Biggleswade
Sign in to saveBiggleswade ( ) is a market town and civil parish in Central Bedfordshire in Bedfordshire, England. It lies on the River Ivel, 11 miles (18 km) south-east of Bedford. Its population was 16,551 in the 2011 United Kingdom census, This figure had increased by 36% to 22,541 at the time of the 2021 United Kingdom census.
Key facts
- UK place.country
- England
- UK place.official_name
- Biggleswade
- UK place.civil_parish
- Biggleswade
- UK place.population
- 22,541
- UK place.population_ref
- (2021 Census)
- UK place.unitary_england
- Central Bedfordshire
- UK place.lieutenancy_england
- Bedfordshire
- UK place.region
- East of England
- UK place.constituency_westminster
- North Bedfordshire
- UK place.post_town
- BIGGLESWADE
- UK place.postcode_district
- SG18
- UK place.postcode_area
- SG
- UK place.dial_code
- 01767
- UK place.os_grid_reference
- TL1944
- UK place.static_image_2_name
- Biggleswade1.jpg
- UK place.static_image_2_caption
- Biggleswade town centre
- UK place.static_image_name
- Biggleswade Town Council.jpg
- UK place.static_image_width
- 130
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
33 sectionsContents
- Geography
- Governance
- History
- Anglo-Saxons
- Medieval times
- The Great Fire
- Transport
- Workhouses
- Agriculture and industry
- Cinema
- Demography
- Economy
- Education
- Hotels, inns and public houses
- Media
- Public services
- Public transport
- Bus
- Train
- Religious sites
- Shopping
- Sport and recreation
- Culture and community
- Town carnival
- Cultural references
- Twin town
- Plans
- Notable residents
- Nearby attractions
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Biggleswade ( ) is a market town and civil parish in Central Bedfordshire in Bedfordshire, England. It lies on the River Ivel, 11 miles (18 km) south-east of Bedford. Its population was 16,551 in the 2011 United Kingdom census, This figure had increased by 36% to 22,541 at the time of the 2021 United Kingdom census.
Evidence of settlement in the area goes back to the Neolithic period, but it is likely that the town as such was founded by Anglo-Saxons. A gold Anglo-Saxon coin was found on a footpath beside the River Ivel in 2001. The British Museum bought the coin in February 2006 and at the time it was the most expensive British coin purchased. A charter to hold a market was granted by King John in the 13th century. In 1785 a great fire devastated the town. The Great North Road passed through until a bypass was completed in 1961. A railway station was opened in 1850. From the 1930s to the late 1990s manufacturing provided a significant amount of employment. The town centre is designated a conservation area.