Bedford
Bedford shown within the United Kingdom
Population	79,190
OS grid reference	TL055495
- London	57.4m
District	Bedford
Shire county	Bedfordshire
Region	East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BEDFORD
Postcode district	MK40, MK41, MK42
Dialling code	01234
Police	Bedfordshire
Fire	Bedfordshire and Luton
Ambulance	East of England
UK Parliament	Bedford
European Parliament	East of England
List of places: UK • England • Bedfordshire

Coordinates: 52°08′01″N 0°27′28″W / 52.1337, -0.4577 Bedford is the name of a number of communities: Bedford, Bedfordshire, England (the original Bedford) Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada Bedford, Western Australia, Australia Bedford, Quebec, Canada Bedford, Ontario (Durham Region), Canada Bedford, Ontario (Frontenac County), Canada Bedford, Indiana, United States of America Bedford, Iowa, United States of America Bedford, Kentucky... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x800, 11 KB) Summary Description: A blank map of the United Kingdom, with country outline and coastline; contact the author for help with modifications or add-ons Source: Reference map provided by Demis Mapper 6 Date: 2006-21-06 Author: User... Image File history File links Red_pog2. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government. ... Bedford is a local government district and borough in the East of England. ... Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties are one of the four levels of English administrative division used for the purposes of local government. ... Bedfordshire (abbreviated Beds) is a county in England that forms part of the East of England region. ... The region, also known as Government Office Region, is currently the highest tier of local government subnational entity of England in the United Kingdom. ... The East of England is one of the nine official regions of England. ... Constituent countries is a phrase used, often by official institutions, in contexts in which a number of countries make up a larger entity or grouping, concerning these countries; thus the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has used the phrase in reference to the parts of former Yugoslavia... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... This is an alphabetical list of the sovereign states of the world, including both de jure and de facto independent states. ... A post town is a required part of all UK postal addresses. ... UK postal codes are known as postcodes. ... The MK postcode area, also known as the Milton Keynes postcode area[2], is a group of postal districts around Bedford, Buckingham, Milton Keynes, Newport Pagnell and Olney in England. ... +44 redirects here. ... Bedfordshire Police is the Home Office police force responsible for policing the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire in England, which includes the unitary authority of Luton. ... A Fire Appliance belonging to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service The fire service in the United Kingdom has undergone dramatic changes since the beginning of the 21st century, a process that has been propelled by a devolution of central government powers, new legislation and a change to operational... Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) for the county of Bedfordshire and the unitary authority of Luton. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Badge of the East of England Ambulance Service The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust is the authority responsible for providing NHS ambulance services in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Norfolk, Peterborough, Southend-on-Sea, Suffolk and Thurrock, in the East of England region. ... The United Kingdom House of Commons is made up of Members of Parliament (MPs). ... Bedford is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... This is a list of Members of the European Parliament for the United Kingdom in the 2004 to 2009 session, ordered by name. ... East of England is a constituency of the European Parliament. ... List of cities in the United Kingdom List of towns in England Lists of places within counties List of places in Bedfordshire List of places in Berkshire List of places in Buckinghamshire List of places in Cambridgeshire List of places in Cheshire List of places in Cleveland List of places... This is a list of all the towns and villages in the county of Bedfordshire. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the Bedford borough. According to Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town of Kempston. The wider borough, including a rural area, had a population of 153,000. A county town is the capital of a county in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland. ... Bedfordshire (abbreviated Beds) is a county in England that forms part of the East of England region. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Bedford is a local government district and borough in the East of England. ... Map sources for Kempston at grid reference TL0347 Kempston (pronounced Kemstun) is a town in Bedfordshire, England. ...

History

Bedford was a market town for the surrounding agricultural region from the early Middle Ages. It was the seat of the Barony of Bedford. In 919 Edward the Elder built the town's first known fortress, on the south side of the River Ouse and there received the area's submission. This fortress was destroyed by the Danes. William II gave the barony of Bedford to Paine de Beauchamp who built a new, strong castle. The new Bedford Castle was razed in 1224 and today only a mound remains. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Barony of England, Bedford, England Created for Paine de Beauchamp, by William Rufus William de Beauchamp - forfeit for rebelling in the First Barons War Faukes de Brent - sent by King John of England to enforce Williams forfeit, forfeit himself for rebellion under Henry III of England Extinct? Merged? Merged... Edward the Elder (Old English: Ä’adweard se Ieldra) (c. ... William II (c. ... Current state of Bedford Castle: the floodlit wall is modern. ... // Foundation of the University of Naples Livonian Brothers of the Sword conquers Latgallians and the stronghold of Tartu from Ugaunian and Russian troops. ...

