Biggleswade
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Biggleswade is a small market town on the River Ivel in Bedfordshire, England. It is well served by transport routes, being close to the A1 road between London and the North, as well as the main rail link North from London (the East Coast Main Line).
Located approximately 40 miles (60 km) north of Central London and 20 miles (30 km) west-southwest of Cambridge, the fastest train to London, King's Cross, takes about 38 minutes, while a car journey to central Cambridge takes approximately 40 minutes. In 2001 the population of the town was approximately 15,383. [link]
See also: Biggleswade (hundred).
Brief history
The area around Biggleswade is thought to have been inhabited from around 10,000 BC, with arrowheads dating from this period found in the region. In Roman times, a loop road known as the White Way passed through Biggleswade (possibly along the course of the present-day Drove Road), linking up with the Ermine Way at Godmanchester. In the Fifth century AD, Saxon invaders settled here — the name Biggleswade is thought to be derived from Biceil, an Anglo-Saxon personal name and Waed, the Saxon word for ‘ford’.
In 1132, Henry I granted the manor of Biggleswade to Bishop Alexander - Alexander the Magnificent - of Lincoln to help endow Lincoln Cathedral. The town was granted a charter to hold a market during the reign of King John (1196–1216) — a market is still held in the market place in the centre of the town every Saturday.
The town is mentioned twice in the diaries of Samuel Pepys. On 22 July 1661, Pepys stopped off in Biggleswade (called ‘Bigglesworth’ by Pepys) to buy a pair of warm woollen stockings.
In 1785, there was a large fire in the town. The fire started at the ‘The Crown’ inn and spread rapidly through the neighbouring streets. By the time the fire had been brought under control, nearly one third of the town had been destroyed. A national appeal was launched to raise funds for the many people who had lost their homes and their livelihoods.
The Great Northern Railway opened in 1850, and Biggleswade was the first town in Bedfordshire to have a mainline station.
Biggleswade traditionally has been a vegetable & produce growing area with trains often taking daily loads of vegetables to London's produce markets. Even though much of this has now stopped, Bedfordshire Growers based on the outskirts of the town still supply major supermarkets including Sainsbury's with the majority of their UK grown potatoes and onions.
Biggleswade is also the base of the Jordan's cereals business which supply animal feeds but also produce their own brand breakfast Museli and cereal bars which are sold worldwide.
Other goods which have been made in Biggleswade include Berkeley Caravans and Sportscars who had a factory in the town, which was later used by Kayser Bondor who made ladies underwear and stockings in the town until the mid 1990s.
The town had a large brewery in the town centre for many decades, it's last owners were Greene King but they closed it down in October 1997 and it the site is now occupied by a supermarket.
Famous people from Biggleswade
Dan Albone, bicycle maker and five times national cycling champion — also credited with making the first practical farm tractor, 'The Ivel'.
Charles Penrose, radio comedian and singer of The Laughing Policeman.
Mary Tealby, one of the founders of the Battersea Dogs Home, is buried in St. Andrew's Churchyard.
External links
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