 1961   Reg. District Luton Ecclesiastical parish only
Luton, St John the Baptist (Farley Hill) 1966   Reg. District Luton Ecclesiastical parish only
Luton, St Luke (Leagrave) 1936   Reg. District Luton Ecclesiastical parish only
Luton, St Mary 1603 Flitt Luton  
Luton, St Matthew (High Town) 1877 Flitt Luton Ecclesiastical parish only
Luton, St Paul (New Town) 1895 Flitt Luton Ecclesiastical parish only
Luton, St Peter 1913 Flitt Luton Ecclesiastical parish only
Luton, St Saviour 1884 Flitt Luton Ecclesiastical parish only
Markyate 1855     Registers at Hertford CRO
Markyate Street       Civil parish transferred to Herts 1904
Marston Moretaine 1653 Redbornestoke Ampthill  
Maulden 1558 Redbornestoke Ampthill  
Melchbourne 1706 Stodden Bedford  
Melchbourne & Yelden       Civil parish created 1933/4 from Melchbourne and Y(i)elden
Meppershall 1652 Clifton Biggleswade Partly in Herts under it was transferred in 1832-44
Millbrook 1558 Redbornestoke Woburn Transferred to Ampthill Union 0n 26 Sep 1899
Millow       Hamlet in Dunton
Milton Bryan 1559 Manshead Woburn Transferred to Ampthill Union 0n 26 Sep 1899
Milton Ernest 1538 Stodden Bedford  
Moddry       Hamlet in Clophill
Moggerhanger 1860     Created in 1860, formerly a Hamlet in Blunham, the civil parish being created 1866
Mosbury       Hamlet in Everton
Newton       Hamlet in Dunton
Northill 1562 Wixamtree Biggleswade Part of Northill was transferred to Sandy in 1933 for civil purposes
Notley       Hamlet in Sundon
Oakley 1560 Stodden Bedford  
Odell 1604 Willey Bedford  
Old Warden       see Warden, Old
Pavenham 1561 Willey Bedford  
Pegsdon       Hamlet in Shillington
Pertenhall 1582 Stodden St Neots Transferred to Bedford Registration District on 1 Oct 1935
Picts Hill       Hamlet in Stevington
Podington 1662 Willey Wellingborough Farndish, Pofdington and Wymington were transferred from Wllingborough Reg. Disrict to Bedford Reg. District on 1 Jul 1936. Podington & Farndish combined in 1970.
Polehanger       Hamlet in Meppershall
Potsgrove 1663 Manshead Woburn Transferred to Ampthill Union on 26 Sep 1899
Potton 1614 Biggleswade Biggleswade  
Priestly       Hamlet in Flitwick
Puddington       Alternative name for Podington
Puddlehill       Hamlet in Houghton Regis
Pulloxhill 1553 Flitt Ampthill  
Putnoe       Hamlet in Goldington
Radwell       Hamlet in Felmersham
Ramridge End       Hamlet in Stopsley
Ravensden 1558 Barford Bedford  
Renhold 1654 Barford Bedford  
Ridgmont 1539 Redbornestoke Woburn Transferred to Ampthill Union on 26 Sep 1899
Riseley 1626 Stodden Bedford  
Risinghoe       Hamlet in Goldington
Rowney       Part of Southill
Roxton 1684 Barford Bedford  
Salford 1559 Manshead Woburn Transferred to Ampthill Union on 26 Sep 1899; Hulcote & Salford became a combined parish in 1750 but maintained separate registers
Salph End       Hamlet in Renhold
Sandy 1538 Biggleswade & Wixamtree Biggleswade  
Seddington       Hamlet in Sandy
Segenhoe       Hamlet in Ridgmont
Segresdon       Hamlet in Pertenhall
Sewell       Hamlet in Houghton Regis
Sharnbrook 1595 Willey Bedford  
Sharpenhoe       Hamlet in Streatley
Shefford 1873 Clifton Biggleswade Earlier entries in Campton; the civil parish was created in 1866
Shefford Hardwicke 1903     Ex parochial civil parish created in 1903
Shelton 1706 Stodden St Neots Transferred to the Bedford Registration District on 1 Oct 1935
Shelton       Hamlet in Marston Moretaine
Shillington 1543 Odsey (Herts), Clifton & Flitt Ampthill Part of Shillington was transferred for civil purposes to Herts in 1897; part exchanged for part of Offley, Herts in 1907
Silsoe 1846 Flitt Ampthill Previously a Hamlet in Flitton
Slip End       see Woodside
Souldrip 1670 Willey Bedford  
