Like us on Facebook

MENU
Europe
England
Bedfordshire
Ampthill
Arlesey
Aspley Guise
Barton-le-Clay
Bedford
Beeston
Biggleswade
Billington
Bletsoe
Blunham
Bolnhurst
Box End
Bromham
Broom
Caddington
Cardington
Carlton
Chalton
Chawston
Chicksands
Clapham
Clifton
Cople
Cranfield
Dunstable
Elstow
Eversholt
Eyeworth
Felmersham
Flitton
Flitwick
Great Barford
Harlington
Harrold
Haynes
Heath and Reach
Henlow
Hockliffe
Houghton Conquest
Houghton Regis
Husborne Crawley
Ickwell
Kempston
Kensworth
Keysoe
Langford
Leighton Buzzard
Lidlington
Linslade
Little Staughton
Luton
Marston Moreteyne
Maulden
Meppershall
Millbrook
Milton Bryan
Milton Ernest
Moggerhanger
Northill
Oakley
Odell
Old Warden
Pavenham
Pegsdon
Pertenhall
Podington
Potton
Pulloxhill
Radwell
Ravensden
Renhold
Ridgmont
Riseley
Roxton
Sandy
Sewell
Sharnbrook
Shefford
Shillington
Souldrop
Stagsden
Stanbridge
Steppingley
Stevington
Stewartby
Stotfold
Streatley
Studham
Swineshead
Tempsford
Thurleigh
Tilsworth
Tingrith
Toddington
Totternhoe
Turvey
Westoning
Whipsnade
Wilden
Wilstead
Wixams
Woburn
Wootton
Wrestlingworth
Wyboston
Wymington
Yielden
Things to do in Bolnhurst
Things to do in Bedfordshire


PLACE NAMES




Bolnhurst


Bolnhurst is a small village in the civil parish of Bolnhurst and Keysoe, in the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire. The village is about 7 miles (11 km) north-northeast of Bedford and about 6 miles (10 km) west of St Neots.

The name is derived from the Old English bula-hyrst, meaning "wooded hill where bulls are kept".

Bolnhurst grew up around the main road between Bedford and Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire. the Domesday Book of 1086 lists it as Bulehestre or Bolehestre. At that time the manor was held by Thorney Abbey. The Abbey retained Bolnhurst until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century.

After inclosure of the parish in 1778, Arthur Young, despite never having visited the village, described Bolnhurst as:
a wet heavy bad country very disadvantageously circumstanced respecting roads, for every way around they are almost impassable... after inclosing fell into bad hands, they laid much of it down to grass in as bad order as possible, and it has continued so ever since in as rough and ill conditioned and unprofitable a state as can be well conceived... It should seem that corn has there been lessened without making amends for the loss by ample products of new grass.
Bolnhurst has a pub, The Plough, which is a 17th-century Jacobean building.

Since 1984 Bolnhurst has hosted the annual Bolnhurst Vintage and Country Fayre, which is a rally of historic tractors, cars and other vehicles.

The Church of England parish church of St Dunstan is about 2/5 mile (1 km) southwest of the current village. The earliest part of the present building is the 13th-century chancel. The chancel arch and three of the nave windows are 14th-century, including a three-light Decorated Gothic traceried one on the south side. But most of the nave is now Perpendicular Gothic, including two transomed and traceried windows on the north side.

Inside the nave over the north door is the remains of a large medieval wall painting of St Christopher. In the northeast corner of the nave are monuments to two members of the Francklin family: John (died 1707) and Dame Dorothy (died 1727).

St Dunstan's is a Grade II* listed building. The ecclesiastical parish is part of the Benefice of Keysoe with Bolnhurst and Little Staughton.

The tower has a ring of four bells. John Dier of Hitchin, Hertfordshire cast the second and third bells in 1587. One of the Newcombe family of bellfounders from Leicester cast the tenor bell in 1618. Alfred Bowell of Ipswich, Suffolk cast the treble bell in 1907.



leonedgaroldbury@yahoo.co.ukFeel free to Email me any additions or corrections


LINKS AVAILABLE TO YOUR SITE


Leon Edgar Books