Bedfordshire
69769
226073908
2008-07-16T18:37:26Z
82.6.89.120
/* Towns and villages */
{{Infobox England county
| name = Bedfordshire
| image = <!-- Flag, etc. -- OPTIONAL -->
| motto = <!-- OPTIONAL -->
| map = [[Image:EnglandBedfordshire.png]]
| status = [[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial]] & (smaller) [[Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England|Non-metropolitan]] county
| origin = <!-- (year of establishment for "new" counties) OPTIONAL -->
| region = [[East of England]]
| arearank = [[List of Ceremonial counties of England by Area|Ranked 41st]]
| area_km2 = 1235
| adminarearank = [[List of Administrative shire counties of England by Area|Ranked 34th]]
| adminarea_km2 = 1192
| adminhq = [[Bedford, Bedfordshire|Bedford]]
| iso = GB-BDF
| ons = 09
| nutscode = <!-- NUTS x - (x = value entered, or leave blank for NUTS 3) - OPTIONAL -->
| nuts3 = UKH22
| poprank = [[List of ceremonial counties of England by population|Ranked {{English cerem counties|RNK=Bedfordshire}}]]
| popestdate = {{English statistics year}}
| pop = {{English cerem counties|POP=Bedfordshire}}
| density_km2 = {{English cerem counties|DEN=Bedfordshire}}
| adminpoprank = [[List of non-metropolitan counties of England by population|Ranked {{English admin counties|RNK=Bedfordshire}}]]
| adminpop = {{English admin counties|POP=Bedfordshire}}
| ethnicity = 86.3% White<br />8.3% S.Asian<br />2.9% Black.
| council = <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:arms-bedfordshire.jpg|200px|Arms of Bedfordshire County Council]] --><br />Bedfordshire County Council<br />http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/
| exec = {{English county control|CTY=Bedfordshire}}
| mps = * [[Alistair Burt]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]]
* [[Nadine Dorries]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]]
* [[Patrick Hall]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
* [[Kelvin Hopkins]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
* [[Margaret Moran]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
* [[Andrew Selous]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]]
| subdivmap = [[Image:Bedfordshire Ceremonial Numbered.png|150px|District map]]
| subdivs = #[[Bedford (borough)|Bedford]]
#[[Mid Bedfordshire]]
#[[South Bedfordshire]]
#[[Luton]] (Unitary)
}}
'''Bedfordshire''' (abbreviated '''Beds.''') is a [[county]] in [[England]] that forms part of the [[East of England]] [[Regions of England|region]].
Its [[county town]] is [[Bedford, Bedfordshire|Bedford]]. It borders [[Cambridgeshire]], [[Northamptonshire]], [[Buckinghamshire]] (with the [[Borough of Milton Keynes]]) and [[Hertfordshire]].
The highest [[elevation]] point is 243 metres (797 feet) on [[Dunstable Downs]] in the [[Chilterns]].
The county [[motto]] is "Constant Be", which is taken from the hymn ''[[To be a pilgrim|To Be A Pilgrim]]'' by [[John Bunyan]].
As part of a 2002 marketing campaign, the plant conservation charity [[Plantlife]] chose the [[Bee Orchid]] as the [[county flower]].<ref>[http://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/plantlife-discovering-plants-county-flowers.html County flowers in Britain] www.plantlife.org.uk</ref>
The traditional [[nickname]] for people from Bedfordshire is "Bedfordshire Bulldogs" or "[[Bedfordshire clanger|Clangers]]", this last deriving from a local dish comprising a suet crust dumpling filled with meat or jam or both. {{Fact|date=January 2008}}
==History==
{{main|History of Bedfordshire}}
The first recorded use of the name was in [[1011]] as "'''Bedanfordscir'''", meaning the shire or county of Bedford, which itself means "Beda's ford" (river crossing).
Bedfordshire was historically divided into the nine [[hundred (division)|hundred]]s: [[Barford, Bedfordshire|Barford]], [[Biggleswade (hundred)|Biggleswade]], [[Clifton, Bedfordshire|Clifton]], [[Flitt]], [[Manshead]], [[Redbournestoke]], [[Stodden]], [[Willey (hundred)|Willey]], [[Wixamtree]], along with the liberty and [[borough]] of [[Bedford]].