Southill 1528 Wixamtree Biggleswade  
South Mills       Hamlet in Blunham
Stagsden 1670 Willey Bedford  
Stanbridge 1560 Manshead Leighton Buzzard Peculiar
Stanford       Hamlet in Southill
Staploe 1965     Created in 1965 was formerly a hamlet in Eaton Socon
Staughton, Little 1598 Stodden St Neots Tranferred to Bedford Reg. District on 1 Oct 1935
Steppingley 1558 Redbornestoke Ampthill  
Stevington 1654 Willey Bedford  
Stewartby 1937     Civil parish created 1937 out of Wootton and Kempston Rural
Stondon, Lower        Hamlet in Shillington
Stondon, Upper 1683 Clifton Biggleswade  
Stopsley 1863 Flitt Luton Formerly a Hamlet in Luton, was created into a civil parish in 1895 which was subsequently transferred to Luton in 1928 and 1933
Stotfold 1559 Clifton Biggleswade  
Stratford       Hamlet in Sandy
Stratton       Hamlet in Biggleswade
Streatley 1693 Flitt Luton Part transferred in 1964 to Luton for civil purposes
Studham 1570 Dacorum & Manshead Luton Transferred from Hunts 1897; transferred to the Bedford Reg. District on 1 Oct 1935
Sudbury       Hamlet in Eaton Socon
Sundon 1592 Flitt Luton Part transferred in 1964 to Luton for civil purposes
Sutton 1538 Biggleswade Biggleswade  
Swanton       Hamlet in Harrold
Swineshead 1549 Leightonstone St Neots Transferred from Hunts 1897; transferred to the Bedford Reg. District on 1 Oct 1935
Tebworth       Hamlet in Chalgrave
Temple Hills       Hamlet in Sharnbrook
Tempsford 1604 Biggleswade Biggleswade  
Tetworth   Toseland St Neots  
Thorn       Hamlet in Houghton Regis
Thorncote       Hamlet in Northill
Thurleigh 1562 Willey Bedford  
Tilbrook 1573 Stodden St Neots Transferred to Hunts in 1896; some earlier records are held in Herts and Diocese of St Albans
Tilsworth 1649 Manshead Woburn Transferred to Leighton Buzzard Union on 26 Sep 1899
Tingrith 1572 Manshead Woburn Transferred to Ampthill Union on 26 Sep 1899
Toddington 1558 Manshead Woburn Transferred to Ampthill Union on 26 Sep 1899; further transferred to Dunstable Reg. District on 1 April 1964
Totternhoe 1559 Manshead Luton Transferred to Dunstable Reg. District on 1 Apr 1964
Turvey 1629 Willey Bedford  
Upbury       Hamlet in Pulloxhill
Upper Gravenhurst       see Gravenhurst, Upper
Upper Stondon       see Stondon, Upper
Wadlowes       Hamlet in Toddington
Warden, Old 1576 Wixamtree Biggleswade  
Westcotts       Hamlet in Wils(hamp)tead
Westoning 1560 Manshead Ampthill  
Whipsnade 1682 Manshead & Dacorum Luton Part in Herts until 1897; transferred to Dunstable Reg. District on 1 Apr 1964
Wilden 1545 Barford Bedford  
Willington 1676 Wixamtree Bedford  
Wils(hamp)tead 1593 Redbornestoke Bedford  
Wingfield       Hamlet in Chalgrave
Woburn 1558 Manshead Woburn Transferred to Ampthill Union on 26 Sep 1899
Woodcroft       Hamlet in Luton
Woodside with Slip End 1879 Dacorum & Flitt Luton Formerly Caddington
Wootton 1562 Redbornestoke Bedford  
Wrestlingworth 1578 Biggleswade Biggleswade  
Wrestlingworth & Cockayne Hatley 1933/4     Civil parish created 1933/4 from Wrestlingworth and Cockayne Hatley
Wyboston       Hamlet in Eaton Socon
Wymington 1662 Willey Wellingborough Transferred to Bedford Registration District on 1 Oct 1935
Y(i)elden 1653 Stodden Bedford  
Articles
Title Author Hits
Ampthill, Bedfordshire Nathan Zipfel 2853
Arlesey, Bedfordshire Nathan Zipfel 2282
Aspley-Guise, Bedfordshire Nathan Zipfel 2628
Astwick, Bedfordshire Nathan Zipfel 2263
Barton in the Clay, Bedfordshsire Nathan Zipfel 2145
Battlesden, Bedfordshire Nathan Zipfel 2314
Bedford, Bedfordshire Nathan Zipfel 2914
Beeston, Bedfordshire Nathan Zipfel 1441
Biddenham, Bedfordshire Nathan Zipfel 2368
Biggleswade, Bedfordshire Nathan Zipfel 2450

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