Difference between revisions of "Bedfordshire"

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[[Category:Region 5 ~ Eastern England]]
[[Image:bedfordshire.jpg|250px|thumb|Tomb at All Saints Churchyard Turvey submitted by Jess]]
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|The smallest of the 'Shire' counties, Bedfordshire has no cities but is home to the fine market towns of Bedford, Luton, Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard.
<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
 
  
Bedfordshire (abbreviated Beds) is a county in England that forms part of the East of England region.
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Whipsnade Park Zoo near Dunstable, the chalky downs, and Woburn Abbey, the home of the Duke of Bedford are important attractions.
  
Its county town is Bedford. It borders Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire (with the Borough of Milton Keynes) and Hertfordshire.
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The north of the county was mainly agricultural and the south mostly industrial, especially in the town of Luton, which is famous for hat making.
  
The highest elevation point is 243 metres (797 feet) on Dunstable Downs in the Chilterns.
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Bedfordshire was the birthplace of John Bunyan, author of 'Pilgrim's Progress' which he wrote whilst imprisoned in Bedford Gaol.
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'''County town:''' Bedford
  
The county motto is "Constant Be", which is taken from the hymn 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.[1]
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'''Other major towns:''' Luton and Dunstable
  
The traditional nickname for people from Bedfordshire is "Bedfordshire Bulldogs" or "Clangers", this last deriving from a local dish comprising a suet crust dumpling filled with meat or jam or both.
 
  
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'''[[Places_of_Worship:Bedfordshire | Bedfordshire Places of Worship]]'''
  
  
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'''[https://www.familytreeforum.com/forum/site-projects/regional-projects Regional Projects Forum]'''
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| [[Image: EnglandBedfordshire.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Source: Wikipedia]]
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|}
  
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==Resources==
  
==Register Offices==
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'''Primary Reference'''
  
=====Bedfordshire District Register Office=====
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*[http://www.bedscc.gov.uk/CommunityAndLiving/ArchivesAndRecordOffice/ArchivesAndRecordOffice.aspx '''Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Record Service''']
Pilgrim Centre<br>
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20 Brickhill Drive<br>
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*[http://blars.adlibsoft.com/ Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service Online Catalogue]
Bedford<br>
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MK41 7PZ
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*[http://www.bfhs.org.uk/ Bedfordshire Family History Society]
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*[http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/community-and-living/libraries/default.aspx Bedfordshire Libraries]
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*[http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/cgi-bin/vlib.sh Bedfordshire Virtual Library]
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*[http://www.parishregisteruklook-upexchange.co.uk/parishregistersac.htm Parish Register UK Look-up Exchange]
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'''Countywide Interest'''
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*[http://www.edintone.com/pages/bapt6.html Baptist Ministers in Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire 1753-1835]
  
Tel: 01234 290450
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*[http://www.countyviews.com/beds/church.htm Bedfordshire Churches]
  
''Use caution if you google for this office,the only result I have found has a link to order a certificate online through a third party certificate supplier.The cost is £25,to ensure you are not paying more than the usual £7 fee please contact the office direct''
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*[http://www.schools.bedfordshire.gov.uk/gaol/contents.htm 19th Century Bedford Gaol ]
  
=====Luton Register Office=====
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*[http://www.cus.cam.ac.uk/~jld1/family/p1722h.html Bedfordshire Poll Book 1722]
6 George St West<br>
 
Luton
 
  
Tel: 01582 722603<br>
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*[http://www.cus.cam.ac.uk/~jld1/family/p1784h.html Bedfordshire Poll Book 1784]
email: registration@luton.gov.uk
 
  
==Record Office Lookup Requests==
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*[http://www.cb5.co.uk/Bedford-poorhouse1871.htm Bedford Poorhouse 1871]
  
Please read the [[Record Office Lookup - Terms and Conditions|Terms and Conditions]] before requesting a lookup.
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*[http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/BDF/BEDFORD.txt 1851 Census of Bedford Prison]
  
By requesting a lookup you are agreeing to the Terms and Conditions as linked above.
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*[http://www.bedfordshirehrs.org.uk/index.aspx Bedfordshire Historical Record Society]
  
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*[http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~hughw/bedf.html Bedfordshire Surnames List]
  
'''Record Office Lookup Contacts'''
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*[http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.wla/wla_home.htm Bedfordshire Womens Land Army]
  