[[Image:Flag of Bedfordshire.svg|left|120px|Flag of Bedfordshire]]
There have been several minor changes to the county boundary; for example, in 1897 [[Kensworth]] and part of [[Caddington]] were transferred from [[Hertfordshire]] to Bedfordshire. <!-- A complete list of changes would be useful -->
[[Luton]] was a [[county borough]] from 1964 until 1974, and it has been a [[unitary authority]] since 1997. However, it remains part of the [[ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]] of Bedfordshire, with a single [[Lord Lieutenant]] representing the [[British monarchy|sovereign]] throughout this entire area. ''Except where otherwise indicated, this article relates to the whole Ceremonial County of Bedfordshire, including Luton''.
==Geography and geology==
The southern end of the county is part of the [[chalk]] ridge known as the [[Chiltern Hills]]. The remainder is part of the broad drainage basin of the [[River Great Ouse]] and its tributaries.
Most of Bedfordshire's rocks are [[clay]]s and [[sandstone]]s from the [[Jurassic]] and [[Cretaceous]] periods, with some [[limestone]]. Local clay has been used for [[brick]]-making of [[Fletton]] style bricks in the [[Marston Vale]].
[[Glacier|Glacial]] erosion of chalk has left the hard [[flint]] nodules deposited as gravel – this has been commercially extracted in the past at pits which are now lakes, at [[Priory Country Park]], [[Wyboston]] and [[Felmersham]].
The Greensand Ridge is an escarpment across the country from near Leighton Buzzard to near Gamlingay in [[Cambridgeshire]].
==Administration==
[[Image:CountyHallRearBedford.JPG|thumb|County Hall, headquarters of Bedfordshire County Council]]
[[Image:2009 Bedfordshire Ceremonial Numbered.png|thumb|right|Bedfordshire's unitary authorities from 2009]]
Bedfordshire is a [[shire county]], mostly under the control of '''Bedfordshire County Council'''. This is divided into three local government districts, [[Bedford (borough)|Bedford Borough]], [[Mid Bedfordshire|Mid Bedfordshire District]] and [[South Bedfordshire|South Bedfordshire District]].
Additionally, [[Luton|Luton Borough]] is a [[unitary authority]] that forms part of the county for various functions such as Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff, but does not come under county council control.
The [[Department for Communities and Local Government]] considered reorganising Bedfordshire's administrative structure as part of the [[2009 structural changes to local government in England]]. The four proposals considered were:
* '''Proposal 1,''' To abolish the three districts within the county to create a Bedfordshire unitary authority. (Luton would remain a separate unitary authority.)
* '''Proposal 2,''' To create two unitary authorities: one based on the existing Bedford Borough, and the other, to be known as [[Central Bedfordshire]], a combination of Mid Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire Districts. (Luton would remain a separate unitary authority.)
* '''Proposal 3,''' To create two unitary authorities: one a combination of Bedford Borough and Mid Bedfordshire District, and one a combination of Luton Borough and South Bedfordshire District.
* '''Proposal 4,''' To form an "enhanced two-tier" authority, with the four local councils under the control of the county council, but with different responsibilities. <ref>[http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/CouncilAndDemocracy/News/Theproposal.aspx Bedfordshire County Council] - The proposal</ref><ref>[http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1509022 Communities and Local Government] - Proposals for future unitary structures: Stakeholder consultation</ref>
On the 6th March 2008 the DCLG decided to implement '''Proposal 2'''. This means that from 1 April 2009 there will be three unitary authorities in Bedfordshire - Bedford, Luton and the new Central Bedfordshire. Bedfordshire County Council initially challenged this decision in the High Court, but on the 4th April 2008 it was announced the Judicial Review in the High Court had been unsuccessful, and the County Council declared they would not be appealing the decision. <ref>[http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/CouncilAndDemocracy/News/HighCourtBacksTwoUnitaryAuthorities.aspx]</ref> <ref>[http://www.bedford.gov.uk/Default.aspx/Web/CountyCouncilFailsInLegalChallengeToUnitaryStatus]</ref><ref>[http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/714230 Unitary solution confirmed for Bedfordshire - New flagship unitary councils approved for Cheshire - Corporate - Communities and Local Government<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> <ref>[http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/bed-news/County-council-to-be-abolished.3850489.jp County council to be abolished in shake-up - Bedford Today<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==Economy==
This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of Bedfordshire at current basic prices [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/RegionalGVA.pdf published] (pp.240-253) by ''Office for National Statistics'' with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year || Regional Gross Value Added<ref>Components may not sum to totals due to rounding</ref> || Agriculture<ref>includes hunting and forestry</ref> || Industry<ref>includes energy and construction</ref> || Services<ref>includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured</ref>
|-
| 1995 || '''4,109''' || 81 || 1,584 || 2,444
|-
| 2000 || '''4,716''' || 53 || 1,296 || 3,367
|-
| 2003 || '''5,466''' || 52 || 1,311 || 4,102
|}
[[Moto Hospitality]] is based at [[Toddington]] service station. The [[Kier Group]] is based in [[Sandy, Bedfordshire|Sandy]]. [[Whitbread]] is based in [[Dunstable]].
