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 |   |   |   | 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 |