Goldington

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Goldington is an electoral ward and area within the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.

The boundaries of Goldington are (roughly) Norse Road and Cemetery to the north and east, the A421 Goldington Road and Newnham to the south, with Church Lane and Putnoe to the west. The new Saxon Grange housing estate is within Goldington.

[edit] History

Goldington Green, with the war memorial centre. Goldington Hall can be seen in the background.

Goldington was a village which grew up along the A421 road between Bedford and Cambridge. St Mary's Church in Goldington has parish registers going back to 1559. Goldington Hall (a small mansion) was built in the 1650's. The Hall was rebuilt in 1874. ^[2]

In 1934 the parish of Goldington was merged with the expanding Bedford town. The area was greatly expanded to the north in the 1960's and 70's. These newer housing estates now make up more than half of Goldington's total area. After many years as a pub, the old Goldington Hall is now unnoccupied, semi-derelict, and recently been the scene of a small fire. ^[3]

[edit] Politics

Goldington is an Unparished area, with all community services under the direct control of Bedford Borough Council. Goldington elects 3 councillors to Bedford Borough Council and 1 councillor to Bedfordshire County Council, all of which are currently Liberal Democrats.

[edit] Local Amenities

There are two shopping parades in Goldington at which most shops and services are located -

The first is on Church Lane which includes a Post office, newsagents, a pub called The Century and a Chinese takeaway. Goldington Community centre is also located here. Bedford Borough Council granted planning permission at the end of 2007 for this entire shopping zone to be demolished, and re-developed.

Goldington's second shopping hub is on Queens Drive which has another small Convenience Store, a Post Office, a Hairdressers, a butcher's shop, laundrette, The Queens Head pub, a Fish & Chip Shop, petrol station and GP Surgery.

There are still a few shops and pubs along the old village High Street (i.e. Goldington Road) including a small Londis supermarket and a Frankie & Benny's Restaurant. Goldington Green (The area's largest open space) is situated on Goldington Road.

To the eastern side of Goldington is the Elms & Viking Industrial estate. This large business park (between Goldington Road and Norse Road) houses many of Bedford's biggest employers, including Unipath, Powergen and NHS Direct.

Bedford's cemetery and Crematorium on Norse Road is just within the boundaries of Goldington, as is the new Saxon Grange housing estate which is being built next to the cemetery and Industrial estate. The new housing means Bedford's urban limits have almost reached the village of Renhold.

[edit] Schools

There are three state schools in Goldington - The Hills Lower School located on Stancliffe Road, Goldington Green Lower School situated on Goldington Road, and Goldington Middle School sited on Haylands Way. There is no Upper School in the area. Goldington's 13 year olds fall into the different catchment areas for Mark Rutherford Upper School, Biddenham Upper School and John Bunyan Upper School. ^[4]

[edit] Places of Worship

St Mary's (Church of England) Church is located on Church Lane. Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church is situated on Goldington Road. There is a Kingdom Hall for Jehova's Witnesses on Goodmayes Close.

[edit] References

[edit] External Links

• Goldington timeline
• Goldington Community Centre
• Goldington and Bedford Cemetery
• The Hills Lower School
• Goldington Green Lower School
• Goldington Middle School
• St Mary's Church
• Holy Cross Church