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Parish of Campton and Chicksands (which was
formed in 1985) is situated approximately 9 miles
southeast of the town of Bedford, 13 miles from Junction
13 on the M1 and 7 miles from Junction 10 on the A1.
The village of Campton is built
around the 13th century All Saints'
Church and stands on a tributary of the
river Ivel. It has a number of old and interesting buildings
including The Manor house, built in 1591, and a 18th
century Rectory. Robert Bloomfield (1766-1823), a
poet, renowned for his poem 'The Farmer's Boy' is buried
in All Saints' churchyard. Today, the village Consists
of approximately 200 dwellings, a public house, a
lower school, a village hall and a recreation ground. It has
a thriving community with many clubs and societies.
Chicksands adjoins to the northern
edge of the village, and consists
almost entirely of the wooded Chicksands
Priory estate. It was an American military base until
1995 then reopened as the British Intelligence &
Security Centre in 1997. The Priory (which was granted
the Gilbertine Order in 1150) can be visited by appointment
arranged by 'The Friends
of Chicksands'. Mid Beds Council Offices are situated at Chicksands
along with appoximately 100 ex-ministry houses which
have been sold to the public and are occupied privately
.
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