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Clapham, Bedfordshire

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Bob Henshaw (talk | contribs) at 15:46, 6 November 2016 (Civil Parish population 2011). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Clapham
Parish church
Population3,643 (2001)
4,560 (2011 Census)[1]
OS grid referenceTL024529
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBEDFORD
Postcode districtMK41
Dialling code01234
PoliceBedfordshire
FireBedfordshire and Luton
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Bedfordshire

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]

Facilities

Clapham has numerous public houses and several small shops; including a post office, Chinese and Indian takeaways, fish and chips, a florist, a hairdresser; also it has two churches (including the Church of St Thomas of Canterbury). It has its own lower school for children aged 4–9, Ursula Taylor Lower School. In the nearby village of Oakley is Lincroft Middle School for children aged 9–13. It has three pubs, the Horse and Groom, the Fox and Hounds and the Star; there was also a club called "Clapham Club" now turned into a Tesco store, and an Italian restaurant, Bellini's.

RAF Twinwood Control Tower, restored in 2002

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 (51 Operational Training Unit ROYAL AIR FORCE was the main unit based at Twinwood Farm) and at Bedford Corn Exchange. The Glenn Miller Museum is now open on site with many events taking place during the summer months.

Clapham Park, a large new country house, was built by James Howard, member of parliament for Bedford, in 1872.

There is also a derelict Italian POW camp, which is now owned by a farmer and has been the victim of graffiti artists.

Sport and recreation

Clapham has a King George V Field in memorial to King George V

References

  1. ^ a b "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.