Bedfordshire is a geographic, ceremonial, and historic county in the East of England.[1] It is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Cambridgeshire to the northeast, Hertfordshire to the south and southeast, and Buckinghamshire to the west.[2] The county covers an area of approximately 1,235 square kilometers (477 square miles).[3] It is one of the smallest counties in England, three only containing a less area, viz., Huntingdon, Middlesex, and Rutland.
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Bedfordshire: landscape, agriculture, and attractionsBedfordshire: landscape, agriculture, and attractions
The largest town in Bedfordshire is Luton with a population of 225,300 in 2021.[4] There is no major mineral production in county except for limestone and chalk-marl which is burned for lime. [5] The East of England Agricultural Society, which includes Bedfordshire, was established in 1797.[6] In 2022, the largest agricultural contributors in the East of England region, including Bedfordshire, with a gross output value (£4.5 billion) were wheat (£1.0 billion), poultry meat (£658 million) and fresh vegetables (£406 million). These commodities accounted for 46% of the total output.[7]
Some of the places to visit in Bedfordshire county include: Woburn Abbey, a magnificent stately home, isurrounded by beautiful gardens with a collection of rare animals, Sherwood Forest, while primarily located in Nottinghamshire, Sherwood Forest extends into Bedfordshire, offering visitors the chance to explore the legendary home of Robin Hood. Stockwood Discovery Centre, an interactive museum showcases the history and culture of Bedfordshire, with exhibits on local industries, archaeology, and natural history, Dunstable Downs where chalky downs offer stunning views of the surrounding countryside and are popular for walking, hiking, and paragliding, Ampthill Park, a beautiful park features landscaped gardens, a lake, and a children's play area.
Bedfordshire HistoryBedfordshire History
The origin of Bedford, as a county, goes back to medieval and feudal times. The division of England into shires began in the mid-Saxon period. The 48 historic counties in England began to change as early as 1888 when local government areas were created.[8] The Local Government Act of 1888 defined administrative areas called administrative counties (two-tier local government) with a second adminstrative area called county boroughs (single-tier local government areas).[8] As an administrative county, Bedfordshire was abolished in 2009 and replaced by two of its three former districts. Mid Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire were reconstituted as the new unitary authority of Central Bedfordshire, while the third, the borough of Bedford, was also designated as a unitary authority. The city of Luton is also a unitary authority. However, the historic counties continue in existence and are still relevant to genealogical and historical research and are used by many archives and websites to organize genealogical records in England.[9]
Bedfordshire is at the heart of ancient Britain. The Icknield Way, possibly the oldest footpath in the country, runs through the area along the Dunstable Downs and skirting the Barton Way Nature Reserve. Dunstable itself is traceable back to Roman times, when its name was Durocobrivis.[10] After the Roman withdrawal, the area was settled by Anglo-Saxons and Danes. Bedford itself was founded by Danes.[2]
Bedfordshire has a rich history dating back to the Iron Age. It played a significant role during the Roman occupation, with several Roman roads and settlements found within its borders.[11] Bedford was granted a town charter in 1166 by King Henry II and grew as a centre for the wool trade. It later became a powerhouse of England’s lace industry, aided by the River Great Ouse becoming navigable in 1689. It was also a centre for religious thinkers.[12] In 1660, author John Bunyan, best known for his allegorical masterpiece “The Pilgrim’s Progress,” was imprisoned in Bedford Gaol for his nonconformist religious beliefs.[13]
During the 19th and 20th Centuries, Bedfordshire increased in ethnic diversity with immigrants from Italy, Latvia, Serbia, and Poland. Later, additional immigrants came from Pakistan, Africa, Cyprus, and America.
Bedfordshire parishes and unparished areasBedfordshire parishes and unparished areas
There are 125 civil parishes in Bedfordshire. There is also some unparished areas such as the city of Luton.[14]
Bedfordshire geographyBedfordshire geography
Bedfordshire has a diverse landscape, which includes rolling hills, fertile plains, and chalky downs. The River Great Ouse flows through the county, forming a significant waterway. The rest of the county forms part of the broad drainage basin of the River Great Ouse and its tributaries. The county's geography has influenced its agriculture, with arable farming being a major industry.[15]
The southern part of the county is characterized by the chalk ridge known as the Chiltern Hills. The highest elevation in Bedfordshire is 243 meters (797 feet) on Dunstable Downs in the Chilterns.
Researching family history in BedfordshireResearching family history in Bedfordshire
The Bedfordshire Archives collects, preserves and makes available the documentary heritage of the historic county of Bedfordshire and its people. The General Register Office is part of His Majesty's Passport Office and oversees civil registration in England and Wales. It maintains the national archive of all births, marriages and deaths dating back to 1837. The Bedford Registry Office, the Central Bedfordshire Registry Office the Luton Register Office record births, marriages, and deaths. The Bedfordshire Family History Society was formed in 1977 to encourage the study of Family History. The Bedfordshire Historical Record Society has been in existence for more than a hundred years. There are also a number of local history societies that belong to the Bedfordshire Local History Association.
Ethnicities in BedfordshireEthnicities in Bedfordshire
According to the 2021 Bedfordshire county census 72.0% people are white, 16.6% people are asian, 5.6% people are black.44.6% are Christian, 32.5% have no religion, 12.9% are Muslim.
Surnames in BedfordshireSurnames in Bedfordshire
Explore more about English countiesExplore more about English counties
MyHeritage.com has 351 collections that contain millions of English records that cover a huge variety of genealogical historical events that can help you find your ancestors. The MyHeritage Knowledge Base contains helpful information about genealogical research. The Legacy Family Tree Webinars website contains more than 2000 valuable genealogical webinars including over 50 webinars about English research.
See alsoSee also
- English genealogy
- English immigration
- English emigration
- English archives
- England historical records
- Vital records in England
- Birth records in England
- Death records in England
- Marriage records in England
- Census records in England
- Civil registrations in England
- Church records in England
- Newspaper records in England
- English military records
References
- ↑ Your Guide to the 48 Counties in England
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bedfordshire | England, Map, History, & Facts | Britannica
- ↑ Bedfordshire, England - genealogy heraldry and history
- ↑ How life has changed in Luton: Census 2021
- ↑ Genuki: Bedfordshire, Bedfordshire, England. Further historical information., Bedfordshire
- ↑ Our History
- ↑ Agricultural facts: East of England region
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Why the Confusion?
- ↑ All 48 Current England Counties List 2024
- ↑ History and heritage of Bedfordshire
- ↑ Life in Roman Bedfordshire
- ↑ History and heritage of Befordshire
- ↑ History Of Bedford - The Bedford Guide
- ↑ Genuki: Bedfordshire, England: alphabetical list of parishes., Bedfordshire
- ↑ Bedfordshire Growers – Supplying quality product all year round. – We have a long tradition in horticulture and farming. We aim to supply our customers with the best quality produce all year round.