Southcote, Bedfordshire
| Southcote | |
 Typical 19th century "Rothschild style" cottage at Southcote |
|
  Southcote Southcote shown within Bedfordshire | |
| OS grid reference | SP905082 |
|---|---|
| Civil parish | Leighton-Linslade |
| Unitary authority | Central Bedfordshire |
| Ceremonial county | Bedfordshire |
| Region | East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LEIGHTON BUZZARD |
| Postcode district | LU7 |
| Dialling code | 01525 |
| Police | Bedfordshire |
| Fire | Bedfordshire and Luton |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | South West Bedfordshire |
| |
Southcote (or Southcott) is a hamlet in the parish of Linslade, in Bedfordshire, England. The hamlet name is Anglo Saxon in origin, and means 'southern cottage'.
The hamlet, little more than one road of cottages, is located to the south of the small town of Linslade, to which it has become joined as Linslade has grown. Linslade has now joined to the larger town of Leighton Buzzard. Hence in reality Southcote appears a small suburb of Leighton Buzzard.
The Rothschild family who reside at nearby Ascott House maintain a stud farm at Southcote, and own the remaining agricultural land in the hamlet. The stud farm and its adjoining former manager's house are known as "Southcourt Stud". This leads to confusion as to the hamlet's true name, especially as in the immediate vicinity is a Southcourt Avenue.
Southcourt Cottage, a large Victorian house, close to the stud, from 1922 to 1951 let by the Rothschild family to Sir Basil Henriques the philanthropist and social reformer, known for his work with Jewish youth in the east end of London. Southcourt Cottage became a holiday home for these children. He also wrote several books on reforming juvenile law, and founded educational youth clubs in the Whitechapel area of the city.
Southcote was transferred from Buckinghamshire to Bedfordshire in 1974.
External links
Media related to Southcote, Bedfordshire at Wikimedia Commons