Shefford, Bedfordshire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Shefford | |
  Shefford shown within Bedfordshire |
|
| Population | 5,400(est.)[1] |
|---|---|
| District | Mid Bedfordshire |
| Shire county | Bedfordshire |
| Region | East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SHEFFORD |
| Postcode district | SG17 |
| Dialling code | 01462 |
| Police | Bedfordshire |
| Fire | Bedfordshire and Luton |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| European Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | Mid Bedfordshire |
| List of places: UK • England • Bedfordshire | |
Shefford is a small market town in Bedfordshire, England between Hitchin and Bedford. For local government purposes it forms part of Mid Bedfordshire District council and is within the Mid Bedfordshire parliamentary constituency, whose MP is currently Nadine Dorries of the Conservative Party.
The River Flit and the River Hit run through the town. The Flit runs from Flitwick and joins the Ivel on the edge of Shefford. The Ivel eventually joins the Great Ouse just north of Sandy.
The name Shefford is derived from Sheeps Ford due to the previous sheep market and the ford over the rivers.
Shefford incorporates a fire station, bowls club and a brewery. As well as this, it has various pubs and restaurants, including Chinese takeaways, Indian takeaways and eat-ins and a fish and chip shop.
There is a scout group there too, and a local Army Cadet Force hut at Chicksands on the Army Intelligence corps base, which is part of Bedfordshire ACF, in A company.
Shefford is also close to Samuel Whitbread Community College, named after Samuel Whitbread the Second. Although this is often claimed by Shefford, it is actually within the borders of the village and parish of Clifton. It comprises Bedfordshire's second most prestigious 6th form college, and over 1400 students. there are several places of worship in shefford. Shefford also has a hedge maze which is open to the public.
Between 1868 and 1974 Shefford was the site of St Francis' Boy's Home (Orphanage) that was situated upon the High Street next to the Holy Roman Catholic Church of St Francis of Assisi. The Church remains in use as a place of worship. The orphanage buildings, which are seen on the right of the picture, have been turned into flats. The orphanage buildings are the most imposing in the town and date from the 1880's. Many files regarding the home can be found at the Bedfordshire County Records Office at County Hall in Bedford. There are Home Office Inspection Reports available that cover the period from 1962 to 1969.
