Biggleswade

A town of some 17,000 inhabitants in the county of Bedfordshire, Biggleswade stands on the River Ivel some twelve miles east of Bedford and not far from the Hertfordshire border. The town grew up where the Great North Road crossed the river and it owed its early prosperity to that highway. Inns sprang up in profusion to serve the travellers who rested here whilst coach horses were changed and the town had a fine reputation for hospitality. In later years the River Ivel was made navigable and waterborne trade added to the town's prosperity although this was largely ousted by the building of the Kings Cross to York and Edinburgh railway, a route on which Biggleswade had its own station which was opened in 1850.

The River Ivel is now an angling and pleasure river; the Great North Road by-passes the town centre and the main rail route, now electrified, no longer conveys vegetables from the market gardens around Biggleswade to the London markets. The rich soil of this part of Bedfordshire still produces abundant crops from the many acres of market garden and the town still has milling interests. New light industries have come into Biggleswade and another estate of factories is being developed to the south of the town.

However, it is as a residential town that Biggleswade thrives today. Many residential roads have been built in recent years and future plans for the town see a continued growth in the building of homes. The town centre enhancement scheme was completed in late summer 1998.  The aim of the enhancement scheme was to improve the area and bring back vitality into the town making it a pleasant place to work and shop.

Biggleswade retains its busy Saturday market and has new buildings and features such as the library, recreation centre, swimming pool and several schools, all of which give the town a forward looking impetus. The building used as the town hall many years ago is now used as a shop and still dominates the market square and the old and interesting parish church, with its handsome tower, is still a reminder that Biggleswade has been a place of note for many years. Leisure activities are many and varied and the number of local organisations is high, including two Rotary Clubs. Around the town is a very pleasant and largely unspoilt countryside with many buildings and places to see. Good road and rail services put all these places within easy reach and Biggleswade is now, by fast electric trains, only 40 minutes from London.