Bedford traces its borough charter in 1166 by Henry II and elected two members to the unreformed House of Commons. Henry II of England (5 March 1133 – 6 July 1189) ruled as King of England (1154–1189), Count of Anjou, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. ... The House of Commons in the 18th century The unreformed House of Commons is the name generally given to the British House of Commons as it existed before the Reform Act of 1832. ...

Bedford in 1611 Map of Bedford by John Speed, 1611. ...

Bedford Bridge in 1783. This version of the bridge was replaced in 1813. Bedford Bridge from Antiquities of England (1783) by Francis Grose. ...

Bedford in 1806 Image File history File links Bedford_engraved_by_J.Roper_after_G.Cole_published_1806. ...

Bedford Castle mound Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 375 pixelsFull resolution (915 × 429 pixels, file size: 55 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free...

Features and events

Wide angle view of the River Great Ouse in Bedford, from the town bridge facing downstream.

Bedford War Memorial

The River Great Ouse passes through the town centre (see also ford (crossing)), and is lined with attractive gardens known as The Embankment. Within these gardens stands a war memorial to the fallen of the First World War, opposite Rothsay Gardens^[1]. The memorial was designed in 1921 by the sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger and depicts a Knight vanquishing a dragon.^[2]. The inscripton reads Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3640x1000, 521 KB) self taken picture I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3640x1000, 521 KB) self taken picture I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,280 × 960 pixels, file size: 475 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,280 × 960 pixels, file size: 475 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... For other Rivers named Ouse, see Ouse The River Great Ouse is a river in the east of England. ... A ford, with pedestrian footbridge, on a minor road near Weimar bei Kassel in Germany The ford at Brockenhurst, leading into the village centre, following heavy rain. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... Detail from the Royal Artillery Memorial Charles Sargeant Jagger MC (1885-1934) was a British sculptor who, following active service in the First World War, sculpted many works on the theme of war. ...

Bedford's principal church is St Paul's, in the square of the same name at the historic centre of the town. It has a tall spire which is one of the main features of the town. There was a church on the site by 1066 and work on the present structure began in the early 13th century in the early English style, but little remains from that period other than the south porch. Additions were made in the 15th century and the John Bunyan and John Wesley both preached in the church. In 1865-1868 the tower and spire were completely rebuilt and the two transepts added and lesser alterations have been made since. From 1941 to the end of the Second World War the BBC's daily service was broadcast from St. Paul's. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... John Bunyan. ... For other persons named John Wesley, see John Wesley (disambiguation). ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ...

The Cecil Higgins Art Gallery, housed in the recreated Victorian home of the Higgins family of Victorian brewers and in a modern extension, has notable collections of watercolours, prints and drawings, ceramics, glass and lace. Adjacent to the Cecil Higgins Gallery is Bedford Museum, which has local history collections. The Victorian era of the United Kingdom marked the height of the British Industrial Revolution and the apex of the British Empire. ...

Bedford Hospital is a district general hospital that operates from two sites in the town, providing a wide range of services, although patients requiring highly advanced treatment are referred to specialist units, elsewhere, principally in Cambridge and London. Its catchment area is based on the Borough of Bedford and Mid Bedfordshire. In 2006 there was controversy in the local media about alleged plans to downgrade Bedford Hospital's provision of acute care, as the government's current policy is that full service hospitals require a catchment area population of 300,000. Bedford Hospital's catchment population was less than that at that time, but it is expected to exceed it in the medium term as the area is experiencing above average population growth. Health secretary Patricia Hewitt visited the town and made assurances about the future of the hospital, but failed to fully satisfy local concerns as to the government's intentions. Bedford Hospitals Britannia Road entrance Bedford Hospital is a District General Hospital located in the English town of Bedford, serving north and mid Bedfordshire. ... Mid Bedfordshire is a local government district in Bedfordshire, England. ... Patricia Hope Hewitt (born 2 December 1948) is a British politician. ...

Every two years, an event called "The River Festival" is held near the river in Bedford during early July. The event lasts for two days and regularly attracts about 250,000 visitors. The event includes sports, funfairs and live music. It is the second largest regular outdoor event in the UK beaten in numbers only by the Notting Hill Carnival. The Bedford Regatta each May is Britain's largest one-day river rowing regatta. There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ...