==Education==
The state education system for all of Bedfordshire used to be organised by Bedfordshire County Council. When Luton became a unitary authority in 1997, education in Luton came under direct control of Luton Borough Council. This split has seen two distinct education systems evolve in the county over the years.
===Bedfordshire===
Unlike most of the United Kingdom, Bedfordshire operates a [[three-tier education]] system which is arranged into lower, middle and upper schools, as recommended in the [[Plowden Report]] of 1967. The arrangement was put to the vote in 2006 with a view to moving to the two-tier model, but was rejected.<ref>{{cite web | publisher=BBC News | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/5173424.stm | title=Two-tier school proposal rejected | accessdate=2008-02-10}}</ref> All of Bedfordshire's upper schools offer 6th form courses (such as [[A Levels]]), though [[Bedford College]] and [[Dunstable College]] also offer a range of [[further education]] courses.
There are a number of [[independent schools]] in the county, many of which have links to the [[Harpur Trust]].
===Luton===
{{main|Education in Luton}}
Luton also operates a three-tier education system though Luton's organisation of infant, junior and high schools mirrors the traditional transfer age into secondary education of 11 years. However most of Luton's high schools do not offer 6th form education. Instead this is handled by [[Luton Sixth Form College]], though [[Barnfield College]] also offers a range of [[further education]] courses.
===Higher Education===
There are two [[universities]] based in the county - the [[University of Bedfordshire]] and [[Cranfield University]]. These institutions attract students from all over the UK and abroad, as well as from Bedfordshire.
==Transport==
Although not a major transport destination, Bedfordshire lies on many of the main transport routes which link [[London]] to the [[Midlands]] and [[Northern England]].
===Roads===
Two of England's six main [[trunk roads]] pass through Bedfordshire:
* The [[A1 road|A1]] London to [[Edinburgh]] road (The Great North Road) runs close by Biggleswade and Sandy
* The [[A5 road|A5]] London to [[Holyhead]] road ([[Watling Street]]), passes through Dunstable
To these was added in [[1959]] the [[M1 motorway]], the London to [[Leeds]] motorway. This has three junctions around Luton, one serving Bedford and another serving [[Milton Keynes]].
Former trunk roads, now Local Roads managed by the local highway authority include A428 running east-west through Bedford Borough, and A6 from Rushden to Luton.
===Railways===
Three of England's main lines pass through Bedfordshire:
* The [[West Coast Main Line]] has but a short section in the far west of the county. The one station at Leighton Buzzard is served by [[London Midland]] trains to [[Euston station|Euston]] and [[Northampton]].
* The [[East Coast Main Line]] has stations at Arlesey, Biggleswade and Sandy, served by [[First Capital Connect]] services to [[King's Cross railway station|King's Cross]] and [[Peterborough]]
* The [[Midland Main Line]] serves Luton and Bedford with trains to many destinations operated by [[East Midlands Trains]] and [[First Capital Connect]].
There are rural services also running between [[Bedford]] and [[Bletchley]] along the [[Marston Vale Line]].
===Taxis===
Bedfordshire is served by a large number of taxi companies. [[Luton]] is reported to have the highest number of taxicabs per head of [[population]] in the [[United Kingdom]]<ref>[http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/lutonsouth "Luton South"], UK Polling Report</ref> with a number of firms competing for work in the town and from [[London Luton Airport]].
===Waterways===
The [[River Great Ouse]] links Bedfordshire to the [[Fenland]] waterways. As of [[2004]] there are plans to construct a [[canal]] linking the Great Ouse at Bedford to the [[Grand Union Canal]] at Milton Keynes, 23 km distant.<ref>[http://www.b-mkwaterway.co.uk/trust/index.html Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust]</ref>
===Air===
[[London Luton Airport]] has flights to many [[United Kingdom|UK]], [[Europe]], [[North America]] and North [[Africa]]n destinations, operated by low-cost [[airline]]s.
