Stanford, Bedfordshire

Clifton is a village and civil parish in the English county of Bedfordshire. The original hundred of Clifton is named after it. The original "hundred" comprised: The Parishes of Arlesey; Campton-Cum-Shefford; Chicksands; Clifton; Henlow; Holwell; Meppershall; part of Shillington; Lower Stondon; Little Holwell; Stotfold; Upper Stondon.The first recorded reference to Clifton is in 944 when it is referred to as Cliftune. Clifton is also mentioned in the Domesday Book. The entry reads: Cliftone: William de Cairon from Bishop of Lincoln, Eudo FitzHubert and Nigel d'Aubigny; Leofwin from St. Benedict's of Ramsey; Alwin from Countess Judith. 2 mills. All Saints Church, built in the 14th and 15th centuries was heavily restored in the nineteenth century. Clifton village is now a popular place to live as a consequence of its good transport links and proximity to the railway station at Arlesey. Clifton was voted Bedfordshire Village of the Year in 2003, 2005 and 2009. It is today largely residential, but in the past it was a centre for straw plaiting. The original All Saints school was a "Straw Plait School" where children were expected to learn to plait straw from as young as four years of age. They would also be taught to read. There was also once a small factory producing bottled drinks. Harwoods Mineral Water Factory operated from 1880 until 1947. Harwoods produced Hops Bitters, Cherry Cider, Stone Ginger Beer, Lime Juice and Soda, and Ginger Ale and sold them to the pubs and shops of all the surrounding villages. Samuel Whitbread Academy is also located in the village of Clifton. Clifton was visited by the Queen and Prince Philip on 17 November 2006 as part of a visit to reopen the school. Facilities in Clifton include a lower school, butcher, post office/village store and two public houses (The Golden Lion and The Admiral). There is also an Indian restaurant, garage, petrol station and a hairdresser. There is a small group of businesses located in converted farm buildings at Clifton Bury farm. At the northern edge of the village is Clifton Cricket Club which plays at the Claybridge Ground. Football is played at the Recreation ground. The Community Centre, with its large car park, is located at the Northern end of the Recreation Ground. All Saints’ Church Hall is situated in Stanford Lane. There is a duckpond in the centre of the village. English actor Ben Whishaw was born and grew up in Clifton.

Southill is a rural village and civil parish in the Central Bedfordshire district of the county of Bedfordshire, England; about 8 miles (13 km) south-east of the county town of Bedford. The 2011 census showed the population for the civil parish as 1,192. The civil parish includes the villages of Broom and Stanford and the hamlet of Ireland Its eastern fields are on the plain of the River Ivel; its west is hilly. The village centre is located in a close cluster. The principal residence, Southill Park, was one of at least four manors, and was for three generations the home of the local branch of the landed Byng family, the Viscounts Torrington, Navy admirals, by whom it was sold at the end of the 18th century to industrialist Samuel Whitbread. Admiral John Byng is buried in All Saints Church, which is a 14th and 15th century church embellished in 1814.

The Bedford–Hitchin line was a branch of the Midland Railway which served stations at Cardington, Southill, Shefford and Henlow Camp in Bedfordshire, England. It opened in 1857, but was largely made redundant as a through-route to London by the extension of the Midland Main Line to St Pancras. The last passenger train ran in December 1961, yet goods services lingered on until 1964.

Broom is a small village in the Central Bedfordshire district of the county of Bedfordshire, England about 8.5 miles (14 km) south-east of the county town of Bedford. The 2011 census shows its population as 579.

Langford Football Club is a football club based in Langford, Bedfordshire, England. Affiliated to the Bedfordshire Football Association, they are currently members of the Spartan South Midlands League Division One and play at Forde Park.

The Cock is a Grade II listed pub at 23 High Street, Broom, Bedfordshire SG18 9NA.It is on the Campaign for Real Ale's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors.It was built in the mid-19th century. Unusually complete C19 pub interior of pine fittings including dado panelled skittles room with original leather and wood skittles set in the form of a chair, front parlour panelled with built in settles and cupboards, rear parlour with wooden mantelpiece, cambered wooden cupboard, panelling and built in settles, panelled corridor with wooden doors and tiled floors throughout. A rare and unusually complete rural pub interior of this date.

Samuel Whitbread Academy is an Upper School and Sixth Form with Academy status serving the rural communities around the small market town of Shefford in Central Bedfordshire. Its school campus includes a nursery school and facilities for adult education. The school has recently won the schools national vase at Twickenham. Both its under 18 and under 15 division went to Twickenham after both teams winning in the semi-finals at Allianz Park (Saracens' home ground). Impressively, both teams lifted the trophy at Twickenham and came home with two victories. The school were also recently crowned School of the Year at the National Rugby Awards.

Henlow is a village and civil parish in the Central Bedfordshire district of the county of Bedfordshire, England, about 11 miles (18 km) south-east of the county town of Bedford. The name Henlow is believed to derive from the old English henna hlaw, meaning in old English "hill of birds" or “hill frequented by birds”.At the 2011 census the population of the village was 2,253, and 3,815 for the parish.

The A507 is an A-class road in England, linking the M1 motorway near Milton Keynes to the A10 at Buntingford.

Church of St Mary the Virgin is a Grade I listed church in Henlow, Bedfordshire, England. It became a listed building on 31 October 1966. The original footprint of the church dates back to the 12th century, but the current building dates mostly from the 15th century. The church is mostly in a Perpendicular style, with a myriad of monuments and stained glass windows and a three-stage tower, which was added in the 15th century. The tower housed five bells, which were cast in 1628. Although the number of bells was increased to eight in the 20th century, the nearby house still retains its name of The Five Bells.Originally the nave was aisleless and shorter than it is now (48 feet (15 m)). The north and south aisles were added around the 14th/15th centuries, as was the chancel, whereas the porch is entirely modern.Records show that the church (and the village) have a connection with the Pilgrim Fathers; at least three residents, Edward and Ann Tilley, and John and Joan Tilley. Both women died in the first winter. they took one of their nephews, Henry Samson, with them. Samson was baptized in St Mary's.The cemetery is listed with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as it has at least 20 graves containing the dead from both the First and Second World Wars.

Langford is a village and civil parish in the Central Bedfordshire district of the county of Bedfordshire, England about 10 miles (16 km) south-east of the county town of Bedford. The 2011 census gives the population as 3,091.

Henlow Common and Langford Meadows is a 18.4-hectare (45-acre) Local Nature Reserve on the west side of the River Ivel in Langford. It is owned and managed by Central Bedfordshire Council. Henlow Common is common land.Despite being two miles north of Henlow, Henlow Common is now situated in Langford parish after an exchange of land in 1985 between the two parishes. As a registered common it keeps its original name. Dams Ditch, earlier called Adams Ditch, runs through the middle of the reserve. It is more like a small river than a ditch. This site is mainly grassland with areas of scrub and bushes, native trees and a stream. It is an important area for wildlife. Plants include marsh marigolds. Kingfishers are present and the river bank has otters and water voles.There is access from Langford Road and by a footpath from the High Street.