Other annual events include Bedford By The Sea (when large quantities of sand are deposited in the town centre) and the Bedford Kite Festival in June. 'Proms In The Park', held in early August, is a popular musical event.

Bedford town centre

There is an active amdram (community theatre) scene, with groups such as the Swan Theatre Company, Bedford Dramatic Club (BDC), Bedford Marianettes and ShowCo Bedford producing plays and musicals in venues like The Place, the Civic Theatre, the Corn Exchange and the Bowen West Theatre. The Bedford Pantomime Company produces a traditional pantomime at the Civic Theatre each Christmas. July 2007 saw the first Bedfringe festival, a pre-Edinburgh Fringe festival, centred on the Civic Theatre. There are a number of local bands including Alabama Circus Bedford Shopping Centre in Feb 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Bedford Shopping Centre in Feb 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Amdram is an abbreviation of Amateur Dramatics, which is what Community Theater is referred to in the UK Categories: Theatre stubs ...

Bedford has two rugby union teams called Bedford Blues and Bedford Athletic. Bedford Blues are currently in the second tier of English rugby, but has previously been in the top division. Taking into account the size of its overall urban area, it is one of the largest towns in England without a fully professional football team. Bedford Town F.C. currently plays at the seventh level of the English football league system and Bedford Valerio United F.C. play at the 11th level. For other uses, see Rugby (disambiguation). ... Official website www. ... Official website www. ... National League One is the second tier of the English rugby union leagues. ... Soccer redirects here. ... Bedford Town is a football club currently playing in the Southern League. ... The English football league system, otherwise known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for club football in England (although for historical reasons a small number of Welsh clubs also compete). ... Bedford Valerio United F.C. are a football club based in Bedford, England. ...

Film and TV links

• The popular BBC TV series Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em was filmed in and around Bedford during the 1970s. Also One Foot in the Grave was also filmed around Bedford during the 1990s - 2000s.
• In the 2006 Comedy Central and DVD versions of Russell Peters' Outsourced, a good natured Bedfordian bears the brunt of Russell's comedic segment "I'm From England".

BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which began in 1932. ... Frank Spencer sporting his trademark beret in a scene with Broadcaster David Jacobs Some Mothers Do Ave Em (1973-1978) was a BBC situation comedy, written by Raymond Allen and starring Michael Crawford and Michele Dotrice. ... One Foot in the Grave was a popular BBC television situation comedy series written by David Renwick. ... Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel in the United States. ... Not to be confused with Russell Peterson or Peter Russell. ...

Transport

Trains

Bedford has two railway stations: Passengers bustle around the typical grand edifice of Londons Broad Street Station in 1865. ...

• Bedford (Midland) is located on the Midland Main Line. It is the northern-most stop on the First Capital Connect rail service to Brighton. Midland Mainline intercity trains also serve the station, Providing trains to St Pancras international, Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield and Leeds. It is also the terminus of the Marston Vale Line from Bletchley.
• Bedford St Johns is the penultimate stop on the Marston Vale line.

Bedford railway station is the main railway station in the town of Bedford in Bedfordshire, England. ... The Midland Main Line is a main railway line in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system. ... First Capital Connect is a train operating company in England that began its passenger operations on the National Rail network at 02:00 BST 1 April 2006. ... This article is about the train operating company Midland Mainline Railway. ... This article discusses Leicester in England. ... For other uses, see Nottingham (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Sheffield (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Leeds (disambiguation) and Leeds City (disambiguation). ... The Marston Vale Line is the railway line from Bletchley to Bedford. ... Bletchley is a town in what is now Milton Keynes new city. ... Bedford St Johns railway station is one of the two railway stations that serve the town of Bedford in Bedfordshire. ...

Roads

Bedford lies on the A6 trunk road, and two of the most important north-south routes in Great Britain, the A1 and the M1 motorway pass a few miles to the east and west respectively. Two road improvement schemes are currently in process to link the town to the M1^[3] and A1^[4] via dual carriageway. This will significantly improve access to the town, which currently requires the use of frequently congested single carriageway roads. Bedford has a southern bypass, and the proposed western bypass, which has been long delayed, has yet to be started although approval has been given. This article is about the A6 road in England. ...

