| The 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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