| Cauldwell | |
Britannia Iron Works Gate in Cauldwell |
|
|
Cauldwell
Cauldwell shown within Bedfordshire |
|
| Population | 8,656 [1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | TL050483 |
| Unitary authority | Bedford |
| Ceremonial county | Bedfordshire |
| Region | East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BEDFORD |
| Postcode district | MK42 |
| Dialling code | 01234 |
| Police | Bedfordshire |
| Fire | Bedfordshire and Luton |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | Bedford |
| List of places: UK • England • Bedfordshire | |
Cauldwell is an electoral ward and area within the town of Bedford, England.
The boundaries of Cauldwell are approximately the Rope Walk to the north, Redwood Grove and Willow Road to the east, with the Midland Main Line railway line to the south. The area is sometimes known as St John's.
Contents |
Cauldwell derives its name from Cauldwell Priory which was built to the north of the area by Franciscan Friars in 1238. Cauldwell comes from the Old-English Cauldwella meaning cold well or spring.[2] The priory included a leper colony dedicated to St Leonard.
The 19th Century saw Bedford transform into an important engineering hub. Many large industries located to the Cauldwell area, including Bedford Igranic on Elstow Road. The Britannia Iron Works were opened on Kempston Road in 1859, and General Giuseppe Garibaldi visited the works in 1864.[3] Bedford Infirmary was established in Cauldwell in 1803, becoming Bedford Hospital in 1897.[4] Bedford Lunatic Asylum was built on Ampthill Road in 1812, but closed in 1860.[4]
After the Second World War, the Cauldwell area was significantly redeveloped and expanded, and new residential estates were constructed to the south of the existing area.[5]
Cauldwell and Kingsbrook Urban Community Council is the local council for Cauldwell and the neighbouring ward of Kingsbrook, with twelve seats elected every four years (six of which are from Cauldwell). There are currently three Liberal Democrat, one Conservative, one Labour, and one independent councillors representing Cauldwell on the Community Council.
Cauldwell elects two councillors to Bedford Borough Council, both of which are currently from the Labour party.
The headquarters of Box Clever are based on Ampthill Road, next to offices for Central Bedfordshire Council. Bedford Hospital is also located on Ampthill Road,[6] as is Bedford St Johns railway station. Most of the shops and services in Cauldwell are located on Ampthill Road. These include small convenience stores, a post office and a variety of take away restaurants.
There are more local shops located on Elstow Road and Gostwick Road.
There are two lower schools in Cauldwell - Shackleton Lower School located on Pearcey Road, and Cauldwell Lower School situated on Edward Road.[7] Children in Cauldwell usually go on to attend Abbey Middle School sited on Mowbray Road. Although the school is situated in the Cauldwell neighbourhood of Bedford, it is also the middle school for the adjoining village of Elstow,[8] and the Wixams new town development.
There is no upper school in the area. Cauldwell is in the catchment area for Bedford Academy which is situated in the nearby area of Kingsbrook.[9] However, the proposed Bedford Free School is due to open on Cauldwell Street in the area for 11-16 year olds in September 2012.
The University of Bedfordshire operates a nurse-training site at Bedford Hospital.
There are two community centres in Cauldwell. The Faraday Community Centre located on the corner of Faraday Square and Kelvin Avenue,[10] and the Cauldwell Community Centre located just off Ampthill Road, on Althorpe Street.[11] There are two open spaces in the area located on Miller Road and Moor Lane.
|
|||||