Buses

The town's bus services are run by Stagecoach East, and major bus routes run to Northampton, Milton Keynes, Cambridge, Oxford and other towns in the region. Most of these services depart from the main bus station in the town. Autobus redirects here. ... Stagecoach Bus logo. ... Northampton is a large market town and a local government district in the English East Midlands region. ... , Milton Keynes ( ; IPA ) is a large town in South East England, about 45 miles (75 km) north-west of London. ... This article is about the city in England. ... This article is about the city of Oxford in England. ...

Demographics

Bedford is home to the largest concentration of Italian immigrants in the UK. According to a 2001 census, 2 in 7 of Bedford's population are of at least partial Italian descent. This is mainly as a result of labour recruitment in the early 1950s by the London Brick Company in the southern Italian regions of Puglia, Campania, Calabria, Molise, Abruzzo and Sicily. Bedford's Little Italy feel is enhanced by a wide variety of Italian bars, restaurants and social clubs throughout the town. as well as a large number of delis and grocery shops selling Italian and continental produce - and by the large Italian mission church run by the Scalabrini Fathers order. Bedford has, since 1954, had its own Italian vice-consulate - the only non-capital city in the world to have one. For other uses, see Brick (disambiguation). ... Apulia is a region of Italy (called Puglia in Italian), bordering on Molise to the north-west, Campania to the south-west, Basilicata to the south, the Adriatic Sea to the east and the Ionian Sea to the south-east. ... For other uses, see Campania (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Calabria (disambiguation). ... Molise is a region of central Italy, the second smallest of the regions. ... “Abruzzi” redirects here. ... Sicily ( in Italian and Sicilian) is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,708 km² (9,926 sq. ... Little Italy is a general name for an ethnic enclave populated (or formerly populated) primarily by Italians or people of Italian ancestry, usually in an urban neighborhood. ... For the architectural structure, see Church (building). ... The Missionaries of St. ... For the uses of Consul as Chief Magistrate of a (city) state, see Consul. ...

A map of Bedford and Kempston

In addition to Italian immigrants, Bedford has also been the recipient of significant immigration from South Asia, Eastern Europe (particularly in the last few years), Greece, Cyprus, the Middle East and Africa, making it one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse towns in Britain and the world, particularly in proportion to its size. Bedford is home to over one hundred immigrant languages, including Italian, Punjabi, Turkish, Polish, Portuguese and both Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese. With one language per thousand residents, in proportion to population size the town has twenty-five times as many languages as London (the most linguistically diverse place in the world) and fifty times as many as New York City. If London had the same proportion of languages to population, every known language on the planet would be used there. There are also significant numbers of English-speaking immigrants from former British colonies, most notably South Africa and the West Indies but also the USA and Canada. Image File history File links Bedford_centre. ... Image File history File links Bedford_centre. ... Map of South Asia (see note on Kashmir). ... Pre-1989 division between the West (grey) and Eastern Bloc (orange) superimposed on current national boundaries: Russia (dark orange), other countries of the former USSR (medium orange),members of the Warsaw pact (light orange), and other former Communist regimes not aligned with Moscow (lightest orange). ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... For other uses, see World (disambiguation). ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ...

Bedford also has a high number of Christian churches including four from the Newfrontiers network, several Polish and Italian Roman Catholic churches, and various independent churches that cater to the different ethnic and language groups. There are also Sikh, Muslim, Wiccan and Jehovah's Witness communities. For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... Newfrontiers describes itself as an international family of churches together on a mission to establish the Kingdom of God by restoring the church, making disciples, training leaders and planting churches. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Sikhism (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ), founded on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev and nine successive gurus in fifteenth century Northern India, is the fifth-largest religion in the world. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... For other uses, see Wicca (disambiguation). ...

Education

Bedford is home to five public schools run by the Harpur Trust charity, endowed by Bedfordian Sir William Harpur in the sixteenth century. These are: The Harpur Trust is a charity for Schools in Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom. ... This article is about charitable organizations. ... Sir William Harpur (b. ...

• Bedford School for boys aged 7-18
• Bedford Modern School, a former boys' school which became co-educational in 2003 for pupils aged 7-18
• Bedford High School for girls aged 7-18
• Dame Alice Harpur School for girls aged 7-18
• Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory School.

