Linslade

The earliest records of Linslade are of an Anglo-Saxon Manor,[8] at the site of present-day Old Linslade,[9] in 975 belonging to "Azelina", Ralph Tailbois' wife. The original Anglo-Saxon settlement of Linslade—prominent during the 13th century—was not located at the modern site, but was further north. It later became the hamlet of Old Linslade, superseding the original location of the 1840s. This transpired after massive growth associated with the construction of the Grand Union Canal and—particularly—the London and Birmingham Railway (now known as the West Coast Main Line). Linslade underwent a second major period of expansion, again associated with the railways, during the 1970s.

After the 1066 Norman Conquest, the manor was taken over by the de Beauchamp family. In 1251 a royal charter was granted to William de Beauchamp to hold a weekly market in Linslade, as well as a yearly 8-day fair. This grant was made on account of a Holy Well or Spring, located to the north of the village, which was a site of major pilgrimage. The holy well, which was a fabricated miracle to bring souls to the shrinking congregation of Old Linslade, was where the canal is sited today not far from the church.

In 1299, however, Oliver Sutton, Bishop of Lincoln, warned pilgrims off by threatening those who did not desist with excommunication.[10] His reason for this is either that the well was unconsecrated[3] or that the miracles being attested to happen at the well were in fact fraudulent.[6] The vicar of Linslade—who did not dissuade the pilgrimages from visiting the spring because of the offerings they made—was forced to appear at the bishop's court.

Without the pilgrims, the importance of Linslade declined. But in the 15th century, the original 12th-century church, dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, was rebuilt.

A second settlement—known as Chelsea New Town[11]—began growing to south of the original Linslade on the Buckinghamshire-side of the crossing into Leighton Buzzard. At the beginning of the 19th century the parish population was 203, but in 1805 the Grand Union Canal was opened on the Linslade-side of the River Ouzel, and in 1838 the London & North Western Railway built a railway line alongside the canal.[12] This precipitated a rapid growth in population around the station, so that by 1840 the parish of Linslade had 869 residents. This prompted the vicar of Linslade, the Rev. B. Perkins, to set about fundraising for a school for the parish's poor, and a church for the New Town. Fundraising for the church was only completed by the Rev. Perkin's successor, Rev. Peter Thomas Ouvry; and its completion in 1849 marks the point that the New Town had become Linslade.

The name Chelsea Green exists as a street name in modern Linslade.

From the 1840s, Linslade grew steadily, although dipping during the Wars.[13] But at the end of the 1960s a sustained period of development began which saw major housing estates added, so that by the end of the 1970s the town had over doubled in size. This saw an influx of commuters to these houses, swelling of the population to something close to its present level.

Since the 1980s expansion has been constrained by Green Belt, with constructed limited to infilling packets of lands left undeveloped, or redeveloping older sites. But with the construction of the Linslade Western Bypass (A4146), and the government demanding many more houses in the South-East, residents fear that a new period of expansion may be just around the corner.

Linslade has no high street. Small, family run shops are clustered at the "Centre of Linslade", where three arterial roads converge to cross the canal and river. (Note, however, that Linslade's "Centre" is not its geographical centre.) Many of these buildings are Victorian in origin, as are all pubs, and the Hunt Hotel.

In recent years the area between the river and the canal has been redeveloped – adding Waitrose, Tesco, Aldi, and Homebase superstores. Other high-street stores and boutique shops, restaurants, bakery and butchers can be found in Leighton; or, failing that, at Milton Keynes. There are also corner shops.

Bedfordshire operates a three-tier education system, with Lower-, Middle and Upper Schools. Linslade has three Lower Schools (Linslade Lower, Southcott Lower, and Greenleas Lower) distributed relatively evenly across town; with a Middle School (Linslade Middle) and an Upper school (The Cedars) located opposite each other, on the edge of town.

Catchment areas for the Leighton-Linslade mean that some Linslade children attend Middle School in Leighton Buzzard and some Leighton children attend Upper School in Linslade, adding to traffic problems.

• Linslade Lower School
• Southcott Lower School
• Greenleas Lower School
• Linslade Middle School
• Cedars Upper School

The 1970s expansion added one community centre on Bideford Green, run by a Residents Association; this includes a small bar. This can be hired out for public use, and is used for dance lessons and martial arts, as well as a polling station. Dance classes can also be taken at another community centre – the Forster Institute; and the Leanne Hughes dance school next to the station. Linslade Parish Hall (St Barnabas' Church Hall – a school unto 1961) is used by many Leighton-Linslade organisations, including Tai Chi groups, and is undergoing a programme of renovation and extension. Nyamba Scout Hut is home to 1st Linslade Scouts and Guides, as well as playgroups.

Linslade has two semi-wild park areas. Linslade Wood (colloquially called Bluebell Wood) is a mature woodland dating back to at least the 16th century. Tiddenfoot Pit, a former quarry, turned into a lake and wildlife area. Both are managed by Greensands Trust. Stockgrove Country Park and Rushmere Country Park are nearby.

Additional there are parks suitable for teenagers to kick around a football, and for dogs to run about, as well as fenced off play areas for young children, containing slides and swings.

As well as being home to several junior football teams, Linslade is represented at senior level by local 5-a-side team, Sporting Linslade. Sporting Linslade are the current Division 3 champions, their only domestic trophy to date.[14] Sporting Linslade were chosen as the 5-a-side team of the year in the national Carling One-All Awards 2009.[15]