Barton-le-Clay
| Barton-le-Clay | |
|---|---|
 The village sign Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire | |
  Barton-le-Clay Location withinBedfordshire | |
| Population | 4,937 (parish)[1] |
| OS grid reference | TL082310 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Bedford |
| Postcode district | MK45 |
| Dialling code | 01582 |
| Police | Bedfordshire |
| Fire | Bedfordshire and Luton |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
Barton-le-Clayis a large village and acivil parishin theCentral Bedfordshiredistrict ofBedfordshire,England, borderingHertfordshire.The village has existed since at least 1066 and is mentioned in theDomesday Book.
History
[edit]On 25 May 1956 the parish was renamed from "Barton in the Clay" to "Barton-le-Clay".[2]
Ancient history
[edit]To the southwest of the town, across the A6 isSharpenhoe Clappers,anIron Agehill fort.
TheDomesday Book
[edit]Barton-Le-ClayDomesday Bookentry, taken from 210d 2.[3]
In FLITT Hundred M. The Abbot also holds Barton (in-the-clay). It answers for 11 hides. Land for 12 ploughs. In lordship 3 hides; 2 ploughs there; a third possible. 20 villagers have 9 ploughs. 7 smallholders and 6 slaves. 1 mill, 2s, meadow for 6 ploughs; woodland, 200 pigs. In total, value £10; the same when acquired; before 1066 £12. This manor always lay in (the lands of) St Benedict's Church. With this manor the Abbot claims againstNigel of Aubignyand Walter the Fleming 12 acres (4.9 ha) of meadow which lay there before 1066, but John of Les Roches dispossessed him wrongfully, and this the Hundred testifies.
Location
[edit]Barton-le-Clay is inCentral BedfordshirebetweenBedfordandLuton,36 miles (58 km) north of London. Nearby villages includeSharpenhoe,Silsoe,WestoningandPulloxhill.TheA6which runs from Luton (6 miles south of the village) bypasses Barton and continues through Bedford (north of the village) toCarlisle.The village bypass was constructed in January 1990.
In the southeast of the parish are theBarton Hills,which form the northeast extremity of theChiltern Hillsand are designated anArea of Outstanding Natural Beauty.Much of this area of chalk downland is now a nature reserve, managed byNatural England.
Places of worship
[edit]- Baptist– Hope Chapel
- Church of England–St. Nicholas Church[4]
- Methodist– Barton-le-Clay
- Roman Catholic– St. Matthew (Now closed)
Schools
[edit]Two major schools are in Barton: Ramsey Manor Lower School[5]and Arnold Academy, a middle school[6]Thelower schooltakes children of the village. Themiddle schoolusually also takes those ofWestoning,SilsoeandGreenfield,its children and those new to Barton meet ex-school and geographic criteria of HarlingtonUpper Schooladmission (13+).[7]The village has apre-school.[8]
A small private nursery andprep schoolfor children aged 0 to 9, Orchard School & Nursery, is in the parish.[9]
Transportation
[edit]The closest railway station is 3.5 miles (5.6 km), somewhat more by footpath, inHarlington.No buses link to this. Bus services through Barton are largely those between Luton, south and Bedford, north. A cross-country route joins Barton to other local villages including Shillington and Shefford. There is a weekly (Tuesday) bus to/from Hitchin in the east.
The roads are well-bypassed so favoured by experienced cyclists, especially in daylight.
Clubs and Groups
[edit]Barton-le-Clay has a football club (Barton Rovers), who play their home matches at Sharpenhoe Road. The club currently competes in theSouthern LeagueDivision One Central.
Organisations[who?]offerkarateandfootball.ARotary Clubmeets at The Bull Hotel.[10]Barton Players, the main local amateur dramatics group, hold plays and summer workshops[11]for children in the village hall. However, it is open to new members who wish to join. There is a youth drama group in the village called Up-Stage,[12]including two branches for young people aged 13 and over, called CentreStage and Stage Right. Barton also hosts Scouting and Guide organisations for all ages. A local history group meets in the library on the last Saturday of each month at 10:30 am.
The village saw the start-up of Lea Sports Reserves, an active team.
Public services
[edit]War memorials
[edit]
There are two combined World War matching-list memorials, one near the main road (junction of Luton Road and Hexton Road) and the other in the Parish Church. This list is transcribed on a website.[15]
St Nicholas Church restoration of 1879
[edit] |
Published by the NOF Digitise Architecture England Consortium.
- St Nicholas Church plans from 1879[16]
Local newspapers
[edit]Two weekly newspapers are delivered free to many houses in Barton, with news about Barton and the surrounding area.
- Herald and Post[17](Luton based) – delivered every Thursday
- Luton and Dunstable Express[18](previously titledLuton on Sunday,Dunstable on SundayorBedfordshire on Sunday) – delivered every Sunday
See also
[edit]Pictures
[edit]-
A map of Barton-le-Clay from 1890. -
The Bull Hotel in 1902. -
St Nicholas's Church. The tower in perpendicular style with chequered pattern of ashlar stone and cobbles -
Bedford Road -
Aerial view -
Barton Hillsshowing their proximity to this place
References
[edit]- ^ONS,Census 2021 Parish Profiles
- ^"Luton Registration District".UKBMD.Retrieved1 February2023.
- ^Barton in the Clay.Accessed 27 November 2023.
- ^"St. Nicholas Church Barton-le-Clay Bedfordshire".St Nicholas Church, Barton.Retrieved12 November2006.
- ^"Ramsey Manor Lower School Web Site | about us".Ramseymanor.ik.org. 15 July 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 23 March 2012.Retrieved14 February2012.
- ^"Welcome to the Frontpage".Arnold.beds.sch.uk.Retrieved14 February2012.
- ^"Harlington Upper School".harlington.org.Retrieved15 March2016.
- ^"About Us".bartonleclaypreschool.Retrieved14 February2012.
- ^"Private School and Nursery: Orchard Independent School & Nursery, Barton Le Clay, Bedfordshire,Beds".Orchardschool.org.uk.Retrieved14 February2012.
- ^"Barton le Clay Rotary Club".Barton-le-Clay Rotary Club.Retrieved11 November2006.
- ^"Barton Players – Future Productions".Barton Players. Archived fromthe originalon 14 April 2005.Retrieved11 November2006.
- ^"Upstage official website".Upstage.Retrieved11 November2009.
- ^"Bedfordshire and Luton Libraries' Catalogue – Barton Library: Information".Galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 4 February 2012.Retrieved14 February2012.
- ^"Barton-le-Clay: GP Surgery".bartongroupsurgeries.co.uk.Retrieved15 March2016.
- ^"Roll of Honour – Bedfordshire – Barton".Lynda Smith.Archivedfrom the original on 17 October 2006.Retrieved12 November2006.
- ^Barton-le-Clay Church: Restoration PlanArchived29 September 2007 at theWayback Machine
- ^"lutontoday.co.uk".lutontoday.co.uk. 25 January 2012.Retrieved14 February2012.
- ^"Luton and Dunstable Express".luton-dunstable.co.uk.Luton and Dunstable Express.Retrieved15 March2016.
External links
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