*Dunstable and Luton. ''Monthly'' [http://www.familytreeforum.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=309 Willow the Wisp] '''NOT''' during sch hols
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*[http://www.localancestors.com/ Local Ancestors]  
  
  
==Cemetery Lookup Requests==
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'''Specific Town and Village Interest'''
  
Please read the [[Cemetery Lookup -Terms and Conditions|Terms and Conditions]] before requesting a lookup.
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*[http://www.ampthillhistory.co.uk/ Ampthill History Forum]
  
By requesting a lookup you are agreeing to the Terms and Conditions as linked above.
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*[http://www.ampthillimages.com/ Ampthill Images]
  
'''Cemetery Lookup Contacts'''
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*[http://www.biggleswadehistory.org.uk/ Biggleswade History Society]
  
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*[http://www.camptonandchicksands.org.uk/index.htm Campton and Chicksands Parish]
  
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*[http://www.cople.org.uk/index.asp Cople]
  
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*[http://www.eatonbray.com/history/ Eaton Bray]
  
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*[http://www.escan.org.uk/  Eatons Community Association - Eaton Socon and Eaton Ford] BMDs, Census Transcripts, Electoral Rolls
  
==Links==
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*[http://www.felmersham.net/churchyard.htm Felmersham Churchyard]
  
*[http://www.familytreeforum.com/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.familia.org.uk%2Fservices%2Fengland%2Fbedfordshire.html Library Link Bedfordshire Library ]
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*[http://www.sgibbs1.freeserve.co.uk/gtbarford/ Great Barford Parish Register and 1841-1901 Census Transcripts]
  
*[http://www.familytreeforum.com/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bfhs.org.uk%2F FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY]
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*[http://www.harrold.info/comlinks/pcouncil.html Harrold-on-line]
  
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*[http://clutch.open.ac.uk/schools/husborne01/home.html Husborne Crawley]
  
'''OPC'''
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*[http://www.leighton-linslade.com/lbo/index.php Index to the Leighton Buzzard Observer]
  
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*[http://www.leighton-linslade.com/index.html Leighton-Linslade Past Times] includes Billington, Eggington, Heath & Reach, and Stanbridge
  
'''Local History Society'''
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*[http://www.oakleyvillage.co.uk/ Oakley Village]
*[http://www.familytreeforum.com/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.local-history.co.uk%2FGroups%2Fbeds.html Local History Society Gateway]
 
  
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*[http://www.ravensden.org.uk/ Ravensden Village]
  
'''Archives'''
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*[http://www.all-saints-church-renhold.org/parishregisters/parishregisters.htm Renold - Parish Registers of All Saints Church]
*[http://www.familytreeforum.com/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bedfordshire.gov.uk%2Farchive Bedfordshire Archives]
 
*[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~hughwallis/IGIBatchNumbers/CountyBedford.htm#PageTitle IGI Bedfordshire]
 
  
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*[http://www.sharnbrookonline.co.uk/index.htm Sharnbrook Online]
  
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*[http://www.cb5.co.uk/1851censusstevington.htm Stevington Parish]
  
'''Family and social history '''
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*[http://turvey.homestead.com/sitemap.html Turvey]
*[http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~hughw/bedf.html The Bedfordshire Surnames List]
 
  
*[http://www.schools.bedfordshire.gov.uk/gaol/contents.htm 19th Century Bedford Gaol ]
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*[http://www.familytreeforum.com/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.woburnabbey.co.uk%2F Woburn Abbey]
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*[http://www.vmine.net/woburn/ Woburn Rates Book]
  
*[http://www.familytreeforum.com/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.institutions.org.uk%2Fworkhouses%2Fengland%2Fbeds%2Fbedfordshire_workhouses.htm Bedfordshire Workhouses]
 
  
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'''Maps and Photographs'''
  
'''Maps & Photographs'''
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*[http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/CommunityAndLiving/ArchivesAndRecordOffice/CommunityArchives/CommunityArchivesPages.aspx Bedfordshire Maps and Photographs]
  
 
*[http://www.countyviews.com/beds/index.htm Bedfordshire Towns & Villages Photo Album]
 
*[http://www.countyviews.com/beds/index.htm Bedfordshire Towns & Villages Photo Album]
  
  
'''Countywide interest'''
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'''Books of local interest'''
*[http://www.familytreeforum.com/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cus.cam.ac.uk%2F%7Ejld1%2Ffamily%2Fp1784h.html Bedfordshire Poll Book 1784]
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==Register Office==
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'''Bedfordshire District Register Office'''
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Pilgrim Centre<br>
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20 Brickhill Drive<br>
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Bedford<br>
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MK41 7PZ <br>
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Tel: 01234 290450<br>
  
