Clapham, Bedfordshire

Last updated

Clapham
Church, Clapham (geograph 3635720).jpg
Clapham St Thomas parish church
Bedfordshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Clapham
Location within Bedfordshire
Population3,643 (2001)
4,560 (2011 Census) [1]
OS grid reference TL024529
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town BEDFORD
Postcode district MK41
Dialling code 01234
Police Bedfordshire
Fire Bedfordshire and Luton
Ambulance East of England
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Bedfordshire
52°09′54″N0°30′07″W / 52.164892°N 0.501964°W / 52.164892; -0.501964

Clapham is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire, England. It had a population of 3,643 as at the 2001 census, [2] increasing to 4,560 at the 2011 Census. [1]

Contents

Originally the A6 road passed through the village, but a bypass was built in 2002.

Points of interest

Clapham Park, a large new country house, was built by James Howard, member of parliament for Bedford, in 1872. [3]

RAF Twinwood Farm, a disused airfield on the western outskirts of the village, is where the famous bandleader Glenn Miller took off on his last fateful flight, having performed for the American soldiers based at the airfield and at Bedford Corn Exchange. The site now hosts the Glenn Miller/Twinwood museum, with an annual Twinwood Festival.

Thatched cottage Thatched cottage on Bedford Road - geograph.org.uk - 7332303.jpg
Thatched cottage

Woodlands Manor was built in 1812 by Thomas Dawson, and has been in use as a hotel since 1973. [4]

The Horse & Groom pub in 2022 The Horse ^ Groom - geograph.org.uk - 7332334.jpg
The Horse & Groom pub in 2022

The high street has a number of local shops, takeaways, and two remaining public houses - The Horse & Groom and Fox & Hounds (the village had as many as four pubs and two social clubs in the 1990s).

It has a parish church, St Thomas of Canterbury, and a primary school, Ursula Taylor. [5]

Sport and recreation

Clapham has a King George V Field in memorial to King George V.

Bedford and County golf club is situated on Green Lane in the village.

The village hall hosts many community activities including the annual village show. [6]

On the edge of the village entering Bedford, there is a sports and health club and gym.

The Twinwood Arena hosted the Rhythm Festival in the early 00s.

References

  1. 1 2 "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  2. ↑ "Neighbourhood Statistics - Clapham (CP) Parish". Office for National Statistics . Retrieved 4 February 2008.
  3. ↑ "Bedford Archives - Community Histories - Clapham Park". Bedford Borough Council .
  4. ↑ "Bedford Archives - Community Histories - Woodlands Manor Hotel". Bedford Borough Council .
  5. ↑ "Places I've visited – Clapham". Ianmeadows.me.uk.
  6. ↑ "Clapham Village Hall". Claphamvillagehall.com.
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