Buntingford

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Buntingford
Buntingford shown within Hertfordshire
Population	^[1] 6000
OS grid reference	TL363292
District	East Hertfordshire
Shire county	Hertfordshire
Region	East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BUNTINGFORD
Postcode district	SG9
Dialling code	01763
Police	Hertfordshire
Fire	Hertfordshire
Ambulance	East of England
European Parliament	East of England
UK Parliament	North East Hertfordshire
List of places: UK • England • Hertfordshire

Coordinates: 51°56′40″N 0°00′58″W / 51.9445, -0.016

Buntingford is a small market town in the district of East Hertfordshire, in the county of Hertfordshire, England. It lies on the River Rib and on the Roman road Ermine Street. As a result of its location, it grew mainly as a staging post with many coaching inns and has an 18th century one cell prison known as 'The Cage' by the ford at the end of Church Street.

The town has a large number of Georgian and mediaeval buildings, such as Buntingford almshouses, Buntingford Manor House and the Red House. Buntingford has been a stop-over on the main route between London and Cambridge, the A10, or the 'Great Cambridge Road' as it is also known. Due to its desirability as a commuter town in recent years, the town has grown considerably in the past few decades, the most noticeable addition being the 'Bovis Estate' (circa 1990), informally named after the housing firm that constructed there. Other housing estates are: Freman Drive, Vicarage Road, Snells Mead, Downhall Ley and Monks Walk.

Buntingford was traditionally within the parish of Layston - St Bartholemew's Church (Layston) is now derelict and lies about a half a mile to the north-east of the town. St Peter's Church, formerly a relief chapel, is the Anglican church in Buntingford and is an almost unique brick building from the age of the 17th century Puritans. St Richard's serves the Roman Catholic community. There is also a United Reformed Church in Baldock Road.

Market day is Monday, and early closing Wednesday. The Buntingford Carnival is held every other year.

Buntingford railway station, opened in 1863, was closed in 1964^[2]under the Beeching cuts.

Apparently Queen Elizabeth I stayed at Buntingford in a building now called the Bell house gallery, on a coach journey to Cambridge.

Twin towns are Luynes (France) and Olvega (Spain)

The town has a number of public houses ('pubs') - The Brambles (formerly The Chequers), The Fox and Duck, The Black Bull, The Crown, The Jolly Sailors and The Railway.

Buntingford is home to the Sainsbury's Anglia Distribution Centre.

Buntingford uses a three tier school system, there are four schools in Buntingford:

Freman College (an Upper School and Sixth Form), Bowling Green Lane, Buntingford, SG9 9BT. Formerly known as Ward Freman Upper School.
Edwinstree C of E Middle School, has around 450 pupils, four year-groups and 16 classes, Norfolk Road, Buntingford, SG9 9AW.
Layston First School, has around 150 pupils,five year-groups. Also has a small nursery.
Milfield First School, has around 150 pupils,five year-groups. Also has a small nursery.

The name of the town is believed to originate from the Saxon chieftain or tribe Bunta; it does not refer to the bird Bunting.