Goldington
Encyclopedia
Goldington is an electoral ward and former village within the town of Bedford
, Bedfordshire
, England
.
The boundaries of Goldington are approximately Norse Road and Cemetery
to the north and east, Goldington Road to the south, with Church Lane and Haylands Way to the west. The northern part of the area is sometimes known as Elms Farm.
which grew up along the old A428 road
between Bedford and Cambridge
. St Mary's Church in Goldington has parish registers going back to 1559.
In August 1645 Major Walter Baskerville a Royalist cavalry Officer was killed in a skirmish in Goldington. Goldington Hall (a small mansion) was built in the 1650s. The Hall was rebuilt in 1874.
In 1934 the southern part of the parish
of Goldington was merged with the expanding Bedford town
, with the northern rural parts becoming part of Ravensden
or Renhold
. The area was greatly expanded to the north in the 1960s and 70s, seeing the return of some of the original parish lost in 1934. This expansion included the development of the Elms Farm estate and the Church Lane shopping parade. The Poppyfields estate was developed in the area in the 1990s.
In the 2000s, The Spires and the Saxon Grange housing estate
s have been constructed on the northern boundary of Goldington. These newer estates are not officially part of the Goldington ward, but are in the neighbouring civil parish
of Renhold
.
After many years as a pub, the old Goldington Hall is now unoccupied, semi-derelict, and was the scene of a small fire in 2008.
Goldington Castle, a motte-and-bailey
castle
, was built sometime after 1066, but is not actually in Goldington despite its name. The castle is located in the neighbouring area of Newnham
.
, with all community services under the direct control of Bedford Borough Council
. Goldington elects two councillors to Bedford Borough Council, both of which are currently Liberal Democrats
.
The first is on Church Lane which includes a Co-op
supermarket and post office
, a tool and plant hire company, and a Chinese
takeaway. Coplan Estates were appointed to re-develop the shopping area in 2006, and an old pub called The Century was demolished in 2008. However the recession has delayed further progress. Phase one of the regeneration saw an Aldi
supermarket being constructed at the site. This opened in summer 2010. The scheme will ultimately also include additional new shops, a medical centre, a relocated community building, and a selection of new homes.
Goldington's second shopping hub is on Queens Drive, which has a small convenience store, a post office, a chemist, a hairdresser, a butcher's shop, a laundrette, The Queens Tavern pub, a fish & chip shop, petrol station and GP
Surgery.
There are still a few shops and pubs along the old village High Street (i.e. Goldington Road) including a small Londis
supermarket and a Frankie & Benny's
restaurant
.
To the eastern side of Goldington is the Elms & Viking Industrial estate. This large business park (between Goldington Road and Norse Road) houses many firms, including Enterprise Holdings, E.ON UK
and the East of England Ambulance Service
. Bedford's cemetery and crematorium on Norse Road is just within the boundaries of Goldington.
or upper school
s in the area, though Goldington Academy is located on the edge of Goldington. The area's 13 year olds fall into the different catchment areas for Mark Rutherford Upper School
, Biddenham Upper School
and Bedford Academy.
is located on Church Lane. Goldington Green
is the area's largest open space, and is situated on Church Lane and Goldington Road.
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The boundaries of Goldington are approximately Norse Road and Cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
to the north and east, Goldington Road to the south, with Church Lane and Haylands Way to the west. The northern part of the area is sometimes known as Elms Farm.
History
Goldington was a villageVillage
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
which grew up along the old A428 road
A428 road
The A428 road is a major road in central and eastern England. It connects the cities of Coventry and Cambridge by way of the county towns of Northampton and Bedford.-Coventry - Northampton:...
between Bedford and Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
. St Mary's Church in Goldington has parish registers going back to 1559.
In August 1645 Major Walter Baskerville a Royalist cavalry Officer was killed in a skirmish in Goldington. Goldington Hall (a small mansion) was built in the 1650s. The Hall was rebuilt in 1874.
In 1934 the southern part of the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Goldington was merged with the expanding Bedford town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
, with the northern rural parts becoming part of Ravensden
Ravensden
Ravensden is a village and civil parish located in the Bedford Borough of Bedfordshire, England.The parish borders the town of Bedford, with Mowsbury Park and farmland acting as a buffer between the two settlements. The village hosts Ravensden Lower School, and a pub called The Horse and Jockey, as...
or Renhold
Renhold
Renhold is a village and civil parish located on the river Ouse, in the hundred of Barford, in the county of Bedfordshire, England. It is just to the north of Bedford...
. The area was greatly expanded to the north in the 1960s and 70s, seeing the return of some of the original parish lost in 1934. This expansion included the development of the Elms Farm estate and the Church Lane shopping parade. The Poppyfields estate was developed in the area in the 1990s.
In the 2000s, The Spires and the Saxon Grange housing estate
Housing estate
A housing estate is a group of buildings built together as a single development. The exact form may vary from country to country. Accordingly, a housing estate is usually built by a single contractor, with only a few styles of house or building design, so they tend to be uniform in appearance...
s have been constructed on the northern boundary of Goldington. These newer estates are not officially part of the Goldington ward, but are in the neighbouring civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Renhold
Renhold
Renhold is a village and civil parish located on the river Ouse, in the hundred of Barford, in the county of Bedfordshire, England. It is just to the north of Bedford...