==Towns and villages==
:''Main article'': [[List of places in Bedfordshire]]
{|
| valign="top" |
*[[Ampthill]]
*[[Arlesey]]
*[[Barton-Le-Clay]]
*[[Bedford, Bedfordshire|Bedford]]
*[[Biggleswade]]
*[[Beeston, Bedfordshire|Beeston]]
*[[Bletsoe]]
*[[Cardington, Bedfordshire|Cardington]]
*[[Clapham, Bedfordshire|Clapham]]
*[[Clifton, Bedfordshire|Clifton]]
*[[Clophill]]
*[[Cranfield]]
*[[Dunstable, England|Dunstable]]
*Eaton Bray
*[[Eversholt, Bedfordshire|Eversholt]]
*[[Felmersham]]
*[[Flitton]]
*[[Flitwick]]
*[[Gravenhurst]]
*Greenfield
*[[Harlington, Bedfordshire|Harlington]]
*[[Harrold, Bedfordshire|Harrold]]
*[[Henlow]]
| valign="top" |
*[[Hockliffe]]
*[[Houghton Regis]]
*[[Kempston]]
*[[Langford, Bedfordshire|Langford]]
*[[Lidlington]]
*[[Leighton Buzzard]]
*[[Leagrave]]
*[[Luton]]
*[[Marston Moretaine]]
*[[Maulden]]
*[[Meppershall]]
*[[Millbrook, Bedfordshire|Millbrook]]
*[[Milton Ernest]]
*[[Oakley, Bedfordshire|Oakley]]
*[[Odell, Bedfordshire|Odell]]
*[[Old Warden]]
*[[Pavenham]]
*[[Pertenhall]]
*[[Pulloxhill]]
*[[Radwell]]
*[[Ravenstone, Bedfordshire|Ravenstone]]
| valign="top" |
*[[Ridgmont]]
*[[Riseley, Bedfordshire|Riseley]]
*[[Renhold]]
*[[Sandy, Bedfordshire|Sandy]]
*[[Sharnbrook]]
*[[Shefford, Bedfordshire|Shefford]]
*[[Silsoe]]
*[[Stewartby]]
*[[Stotfold]]
*[[Studham]]
*[[Sutton, Bedfordshire|Sutton]]
*[[Thurleigh]]
*[[Toddington, Bedfordshire|Toddington]]
*Totternhoe
*[[Turvey]]
*[[Whipsnade]]
*[[Willington, Bedfordshire|Willington]]
*[[Woburn, Bedfordshire|Woburn]]
*[[Wootton, Bedfordshire|Wootton]]
|}
==Places of interest==
<div style="float:right;">
{{EngPlacesKey}}
</div>
{|
| valign="top" |
*[[Bedford Blues]]
*[[Image:Museum icon.png]] [[Bedford Museum]]
*[[Image:EH icon.svg]] [[Bedford Castle]]
*[[Corn Exchange, Bedford|Bedford Corn Exchange]]
*[[Cardington, Bedfordshire|Cardington]] ([[R101]] hangar)
*[[Cecil Higgins Gallery]]
*[[Chicksands]]
*[[Image:EH icon.svg]] [[De Grey Mausoleum]]
*[[Image:NTE icon.png]] [[Dunstable Downs]]
*[[Image:Museum icon (red).png]] [[Elstow Moot Hall]]
*[[Image:CP icon.png]] [[Harrold Odell Country Park]]
*[[Hoo Hill Maze]]
*[[Image:EH icon.svg]] [[Houghton House]]
*[[Image:HR icon.png]] [[Leighton Buzzard Light Railway]]
*[[Image:HH icon.png]] [[Luton Hoo]]
*[[Image:Museum icon.png]] [[Luton Museum & Art Gallery]]
*[[Image:UKAL icon.png]] [[Marston Vale Community Forest]]
*[[Image:CP icon.png]] [[Priory Country Park]]
*[[Image:Museum icon.png]] [[Mossman Collection]]
*[[Image:Museum icon.png]] [[RAF Henlow]]
| valign="top" |
*[[RSPB The Lodge|RSPB The Lodge, Sandy]]
* [[Someries castle]]
*[[Image:Museum icon (red).png]] [[The Shuttleworth Collection]]
*[[Stevington Windmill]]
*[[Swiss gardens, Old Warden]][http://www.shuttleworth.org/swissgardens/]
*[[Image:Museum icon.png]] [[Stockwood Craft Museum]]
*[[Image:CP icon.png]] [[Stewartby Lake]]
*[[Image:UKAL icon.png]][[Waulud's Bank]]
*[[Charles Wells]] Brewery
*[[Image:Museum icon (red).png]] [[Whipsnade Wildlife Park]]
*[[Image:NTE icon.png]] [[Whipsnade Tree Cathedral]]
*[[Image:NTE icon.png]] [[Willington Dovecote & Stables]]
