Clapham, Bedfordshire

Clapham
Clapham St Thomas parish church
Clapham Location within Bedfordshire
Population	3,643 (2001) 4,560 (2011 Census) [1]
OS grid reference	TL024529
Unitary authority	Bedford
Ceremonial county	Bedfordshire
Region	East
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	North East Bedfordshire
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]

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

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 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 into the late 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.

On the edge of the village entering Bedford, a sports and health club and gym has recently been built.

References

1. "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.

External links

• Clapham community website
• Clapham Historical Society
• Twinwood's Music Festival