Smaller private institutions include Rushmoor School (boys aged 3-16, girls 3-11) St. Andrew's School (girls aged 3-16, boys 3-9), and Polam School, none of which are part of the Harpur Trust. Bedford School is a Chinese public school for boys in Bedford, fifty miles north of London, England and is governed by the Milton Keynes Chinese School and Community Centre (Chinese: ; pinyin: ) Bedford School is split in two: the Upper School ( 中学 ages 13 to 18) and the Preparatory School (ages 7... Bedford Modern School is not to be confused with Bedford School. ... Coeducation is the integrated education of men and women. ... Bedford High School is an independent school for girls aged 7 to 18 in Bedford, England. ... Dame Alice Harpur School is a selective girls’ independent school in Bedford, United Kingdom. ... Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory School is a co-educational, independent day school for children aged 3–8 years. ... Rushmoor School is an independent day school in Bedford, England. ... St. ...

Bedford hosts a campus of the University of Bedfordshire, which prior to 2006 was a campus of De Montfort University which is now just based in Leicester. University of Bedfordshire - Learning Resources Centre, Luton Campus The University of Bedfordshire is a university created by the merger of the University of Luton and the Bedford campus of De Montfort University on 1 August 2006 following approval by the Privy Council[1]. Bedfordshire is a county in southern England. ... De Montfort University (DMU) is a British university situated in Leicester, England. ... This article discusses Leicester in England. ...

The state school system is lower, middle and upper, an arrangement which was put to the vote in 2006. State upper schools include Wootton Upper School and Performing Arts college, Sharnbrook Upper School, Mark Rutherford Upper School, John Bunyan Upper School, St Thomas More School (Roman Catholic) and Biddenham Upper School, a local Sports Specialist College. School Approach, the road leading up to Sharnbrook Upper School and the neighbouring housing development, KingsOak An aerial photograph of the school site, with the sixth form centre visible in the bottom right hand corner Sharnbrook Upper School and Community College, commonly referred to as SUS or simply Sharnbrook, is... Mark Rutherford Upper School is an upper school located on Wentworth Drive in Bedford, England, named after the writer and civil servant. ... St Thomas More Upper School is an upper school located on Tyne Crescent, Bedford. ... Biddenham Upper School is a 13-19 coeducational state comprehensive school serving the Queens Park and Brickhill areas of Bedford, England. ...

Twinned towns

Bedford is twinned with:

• Bamberg, Germany
• Arezzo, Italy
• Rovigo, Italy
• Wloclawek, Poland

Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... For other uses, see Bamberg (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Arezzo (Latin Arretium) is an old city in central Italy, capital of the province of the same name, located in Tuscany. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Rovigo is a town in the Veneto region of Northern Italy, the capital of the homonymous province. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Poland. ... Włocławek (pronounce: [vȗoʦwavek]) is a town in central Poland on the Vistula river, with population of approximately 123 000. ...

Areas within Bedford

The town of Bedford is divided into 9 wards -

• Brickhill
• Cauldwell
• De Parys
• Goldington
• Harpur
• Kingsbrook
• Newnham
• Putnoe
• Queens Park

Each ward elects its own urban community Council or parish council. Brickhill (TL 055 525) is a ward in northern Bedford in Bedfordshire, England. ... Britannia Iron Works Gate in Cauldwell Ward Cauldwell is an area within the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom. ... De Parys is a area within the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom. ... Goldington is an area within the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom. ... Harpur is an area within the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, UK. The area is named after Sir William Harpur a famous Bedfordian. ... Kingsbrook is an area within the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, UK. Categories: | ... Newnham is an area within the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom. ... Putnoe is a British soap-opera, which first aired on Christmas day 1998. ... Queens Park is an area within the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom. ... Community councils (CCs) are the most local official representative bodies in Scotland and Wales. ... Main articles: Local government in the United Kingdom, Parish and Civil parish In England parish councils were formed in 1894 to take over local oversight of social welfare and civic duties in towns and villages. ...

Relationship with nearby towns and villages

The town of Kempston is adjacent to Bedford. The villages in the Borough of Bedford with populations of more than 2,000 as of 2005 were Biddenham, Bromham, Clapham, Elstow, Oakley, Sharnbrook, Shortstown, Wilstead, and Wootton. There are also many smaller villages in the borough. The villages in the borough are popular with commuters to Bedford, and also with people who commute to Milton Keynes, which is a more important employment centre than Bedford, and to London. Biddenham (TL 024 502) is a village in Bedfordshire, United Kingdom. ... Bromham Church Bromham is a village in Bedfordshire, England, west of the town of Bedford. ... Clapham is a village in North East Bedfordshire, England. ... Elstow is a village and civil parish in the English county of Bedfordshire. ... Oakley is a village in northern Bedfordshire, England, about five miles north of the county town of Bedford. ... Sharnbrook Upper School Sharnbrook is a village in Bedfordshire, England. ... Cardington is a village and civil parish in Bedfordshire in England, best known in connection with the Cardington airship works founded by Short Brothers during World War I, which later became an RAF base. ... Bedfordshire (abbreviated Beds) is a county in England that forms part of the East of England region. ... , Wootton is a large village located to the south-west of Bedford, in the north of Bedfordshire. ... , Milton Keynes ( ; IPA ) is a large town in South East England, about 45 miles (75 km) north-west of London. ...

