Coordinates: 52°02′13″N 0°19′55″W / 52.037°N 0.332°W
| Shefford | |
 Shefford High Street |
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.png)  Shefford
Shefford shown within Bedfordshire |
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| Population | 5,770 [1] |
|---|---|
| Unitary authority | Central Bedfordshire |
| Ceremonial county | Bedfordshire |
| Region | East |
| 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 |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | Mid Bedfordshire |
| List of places: UK • England • Bedfordshire | |
Shefford is a small town in Bedfordshire.
Contents |
History
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 and Luton Archives and Records Service at Borough Hall in Bedford. There are Home Office Inspection Reports available that cover the period from 1962 to 1969.
During the second world war an entire Jewish Children's Community came into being in Shefford as evacuees from Europe were billeted in and around the town as part of "Operation Pied Piper Tomorrow".
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.
Robert Bloomfield the poet, died in penury, in Shefford in 1823.
Facilities
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 restaurants and a fish and chip shop.
There is a Morrisons supermarket.
There is a small public library.
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.
Education
The areas around Shefford are served by the secondary school Samuel Whitbread Community College, which holds Specialist Engineering College status. Also, there is a middle school named after Robert Bloomfield. Robert Bloomfield Middle school is one of the best middle schools in the country and has a Grade 1 (outstanding) Ofsted report. As well as this, there is Shefford lower school and Shefford nursery.
References
- ^ Bedfordshire County Council, Population Estimates and Forecasts, estimate for 2007.
External links
- Shefford Town Council website
- Shefford pages at the Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service
- Hoo Hill Maze: Shefford, Bedfordshire.
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