*[[Image:HH icon.png]] [[Woburn Abbey]]
*[[Image:Museum icon (red).png]] [[Woburn Safari Park]]
*[[Image:EH icon.svg]] [[Wrest Park Gardens]]
|}
==List of notable Bedfordians==
{|
| valign="top" |
*[[Harold Abrahams]]
*[[Mick Abrahams]]
*[[Ronnie Barker]]
*[[Martin Bayfield]]
*[[Matt Berry]]
*[[Lady Margaret Beaufort]]
*[[John Bunyan]]
*[[Alastair Cook]]
*[[Tim Foster]]
| valign="top" |
*[[John Gosling]]
*[[Arthur Hailey]]
*[[William Harpur|Sir William Harpur]]
*[[Asher Hucklesby]]
*[[Trevor Huddleston]]
*[[Sir Alec Jeffreys]]
*[[Andy Johnson (English footballer)|Andy Johnson]]
<!-- *[[Steven Linsdell]] No article means not notable -->
*[[John Le Mesurier]]
*[[William Morgan (Australian politician)|Sir William Morgan]]
| valign="top" |
*[[Monty Panesar]]
*[[Sir Joseph Paxton]]
*[[Paula Radcliffe]]
*[[William Hale White|Mark Rutherford]]
*[[Matt Skelton]]
*[[Sir Malcolm Stewart]]
*[[Carol Vorderman]]
*[[Charles Wells]]
*[[Paul Young]]
*[[Ben Whishaw]]
|}
==Bibliographic References==
* ''History of Bedfordshire 1066-1888'' by Joyce Godber <ref name=Godber> Detail from a copy of ''History of Bedfordshire'' published by [[Bedfordshire County Council]] in 1969 with no ISBN </ref>
* ''A Bedfordshire Bibliography'' by L R Conisbe published in 1962 with a supplement in 1967 <ref name=Godber/>
* ''Bedfordshire Historical Record Society'' by H O White (published annually). <ref name=Godber/>
* ''Guide to the Bedfordshire Record Office'' 1957 with supplements. <ref name=Godber/>
* ''Guide to the Russell Estate Collections'' Published in 1966. <ref name=Godber/>
* ''Elstow Moot Hall leaflets'' On [[John Bunyan]] and 17th Century Subjects <ref name=Godber/>
* ''A Bedfordshire [[Flora]]'' by John Dony <ref name=Godber/>
* ''[[Luton]] and the Hat Industry'' by John Dony <ref name=Godber/>
* ''Pillow Lace in the East Midlands'' by [[Charles Freeman (history writer)|Charles Freeman]] <ref name=Godber/>
* ''Bedfordshire Magazine'' (Published Quarterley) <ref name=Godber/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.theatrenights.com/index.php?list=Events&location=2 Local Theatre in Bedfordshire]
*[http://dmoz.org/Regional/Europe/United_Kingdom/England/Bedfordshire/ Bedfordshire DMOZ directory]
* [http://www.gay-bedfordshire.co.uk Men4Men SHOP] Provides sexual health information and support to men who have sex with men in Bedfordshire (England)
<br>
{{England counties}}
[[Category:Bedfordshire| ]]
[[ar:بيدفوردشير]]
[[bn:বেডফোর্ডশার]]
[[cy:Swydd Bedford]]
[[da:Bedfordshire]]
[[de:Bedfordshire]]
[[es:Bedfordshire]]
[[eo:Bedfordshire]]
[[eu:Bedfordshire]]
[[fr:Bedfordshire]]
[[hi:बेडफ़र्डशायर]]
[[id:Bedfordshire]]
[[is:Bedfordshire]]
[[it:Bedfordshire]]
[[la:Bedfordiensis comitatus]]
[[lv:Bedfordšīra]]
[[lb:Bedfordshire]]
[[nl:Bedfordshire]]
[[ja:ベッドフォードシャー]]
[[no:Bedfordshire]]
[[nn:Bedfordshire]]
[[pl:Bedfordshire]]
[[pt:Bedfordshire]]
[[ro:Bedfordshire]]
[[ru:Бедфордшир]]
[[simple:Bedfordshire]]
[[sk:Bedfordshire]]
[[fi:Bedfordshire]]
[[sv:Bedfordshire]]
[[vo:Bedfordshire]]
[[zh:貝德福德郡]]