.
After many years as a pub, the old Goldington Hall is now unoccupied, semi-derelict, and was the scene of a small fire in 2008.
Goldington Castle, a motte-and-bailey
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
, was built sometime after 1066, but is not actually in Goldington despite its name. The castle is located in the neighbouring area of Newnham
Newnham, Bedford
Newnham is an electoral ward and area within the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Newnham are approximately Goldington Road to the north, the River Great Ouse to the south and east, with Denmark Street and George Street to the west....
.
Governance
Goldington is an unparished areaUnparished area
In England, an unparished area is an area that is not covered by a civil parish. Most urbanised districts of England are either entirely or partly unparished. Many towns and some cities in otherwise rural districts are also unparished areas and therefore no longer have a town council or city...
, with all community services under the direct control of Bedford Borough Council
Bedford (borough)
Bedford is a unitary authority with the status of a borough in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. Its council is based at Bedford, which is also the county town of Bedfordshire. The borough contains a single urban area, the 69th largest in the United Kingdom that comprises Bedford and...
. Goldington elects two councillors to Bedford Borough Council, both of which are currently Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
.
Economy
There are two shopping parades in Goldington at which most shops and services are located -The first is on Church Lane which includes a Co-op
The Co-operative Group
The Co-operative Group Ltd. is a United Kingdom consumer cooperative with a diverse range of business interests. It is co-operatively run and owned by its members. It is the largest organisation of this type in the world, with over 5.5 million members, who all have a say in how the business is...
supermarket and post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, a tool and plant hire company, and a Chinese
Chinese cuisine
Chinese cuisine is any of several styles originating in the regions of China, some of which have become highly popular in other parts of the world – from Asia to the Americas, Australia, Western Europe and Southern Africa...
takeaway. Coplan Estates were appointed to re-develop the shopping area in 2006, and an old pub called The Century was demolished in 2008. However the recession has delayed further progress. Phase one of the regeneration saw an Aldi
ALDI
ALDI Einkauf GmbH & Co. oHG, doing business as ', short for "Albrecht Discount", is a discount supermarket chain based in Germany...
supermarket being constructed at the site. This opened in summer 2010. The scheme will ultimately also include additional new shops, a medical centre, a relocated community building, and a selection of new homes.
Goldington's second shopping hub is on Queens Drive, which has a small convenience store, a post office, a chemist, a hairdresser, a butcher's shop, a laundrette, The Queens Tavern pub, a fish & chip shop, petrol station and GP
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
Surgery.
There are still a few shops and pubs along the old village High Street (i.e. Goldington Road) including a small Londis
Londis
Londis is the name for two convenience store franchises operating in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The stores form a symbol group and are all owned on a franchise basis.-Great Britain:...
supermarket and a Frankie & Benny's
Frankie & Benny's
Frankie & Benny's is a chain of Italian-American restaurants in the UK with numerous outlets nationwide run by The Restaurant Group plc. Its first location was Leicester in 1995 but now the chain has over 150 locations across the UK and also abroad, and smaller branches called "Little...
restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
.
To the eastern side of Goldington is the Elms & Viking Industrial estate. This large business park (between Goldington Road and Norse Road) houses many firms, including Enterprise Holdings, E.ON UK
E.ON UK
E.ON UK is an energy company in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of E.ON, the world's largest investor-owned power and gas company. As Powergen, it was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but since 1 July 2002 has been owned by E.ON AG of...
and the East of England Ambulance Service
East of England Ambulance Service
The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust is the authority responsible for providing National Health Service ambulance services in the counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, in the East of England region.It is one of 12 Ambulance Trusts providing...
. Bedford's cemetery and crematorium on Norse Road is just within the boundaries of Goldington.
Education
There are two state schools in Goldington - The Hills Lower School located on Stancliffe Road, Goldington Green Lower School situated on Goldington Road, There are no middleMiddle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
or upper school
Upper school
Upper Schools tend to be schools within secondary education. Outside England, the term normally refers to a section of a larger school. There is some variation in the use of the term in England.-State Maintained Schools:...
s in the area, though Goldington Academy is located on the edge of Goldington. The area's 13 year olds fall into the different catchment areas for Mark Rutherford Upper School
Mark Rutherford Upper School
Mark Rutherford Upper School is a coeducational upper school located in the Putnoe area of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. The school is named in honour of the writer William Hale White who used 'Mark Rutherford' as a pseudonym....
, Biddenham Upper School
Biddenham Upper School
Biddenham Upper School is a 13-19 coeducational state comprehensive school serving the Brickhill, Harpur and Queens Park areas of Bedford plus the village of Biddenham, England. The school holds Specialist Sports College status...
and Bedford Academy.
Religious sites
- St Mary's Church (Church of EnglandChurch of EnglandThe Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
), located on Church Lane - Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, located on Goldington Road
Community facilities
Goldington Community CentreCommunity centre
Community centres or community centers or jumping recreation centers are public locations where members of a community tend to gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. They may sometimes be open for the whole community or for a specialised group within...
is located on Church Lane. Goldington Green
Village green
A village green is a common open area which is a part of a settlement. Traditionally, such an area was often common grass land at the centre of a small agricultural settlement, used for grazing and sometimes for community events...
is the area's largest open space, and is situated on Church Lane and Goldington Road.