Wootton, Bedfordshire

Wootton is a large village and civil parish located to the south-west of Bedford, in the north of Bedfordshire, England. The parish also includes the hamlets of Hall End, Keeley Green and Wootton Green.

Wootton

St Mary's Church

Village sign
Wootton
Location within Bedfordshire
Population4,156 (2011)
OS grid referenceTL005455
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBEDFORD
Postcode districtMK43
Dialling code01234
PoliceBedfordshire
FireBedfordshire and Luton
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament

History

Wootton has had a long association with brick-making, but is now mainly a dormitory community for Bedford and Milton Keynes. In the 18th century church bells were made here for several churches in Bedfordshire and adjoining counties.[1] There has been a great deal of residential development over the last 30 years but some attractive old timber-framed houses still survive. The Church of St Mary the Virgin in the village is mainly 14th century but contains two fine monuments in the chancel to members of the Monoux family who died in 1685 and 1707. To the west of the church is Wootton House, an impressive late 17th-century house with a contemporary, red brick stable block.

Demography

The Domesday Book of 1086, listed Wootton as having 26 residents (20 villagers and six slaves) across ten hides.[2] By 1901, the population had risen to 1,252. The population remained fairly steady throughout the first half of the 20th century. But by 1971, the population had climbed to 2,386, a 35.61% (1010 residents) increase within ten years.[3] By 2001 that figure was 4,230.

According to the 2011 Census, the area covered by Wootton civil parish had 4,156 residents who lived in 1,654 households. The median age of the population is 44. Of these residents, 83% describe their health as "good" or "very good" and 2.6% of economically active people aged 16–74 were unemployed.[4]

Village expansion

Wootton is currently expanding in size.

Housing plans include:[5]

  • More than 1000 new houses on fields situated next to the A421 road.
  • Possible plans to build another 1000 houses on fields located on the road between the village and Kempston.
  • an upper school
  • small doctors Surgery
  • three shops
  • Salon
  • five Pubs
  • football club
  • Car Dealership
  • Garage
  • Office spaces
  • elderly Residential Home
  • three churches
  • library
  • fields


Development of Wooton Park as part of the expansion project was led by a consortium of Bovis, Bellway and Taylor Wimpey. ECL Civil Engineering was the sole civil engineering contractor on the 600 homes development south of the village of Wootton.

Sport and leisure

Wootton has a Non-League football team Wootton Blue Cross F.C., founded in 1887. For the 2020-21 season, they are members of the Bedfordshire County Football League Premier Division. Wootton Blue Cross play at Weston Park, that has a capacity of 750. The clubs most successful season came in the 2002-03 season, when they reached the 4th round of the FA Vase.

Public houses in Wootton
  • The Fox and Duck
  • Cock Inn
  • The Chequers Inn
  • The Legstraps
  • The Blue Cross Members Club
  • The Cross Keys (Tre Fratelli)

Shops in Wootton
  • Tesco Express
  • Rumbles Fish & Chips
  • Pats Pizza
  • Pharmacy
  • Wootton Garage
  • Medical Health Centre
  • Women Salon
  • Sainsbury’s Local
  • Londis / Post Office

Services in Wootton
  • Wootton Library
  • A number of independent companies
    • A R Security Systems
    • All About The Office Ltd
    • Assegai Security Solutions
    • Asta ay Permanent Make Up
    • Bedford Electrical
    • Coromel Cakes
    • D Young Carpentry Joinery and Renovations
    • Dream Digital
    • Floral Art By Ronnie
    • Foxglove Florals
    • Fresh Bites Catering
    • Hands in Harmony Home Care Services
    • Home Instead Senior Care
    • Pin Wizard
    • Simms Stuart
  • Bizzy Bees Pre-school
  • Wootton Vale Retirement Community

Notable residents

See also

References
  1. "Wootton Church". Bedfordshire County Council. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
  2. "Wootton Community Archives - Introduction". Bedfordshire County Council. Retrieved 2 February 2008.
  3. "Wootton AP/CP: Total Population - Introduction". Vision of Britain. Retrieved 2 February 2008.
  4. "Neighbourhood Statistics - Wootton (CP) Parish". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  5. "Wootton Development Brief". Bedford Borough Council. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
Wootton from a glider
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