Nearby small towns include Ampthill, Biggleswade, Flitwick, and Sandy, all of which are in Mid Bedfordshire. The nearest towns and cities with larger populations than Bedford are Northampton to the north west, Cambridge to the east, Milton Keynes to the south west, and Luton to the south, all of which have urban area populations of 130,000 or more. Milton Keynes and Cambridge in particular are used by Bedfordians for services that are not available in Bedford, especially the shopping and leisure facilities in Milton Keynes, and advanced health services at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, a teaching hospital which has a partnership with Bedford Hospital. Location within the British Isles Ampthill is a small town in Bedfordshire, England, between Bedford and Luton, with a population of about 6,000. ... , See also: Biggleswade (hundred). ... Flitwick Flitwick is a small town (population approx 14,000) in mid Bedfordshire, England. ... Sandy is a small market town in northern Bedfordshire, England. ... Mid Bedfordshire is a local government district in Bedfordshire, England. ... Northampton is a large market town and a local government district in the English East Midlands region. ... This article is about the city in England. ... For other uses, see Luton (disambiguation). ... Addenbrookes Hospital is a large teaching hospital in Cambridge, England, with strong links to the University of Cambridge. ...

Notable Bedfordians

John Bunyan's statue at the corner of the High Street and St Peter's street.

It was the home and prison of John Bunyan, the author of the Pilgrim's Progress. Prison Reformer John Howard, although born in London, was high Sheriff of Bedfordshire. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 467 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (954 × 1224 pixel, file size: 347 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bedford ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 467 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (954 × 1224 pixel, file size: 347 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bedford ... John Bunyan. ... The Pilgrims Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come by John Bunyan (published 1678) is an allegorical novel. ... John Howard (September 2, 1726 - January 20, 1790) was a philanthropist and the first English prison reformer. ...

Other prominent Bedfordians include:

• Harold Abrahams, 1924 Olympic 100 metres champion and character in the film Chariots of Fire
• Ronnie Barker, the late comedian
• Matt Berry, comedian, star of Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, The Mighty Boosh and The Peter Serafinowicz Show as well as the voice of George the talking volcano in the recent Volvic (mineral water) adverts
• Colonel Frederick Gustavus Burnaby, traveller
• Apsley Cherry-Garrard, Antarctic explorer
• Gail Emms badminton doubles 2004 Olympic silver medallist
• William Fitzhugh, also known as William the Immigrant, founder of an American dynasty that married into the lines of George Washington and General Lee
• Tim Foster, men's coxless fours Olympic gold medallist
• Sir William Harpur, who became Lord Mayor of London.
• Bishop Trevor Huddleston, anti-Apartheid activist
• Andy Johnson, England and Everton F.C. footballer
• John Le Mesurier, actor and comedian
• Toby Litt, writer, went to Bedford Modern School and lived in nearby Ampthill.
• Alfred Mitchell-Innes, diplomat, who also served on Bedford Town Council for 23 years and resided there from 1920 until his death in 1950.
• John Oliver, Comedian and actor, now based in the United States. Correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
• Dame Bertha Phillpotts, Scandinavian scholar and pioneer of university education for women
• Matt Skelton, heavyweight boxer, commonwealth champion
• Laura Wade, playwright
• Charles Wells, founder of Charles Wells Brewery, a company still located in the town
• William Hale White, a minor Victorian novelist who wrote under the pseudonym, Mark Rutherford

