Queens Park, Bedford

Queens Park

Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Queens Park
Queens Park
 Queens Park shown within Bedfordshire
Population 7,688 [1]
OS grid referenceTL034495
Unitary authorityBedford
Ceremonial countyBedfordshire
RegionEast
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town BEDFORD
Postcode district MK40
Dialling code 01234
Police Bedfordshire
Fire Bedfordshire and Luton
Ambulance East of England
EU Parliament East of England
UK ParliamentBedford
List of places
UK
England
Bedfordshire

Coordinates: 52°08′05″N 0°29′22″W / 52.13462°N 0.48934°W

Queens Park is an electoral ward and area in Bedford, England. The area's borders are approximately Bromham Road and Beverley Crescent to the north, the Midland Main Line railway line to the east, and the River Great Ouse to the south.

Queens Park is a very diverse and multicultural area. This is reflected in the many specialist shops and businesses located in the community, including many international supermarkets and delis. There are also a varied number of places of worship, including an Anglican church, two mosques and the largest Sikh temple in the United Kingdom outside London.

History

The Allens Tower (demolished 2009), the space occupied by this office tower is now designated to be a medical centre.

The land in Queens Park was farmed as early as the 11th century, and occupied by tenant farmers. The only evidence of primitive settlements is the discovery of flint at Honey Hills. Early settlements and dwellings included; Provendor Farm, Prebend Farm, and the Farm House & cottages at Bedford Ford End (until the 1950s) now Fernleigh Close. Gallows existed up to 1802 at the sharp bend on the Bromham Road.[2]

In 1890 W.H.Allen from London brought twenty acres of land west of Bedford town centre to establish his 'Queens Engineering Works', and housing for his employees. The works (opened in 1894) and the new community were named in honour of the queen of the day, Queen Victoria.[3]

Queens Park has hosted many communities migrating to the Bedford area over the 20th century, firstly Irish and Italian families, followed by Asians, Africans, and most recently, people from Eastern Europe.

The engineering works survived in Queens Park for over 100 years, but over that time a great number of other businesses and shops have established themselves in the area. Today, Queens Park is one of the most established and centrally located areas in Bedford.

Bedford Town Football Club played in the area between 1913 - 1981, and again briefly upon re-formation in the early 1990s.

Governance

Queens Park is an unparished area, with all community services under the direct control of Bedford Borough Council. Queens Park elects two councillors to Bedford Borough Council, both councillors are currently from the Labour Party.

Allen Club

Economy

There are a great many shops serving the Queens Park population, which are a mix of mostly independent retailers, with a few chain stores. Ford End Road acts as the "high street" for the area, and includes independent supermarkets, deli's, takeaway restaurants, and a Tesco Express store. There are more shops and businesses located on Iddesleigh Road, including convenience stores and Queens Park's post office.

One of the largest businesses in the area is Wells and Young's Brewery.[4] The brewery is now the largest employer in Queens Park after the closure of the Allen's Engineering Works in 2000. All that remains of the Queen's Works is the Allen Social Club building on Hurst Grove, which itself closed in January 2010.

Education

There are two lower schools in Queens Park - Queens Park Academy which is situated over two sites on Chestnut Avenue and Marlborough Road,[5] and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Lower School located on Chester Road.[6] Also on Chester Road is Westfield Middle School which educates Queens Park's 9-13 year olds.[7] For older children the area is in the catchment for Biddenham Upper School which is located just to the north of Queens Park.[8]

Enterprise House (located on Old Ford End Road) is a small adult education centre operated by Bedford College. The centre offers a range of part-time courses for the Queens Park community, covering a range of subjects from child care and computing to English language skills and maths.[9]

Jamia Masjid Gulshani Baghdad Mosque in Queens Park

Religious sites

Community facilities

Allen Park Recreation Ground

The area is on a main bus route into Bedford town centre. The main open space in Queens Park is located along the riverside as well as the Allen Park Recreation Ground. There is also a provision of allotments located on the western edge of the area. Queens Park Community Centre is situated on Marlborough Road.[14]

References

  1. ↑ "Neighbourhood Statistics - Queen's Park (Ward)". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 4 February 2008.
  2. ↑ NJ Greenaway, Some notes on the history of Queens Park, 1980
  3. ↑ "'History of Bedford'". Bedford.gov.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  4. ↑ http://www.wellsandyoungs.co.uk/ Wells & Young's Brewery
  5. ↑ http://www.queensparkacademy.co.uk/ Queens Park Academy
  6. ↑ "St Joseph's Lower School". Schools.bedfordshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  7. ↑ http://www.westfieldschool.net/ Westfield Middle School
  8. ↑ "'Bedfordshire School Catchment Areas'". Bedford.gov.uk. 2011-09-01. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  9. ↑ Enterprise House with Bedford College
  10. ↑ "All Saints Church, Queens Park". Allsaintsbedford.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  11. ↑ "Bedford Moravian Church". Moravian.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 http://bedfordmuslims.co.uk/ Queens Park & Bedford Mosques
  13. ↑ http://www.bedfordgurdwara.co.uk/ Queens Park & Bedford Gurdwara (Sikh Temple)
  14. ↑ "Queens Park Community Centre". Bedford.gov.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-06.

External links