Shefford, Bedfordshire
Encyclopedia
Shefford is a small town and civil parish located in the Central Bedfordshire
district of Bedfordshire
, England
. At the 2001 census it had a population of 4,928, although this was estimated to have grown to 5,770 by 2007.
(orphanage) that was situated on High Street next to the Roman Catholic Church
dedicated to St Francis of Assisi. The church remains in use as a place of worship. The orphanage buildings, which are seen on the right of the picture, have been turned into flats. The orphanage buildings are the most imposing in the town and date from the 1880s. Many files regarding the home can be found at the Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service
at Borough Hall in Bedford
. There are Home Office
and Department for Education
Inspection Reports available that cover the period from 1962 to 1969.
During World War II
an entire Jewish children's community came into being in Shefford as evacuees from Europe were billeted in and around the town as part of "Operation Pied Piper Tomorrow".
The River Flit
and the River Hit run through the town. The Flit runs from Flitwick
and joins the River Ivel
on the edge of Shefford. The Ivel eventually joins the River Great Ouse
just north of Sandy
.
The name Shefford is derived from sheep-ford due to the fact there had been a sheep market and ford crossings over the two rivers that ran through the town.
Robert Bloomfield
the poet died in penury in Shefford in 1823.
Shefford Hardwick was a hamlet
located west of the parish, north of Ampthill Road. The rural settlement became a civil parish in its own right in 1858, but was merged into the parish of Shefford in 1933 as the town expanded.
There is a small supermarket and a public library.
The town has a scout group
, and a local Army Cadet Force
hut at Chicksands
on the Army Intelligence Corps base, which is part of Bedfordshire ACF, in A company.
Samuel Whitbread Community College
, which holds Specialist Engineering College
status, Robert Bloomfield Academy which has a Grade 1 (outstanding) Ofsted report, Shefford Lower School and Shefford Nursery.
Central Bedfordshire
Central Bedfordshire is a unitary authority in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. It was created from the merger of Bedfordshire County Council, Mid Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire on 1 April 2009...
district of Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. At the 2001 census it had a population of 4,928, although this was estimated to have grown to 5,770 by 2007.
History
Between 1868 and 1974 Shefford was the site of St Francis' Boy's HomeSt Francis' Boy's Home
St Francis' Boy's Home in Shefford, Bedfordshire was the longest serving children's home in England.Founded in 1868, it played a vital role in providing care provision for children who could not live at home...
(orphanage) that was situated on High Street next to the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
dedicated to St Francis of Assisi. The church remains in use as a place of worship. The orphanage buildings, which are seen on the right of the picture, have been turned into flats. The orphanage buildings are the most imposing in the town and date from the 1880s. Many files regarding the home can be found at the Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service
Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service
The Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service is a county record office, holding archival material associated with Bedfordshire and Luton. Established in 1913 by George Herbert Fowler as the Bedfordshire Record Office, it was the first county record office in England. It is located in...
at Borough Hall in Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
. There are Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
and Department for Education
Department for Education
The Department for Education is a department of the UK government responsible for issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including child protection and education....
Inspection Reports available that cover the period from 1962 to 1969.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
an entire Jewish children's community came into being in Shefford as evacuees from Europe were billeted in and around the town as part of "Operation Pied Piper Tomorrow".
The River Flit
River Flit
The River Flit is a short river in Bedfordshire, England. It flows through Flitwick, then past Greenfield and Flitton, then through Clophill, Chicksands, and Shefford, then past Stanford, before meeting the River Ivel at Langford....
and the River Hit run through the town. The Flit runs from Flitwick
Flitwick
Flitwick, pronounced , is a small town and civil parish in Central Bedfordshire, England. The nearby River Flit runs through Flitwick Moor, a nature reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.-Location:...
and joins the River Ivel
River Ivel
The River Ivel is a river in the east of England. It is a tributary of the River Great Ouse.-Course of the Ivel:The river Ivel rises just north of Baldock in Hertfordshire, but most of its course lies within Bedfordshire. It flows through Stotfold, Arlesey, Henlow, Langford, Biggleswade, Sandy and...
on the edge of Shefford. The Ivel eventually joins the River Great Ouse
River Great Ouse
The Great Ouse is a river in the east of England. At long, it is the fourth-longest river in the United Kingdom. The river has been important for navigation, and for draining the low-lying region through which it flows. Its course has been modified several times, with the first recorded being in...
just north of Sandy
Sandy, Bedfordshire
Sandy is a small market town and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England. It is between Cambridge and Bedford, and on the A1 road from London to Edinburgh. The area is dominated by a range of hills known as the Sand Hills. The River Ivel runs through Sandy. The dedication of the Anglican church is to...
.
The name Shefford is derived from sheep-ford due to the fact there had been a sheep market and ford crossings over the two rivers that ran through the town.
Robert Bloomfield
Robert Bloomfield
Robert Bloomfield was an English labouring class poet whose work is appreciated in the context of other self-educated writers such as Stephen Duck, Mary Collier and John Clare.-Life:...
the poet died in penury in Shefford in 1823.
Shefford Hardwick was a hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
located west of the parish, north of Ampthill Road. The rural settlement became a civil parish in its own right in 1858, but was merged into the parish of Shefford in 1933 as the town expanded.
Facilities
Shefford incorporates a fire station, bowls club and a brewery. As well as this, it has various pubs and restaurants, including Chinese takeaways, Indian takeaways and restaurants and a fish and chip shop. Shefford has 2 petrol stations, two car dealers, a bank and a pharmacy. There are three estate agents, an electrical shop, two florists, a second-hand clothes shop, an angling centre and a bakery. There are two small cafe and cake/sandwich shops. There is also a post office with sorting facilities. There is also an ironmonger's.There is a small supermarket and a public library.
The town has a scout group
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
, and a local Army Cadet Force
Army Cadet Force
The Army Cadet Force is a British youth organisation that offers progressive training in a multitude of the subjects from military training to adventurous training and first aid, at the same time as promoting achievement, discipline, and good citizenship, to boys and girls aged 12 to 18 and 9...
hut at Chicksands
Chicksands
Chicksands is a village in the Central Bedfordshire district of Bedfordshire, England and part of the civil parish of Campton and Chicksands . It is on the River Flit. Nearby places are Shefford and Campton....
on the Army Intelligence Corps base, which is part of Bedfordshire ACF, in A company.
Education
The areas around Shefford are served by the secondary schoolSecondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
Samuel Whitbread Community College
Samuel Whitbread Community College
Samuel Whitbread Community College serves the rural communities around the small market town of Shefford in Central Bedfordshire. It consists of an expanding upper school for years 13-18, a nursery school and facilities for adult education...
, which holds Specialist Engineering College
Engineering college
Engineering colleges generally refer to institutes of higher education which offer an engineering course at degree level. The duration of the course is four to five years depending upon the university to which the college is affiliated. The students learn little of basic science concentrating...
status, Robert Bloomfield Academy which has a Grade 1 (outstanding) Ofsted report, Shefford Lower School and Shefford Nursery.
External links
- Shefford Town Council website
- Shefford pages at the Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service