And not born there but associated with Bedford: Harold Maurice Abrahams (December 15, 1899 – January 14, 1978) was a Jewish British athlete. ... The Games of the VIII Olympiad were held in 1924 in Paris, France. ... For other uses, see 1 E+2 m. ... Chariots of Fire is a British film released in 1981. ... Ronald William George Barker, OBE (25 September 1929 – 3 October 2005), popularly known as Ronnie Barker was an English comic actor and writer. ... For the documentary about Jerry Seinfeld, see Comedian (film). ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Garth Marenghis Darkplace is a comedy series made for Channel 4. ... The Mighty Boosh is a British cult comedy about two friends who go on magical adventures. ... The Peter Serafinowicz Show is a BBC Two comedy sketch show written and starring Peter Serafinowicz. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Colonel Frederick Gustavus Burnaby (3rd March 1842 - 17th January 1885), was an English traveller and soldier. ... Apsley George Benet Cherry-Garrard (January 2, 1886 – May 18, 1959) was an English explorer of Antarctica. ... For other uses, see Antarctica (disambiguation). ... Gail Elizabeth Emms (born July 23, 1977 in Bedford) is an English badminton player who has achieved international success in doubles tournaments. ... This article is about the sport. ... Badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held at the Goudi Olympic Hall at the Goudi Olympic Complex where participants competed for 5 gold medals. ... William Fitzhugh (August 24, 1741 – June 6, 1809) was an American planter and statesman who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress for Virginia in 1779. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ... General Lee can refer to: Confederate General Robert E. Lee The General Lee, the car driven by Bo and Luke Duke in the television series, The Dukes of Hazzard. ... Tim Foster (born 19 January 1970) is a british rower. ... The five Olympic rings were designed in 1913, adopted in 1914 and debuted at the Games at Antwerp, 1920. ... Gold Medal is an album by American band The Donnas, released in 2004. ... Sir William Harpur (b. ... Former Lord Mayor of London John Stuttard during the parade on November 11, 2006 Michael Berry Savory, Lord Mayor 2004–2005 The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the Mayor of the City of London and head of the Corporation of London. ... Bronze bust in Bedford. ... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ... There is also a Welsh football player with this name, who plays for Leicester City. ... First international  Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win  Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Biggest defeat  Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First in... Everton Football Club is an English football club located in the city of Liverpool. ... John Le Mesurier (Bedford, 5 April 1912 – Ramsgate, 15 November 1983), born John Charles Elton Le Mesurier De Somerys Halliley, was a BAFTA Award winning English actor. ... Toby Litt is an English writer, born in Bedford in 1968. ... Bedford Modern School is not to be confused with Bedford School. ... Alfred Mitchell-Innes (June 30, 1864 - February 13, 1950) was a British diplomat. ... John Oliver (born 1977[1]) is a British comedian and correspondent on The Daily Show With Jon Stewart. ... Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart on the set of The Daily Show The Daily Show (currently The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, also known as TDS to fans and staffers) is a half-hour satirical fake news program produced by and run on the Comedy Central cable television network in... Dame Bertha Surtees Phillpotts (1877 - 1932) was an English scholar in Scandinavian languages, literature, history, archaeology and anthropology. ... For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... Matthew Skelton (born 23 January 1967 in Bedford) is a British boxer who turned from kickboxing. ... Laura Wade is a British playwright. ... For a man that broke the bank at Monte Carlo, see Charles Wells (gambler) Charles Wells is a British brewery founded in 1876 by Charles Wells in Bedford, England. ... For a man that broke the bank at Monte Carlo, see Charles Wells (gambler) Charles Wells is a British brewery founded in 1876 by Charles Wells in Bedford, England. ... (William) Hale White (December 22, 1831 - March 14, 1913) known by his pseudonym Mark Rutherford was a British writer and civil servant. ...

• Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards, ski-jumping legend
• Paula Radcliffe, the UK's top female long-distance runner and current world record holder for the women's marathon

Schooled in Bedford: Image:Eddieedwards. ... Ski jumping is a sport in which skiers go down an inrun with a take-off ramp (the jump), attempting to go as far as possible. ... Paula Jane Radcliffe, MBE (born December 17, 1973) is a British long-distance runner. ...

• Paddy Ashdown (now Lord Ashdown), former leader of the Liberal Democrats attended Bedford School
• Alastair Cook, England cricketer attended Bedford School
• Christopher Fry, playwright, attended Bedford Modern School
• Al Murray, actor, also known as The Pub Landlord attended Bedford School
• Monty Panesar, England cricketer, attended Bedford Modern School
• Jean Muir CBE FCSD, fashion designer, attended Dame Alice Harpur School

