Stotfold
| Stotfold | |
|---|---|
 Stotfold Mill | |
  Stotfold Location within Bedfordshire | |
| Population | 6,190 (2001) 9,632 (2011 Census including Astwick and Fairfield Park)[1] |
| OS grid reference | TL2136 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HITCHIN |
| Postcode district | SG5 |
| Dialling code | 01462 |
| Police | Bedfordshire |
| Fire | Bedfordshire and Luton |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
Stotfold is a small town and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England.
Stotfold is thought to have gained its name from the northern drovers breaking their journey south at this point on the A1 Great North Road and penning their horses (stots) in enclosures (folds) before continuing their journeys southwards.
The River Ivel runs through the town. Stotfold covers 2,207 acres (8.93 km2) and the population at the 2001 census was 6,190.[2]
The Church of St. Mary is Norman.
Landmarks
Stotfold Watermill
Stotfold Watermill stands on the River Ivel and is one of four mills in Stotfold that were recorded in the Domesday Book.[3] It is the only working mill left in Stotfold and is a grade II listed watermill.[4] The Mill was fully restored after being burnt down on 15 December 1992.[5] The Mill opened to the public in May 2006 with the formal opening taking place October 2006 followed shortly after by a visit from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on 17 November 2006.[6] It has a 4.4 metre wide overshot corn mill waterwheel which is the widest in the country[7] and is currently open to the public with a tea room on alternate weekends in season (March to October) and on special event weekends.[8] The Mill is a charity run by the Stotfold Mill Preservation Trust. All moneys raised are used for the continual upkeep and restoration of the Mill and of the local area.[9] Its major fundraiser is the annual Stotfold Mill Steam and Country Fair which takes place in May and attracted around 8,500 visitors raising approximately £20,000 in 2010.[10]
St Mary's Church
The parish church of St Mary the Virgin dates to about 1150 but was probably preceded by a series of wooden Saxon churches on the same site. The church is built of flint with Ashwell clunch stone dressings to the buttresses and is mainly in the Early Perpendicular style. In about 1450 the tower was added and the chancel widened and it is believed that the baptismal font also dates from this time and is octagonal and panelled.[11][12]
In about 1824 much work was done at the church which included plastering the roof of the north aisle and replacing both the mediaeval carvings and the 400 year-old pews, the latter being done by local contractor William Seymour of Arlesey. At the same time the old paintings on the walls were either destroyed or whitewashed over.[13]
New estates
Building work continues to expand the town, with new areas such as Mill View and Fairfield Park. Fairfield Park is on the site of the old Fairfield Hospital, covering a very large area, south of Stotfold and to the east of Arlesey. The old hospital has been converted into luxury apartments, with hundreds of new homes being built in the grounds of the former mental health institute. Fairfield Park was formally split from Stotfold on 1 April 2013, when it became a separate civil parish.[14]
Construction has also begun on 850 new homes in the 'Land South of Stotfold' development. This was originally expected to be completed by 2013, with the inclusion of a new lower school, industrial area and shop, but is now expected to have a later completion date due to the current recession.
Sport and leisure
Stotfold has a Non-League football club Stotfold F.C., which plays at Roker Park.
Famous residents
 | This article's list of residents may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. (October 2018) |
- Olympic and world champion track cyclist Victoria Pendleton was brought up in Stotfold. In 2007, the cycle track between Arlesey and Stotfold was renamed in her honour.[15]
- Craig Vye, actor, most recently seen in Hollyoaks playing Ethan Scott. Also seen in Aquila, London's Burning, Doctors and Skins.
- Nicky Hunt, Commonwealth Games Gold winner/Olympic hopeful (archery)
References
- ^ "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
- ^ Office for National Statistics: Census 2001: Parish Headcounts: Mid Bedfordshire Archived 26 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 31 October 2010
- ^ "Bedfordshire and Domesday", Bedfordshire Historical Record Society, Quarto Memoir, 1922 vol. 1, by G. Herbert Fowler, p.72
- ^ "Stotfold Mill — Stotfold Watermill and Nature Reserve". Stotfoldmill.com. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ^ http://www.stotfoldmill.com/bert_hyde.php?pg=history.php#Randall's%20Mill Archived 7 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Stotfold Mill — Stotfold Watermill and Nature Reserve". Stotfoldmill.com. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Stotfold Mill — Stotfold Watermill and Nature Reserve". Stotfoldmill.com. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ^ "Weather failed to dampen the spirts of steam fair visitors - News". The Comet. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ^ "History of St Mary's church - St Mary's church website". stotfoldchurch.org.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^ "GENUKI: Stotfold, Bedfordshire – The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)". genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^ The Gentleman's Magazine Vol 27, November 1827 - Google Books pg 401
- ^ Published on 18/05/2013 10:05 (18 May 2013). "Historic moment for community's parish council - Local News". Biggleswade Today. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ There is also a golden post box in her honour. Bedfordshire County Council Press Release Archived 14 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
External links