*[http://www.familytreeforum.com/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cus.cam.ac.uk%2F%7Ejld1%2Ffamily%2Fp1722h.html Bedfordshire Poll Book 1722]
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''Use caution if you ‘google’ for this office, the only result found has a link to order a certificate online through a third party certificate supplier. The cost is £25, so to ensure you are not paying more than the usual £7 fee please contact the office direct''
  
  
''' Specific Town Village interest'''
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'''Luton Register Office'''
*[http://www.ampthillhistory.co.uk/ Ampthill History Forum]
 
  
*[http://www.escan.org.uk/  Eatons Community Association] website covering the old village areas of Eaton Socon and Eaton Ford, once in Bedfordshire but now in Cambridgeshire.
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6 George St West<br>
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Luton <br>
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Tel: 01582 722603<br>
  
*[http://www.familytreeforum.com/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.escan.org.uk%2F Eaton Socon] Very useful site with online searchable census, electoral roll, marriages, burials, school register, photographs, etc.
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Email: registration@luton.gov.uk<br>
  
*[http://www.familytreeforum.com/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.felmersham48.freeserve.co.uk%2F%2Fchurchyard.htm St Mary's Church, Felmersham, Bedfordshire, Churchyard Survey 1918]
 
  
*[http://www.familytreeforum.com/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sgibbs1.freeserve.co.uk%2Fgtbarford%2Findex.htm PARISH RECORDS (Gt.Barford)]
 
  
*[http://clutch.open.ac.uk/schools/husborne01/home.html Husborne Crawley]
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==Requests for Research and Photographs in this area==
  
*[http://www.leighton-linslade.com/lbo/index.php Index to the Leighton Buzzard Observer]
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Please read the [http://www.familytreeforum.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Research_Offers Terms and Conditions] before requesting a lookup.<br>
  
*[http://www.familytreeforum.com/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.woburnabbey.co.uk%2F Woburn Abbey]
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A list of members who have volunteered to do Research lookups or take photographs can be found in the [http://www.familytreeforum.com/research-offers/ Research Offers forum]  or on the following pages in the Wiki:<br>
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*[[Research Offers: Cemetery]]
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*[[Research Offers: Photograph]]
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*[[Research Offers: Probate]]
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*[[Research Offers: Record Office/Archive]]
  
<br><br>Back to [[England]]
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If any member wishes to offer to do lookups or take photographs in a particular location,  please leave a message on our  [http://www.familytreeforum.com/research-offers/73000-volunteers-needed-records-office-cemetery-lookups-photos.html Volunteers Needed thread].
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<br><br><br><br>
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Back to [[England]]

Latest revision as of 08:04, 16 May 2023

The smallest of the 'Shire' counties, Bedfordshire has no cities but is home to the fine market towns of Bedford, Luton, Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard.

Whipsnade Park Zoo near Dunstable, the chalky downs, and Woburn Abbey, the home of the Duke of Bedford are important attractions.

The north of the county was mainly agricultural and the south mostly industrial, especially in the town of Luton, which is famous for hat making.

Bedfordshire was the birthplace of John Bunyan, author of 'Pilgrim's Progress' which he wrote whilst imprisoned in Bedford Gaol.

County town: Bedford


Other major towns: Luton and Dunstable


Bedfordshire Places of Worship


Regional Projects Forum

Source: Wikipedia

Resources

Primary Reference


Countywide Interest


Specific Town and Village Interest


Maps and Photographs


Books of local interest

Register Office

Bedfordshire District Register Office

Pilgrim Centre
20 Brickhill Drive
Bedford
MK41 7PZ
Tel: 01234 290450

Use caution if you ‘google’ for this office, the only result found has a link to order a certificate online through a third party certificate supplier. The cost is £25, so to ensure you are not paying more than the usual £7 fee please contact the office direct


Luton Register Office

6 George St West
Luton
Tel: 01582 722603

Email: registration@luton.gov.uk


Requests for Research and Photographs in this area

Please read the Terms and Conditions before requesting a lookup.

A list of members who have volunteered to do Research lookups or take photographs can be found in the Research Offers forum or on the following pages in the Wiki:

If any member wishes to offer to do lookups or take photographs in a particular location, please leave a message on our Volunteers Needed thread.



Back to England