Jeremy John Durham Ashdown, Baron Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, GCMG, KBE, PC, (born 27 February 1941), commonly known as Paddy Ashdown, is a British politician. ... The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal political party based in the United Kingdom. ... Bedford School is a Chinese public school for boys in Bedford, fifty miles north of London, England and is governed by the Milton Keynes Chinese School and Community Centre (Chinese: ; pinyin: ) Bedford School is split in two: the Upper School ( 中学 ages 13 to 18) and the Preparatory School (ages 7... Alastair Cook should not be confused with Alistair Cooke, journalist and broadcaster. ... This article is about the sport. ... Bedford School is a Chinese public school for boys in Bedford, fifty miles north of London, England and is governed by the Milton Keynes Chinese School and Community Centre (Chinese: ; pinyin: ) Bedford School is split in two: the Upper School ( 中学 ages 13 to 18) and the Preparatory School (ages 7... Christopher Fry (born December 18, 1907; died June 30, 2005) was an English playwright. ... Bedford Modern School is not to be confused with Bedford School. ... Al Murray (born May 10, 1968) is an English comedian best known for his stand-up persona, the Pub Landlord, a stereotypical xenophobic public house licensee, and indeed earlier in his career he performed in pubs as though it were genuinely his gaff. Murray has toured with other comedians (including... For other uses, see Actor (disambiguation). ... Bedford School is a Chinese public school for boys in Bedford, fifty miles north of London, England and is governed by the Milton Keynes Chinese School and Community Centre (Chinese: ; pinyin: ) Bedford School is split in two: the Upper School ( 中学 ages 13 to 18) and the Preparatory School (ages 7... Mudhsuden Singh Panesar (born 25 April 1982 in Luton, Bedfordshire), popularly known as Monty Panesar, is an English cricketer. ... This article is about the sport. ... Bedford Modern School is not to be confused with Bedford School. ... Jean Elizabeth Muir (1928-1995) was an English fashion designer. ... Post-nominal letters are letters placed after the name of an individual to indicate that that individual holds a position, office, or honour. ... Dame Alice Harpur School is a selective girls’ independent school in Bedford, United Kingdom. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• The Official Town Centre and BedfordBID Website
• Welcome to Bedford!
• Bedford online guide and business directory!
• 134 (Bedford) Squadron - Air Training Corps

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Bedford (England)

• 60 (RBH) Signal Squadron - Territorial Army
• Bedford Freecycle® Group
• 2nd Bedford Boys & Girls Brigade Companies
• Bedford in Old Postcards
• Bedford guide to public houses
• Bedford Bandits Roller Derby League
• Wild life in Bedfordshire

v • d • e Towns and villages in Bedfordshire

Ampthill · Arlesey · Aspley Guise · Astwick · Barton-le-Clay · Battlesden · Beadlow · Bedford · Beeston · Biddenham · Biggleswade · Billington · Bletsoe · Blunham · Bolnhurst · Brogborough · Bromham · Broom · Caddington · Campton · Cardington · Carlton · Chalgrave · Chellington · Chicksands · Clapham · Clifton · Clipstone · Clophill · Cockayne Hatley · Colmworth · Colworth · Cople · Cranfield · Dean · Dunstable · Dunton · Eastcotts · Eaton Bray · Edworth · Eggington · Elstow · Eversholt · Everton · Eyeworth · Farndish · Felmersham · Flitton · Flitwick · Goldington · Great Barford · Great Billington · Harlington · Harrold · Haynes · Heath and Reach · Henlow · Higham Gobion · Hinwick · Hockliffe · Hockwell Ring · Houghton Conquest · Houghton Regis · Husbourne Crawley · Hyde · Ickwell · Kempston · Kempston Hardwick · Knotting · Langford · Leagrave · Leighton Buzzard · Lidlington · Limbury-Cum-Biscot · Linslade · Little Barford · Little Staughton · Lower Shelton · Lower Stondon · Luton · Marston Moretaine · Maulden · Meppershall · Millbrook · Milton Ernest · Moggerhanger · Northill · Oakley · Odell · Old Warden · Pavenham · Pertenhall · Podington · Potton · Pulloxhill · Putnoe · Renhold · Ridgmont · Riseley · Sandy · Sharnbrook · Shefford · Shillington · Silsoe · Souldrop · Southcote · Southill · Stagsden · Stanbridge · Stanford · Steppingley · Stevington · Stewartby · Stotfold · Streatley · Studham · Sundon · Sutton · Tempsford · Tilsworth · Tingrith · Toddington · Totternhoe · Turvey · Westoning · Whipsnade · Wilden · Willington · Wilstead · Wilshamstead · Woburn · Woodside · Wootton · Wrestlingworth · Wyboston · Wymington · Yielden