Lower Shelton

For other settlements with the name Shelton in Bedfordshire, see Shelton, Bedfordshire

Lower Shelton is a village in Bedfordshire county of England, In the parish of Marston Moreteyne.

It is made of Lower Shelton Road, Upper Shelton Road, Stratford Way, The Rickyard, Franklin Close and Chequers Close and another small close known locally as "The jetty" although there isn't any water in view. The area is made up of many sizes and types of houses of differing ages some very new and many quaint.

A large rambling house called Shelton Manor is located half way between the A421 and Upper Shelton and located close to the old farm called Shelton Farm, although no farming seems to happen there now. The road is in a rural setting between fields with views of Lidlington and the ancient church of Marston Moreteyne. Nearing the top of the road a high voltage power line crosses at 90 degrees. This power line extends from Toddington switching station to possibly the new power station at St Neots. Lower Shelton Road used to extend from Upper Shelton to Bedford Road, Marston Moreteyne at the point known locally in old times as Caulcott. Construction of the A421 Marston Moreteyne bypass is circa 1987 cut the road in two and the only link directly between the two is a concrete pedestrian underpass. Several houses were left at the Bedford Road end: one detached house on the corner, one semi-detached cottage where the Pates lived, and a red brick detached house (No 8) that was later painted white and then painted pink in 1990. The pink paint was a damp proof membrane to protect from permiating dampness. There was a gap where the field was and immediately next to the bypass was a dilapidated bungalow. Opposite the red brick house was a desolate area with a static caravan park. One semi detached house was located between the park and the underpass. The junction with the A421 was lethal and has in the past been a major accident scene. Recently the road has been closed at that point to enable the bypass to be extended to M1 junction 13. The link road was opened on 27/11/09 between Lower Shelton and Beancroft Road. The link road runs in parallel to the new east bound carriageway of the A421. The dual carriageway is to be completed and opened in December 2010. The link road enables both car and public transport through access to Lower Shelton. The junction with the A421 previously mentioned has been permanently closed. A stout high wooden fence has been erected for much of the link roads length to reduce traffic noise from the new dual carriageway also many new trees have been planted. Beancroft road has been re-aligned and when travelling from the Marston hill direction connects with a roundabout. The roundabout gives access to the east bound carriageway and has an access slip from the east bound carriageway as well as the Shelton link road. Continuing across the roundabout to a second roundabout you cross the east and west bound A421 via a new over bridge. At the second roundabout the first road is a slip road from the west bound carriageway, straight across for Beancroft road and the existing roundabout, 3rd exit is for Marston services and the 4th exit for the west bound entry slip towards the M1

Housing Development

The last main estate to be built within the village was The Rickyard, which was completed in 2005. Number 8, the pink cottage that was situated on a large plot has now been demolished and two link detached houses built that front onto Lower Shelton Road. An archway between the houses gives access to a bungalow that was built on the previously green and pleasant lawn of No 8. Several large houses have been built on the field next to number 8 and the estate extends onto the site of the demolished bungalow and into the triangle between Bedford road and the existing A421. The old field access is now a road.

At the top of Lower Shelton Road there is a TEE junction with Upper Shelton Road. Turning left towards Cranfield the Exhibition Public House (free house) is instantly visible. The has extensive gardens and is a lovely example of a British country pub.

External links

Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Lower_Shelton Lower Shelton] at Wikimedia Commons