Bedfordshire: Local History Resources

The county of Bedfordshire in the East of England has many interesting communities with memories to share through video.

Contents Of This Page:

• Local History Videos
• What region is Bedfordshire In?Is Bedfordshire a city?
• What is the population of Bedfordshire?
• What towns and villages are in Bedfordshire?
• Bedfordshire Local History On Facebook
• Local History Groups And Resources In Bedfordshire

What region is Bedfordshire In?

Bedfordshire is in a region called the East of England. It’s found in the southern half of England about 60 miles north of London.

Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire surround Bedfordshire. It is sometimes considered part of England’s Home Counties, because of its proximity and economic connections to London, but is not part of the South East region.

Is Bedfordshire a city?

Bedfordshire is a historic and ceremonial county. Bedford is one of the county’s major centres of population, but is a town with less than 80,000 households and is not a city.

Around the county, you can find beautiful countryside at the Forest of Marston Vale, Greensand Ridge and the Dunstable Downs, stately homes and museums, Whipsnade Zoo, and 

Many new residents are drawn to Bedfordshire because of the good employment opportunities in a family-friendly environment.  

Others arrive to study at the University of Bedfordshire, which formed in August 2006 with the merger of the (now defunct) University of Luton with De Montfort University’s Bedford campus. Today it has six campuses across Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire providing a base to almost 20,000 UK and international students.

What is the population of Bedfordshire?

According to Central Bedfordshire Council, in mid-2018 the county’s population was estimated to be 283,600. More than half of these residents lived in either Luton or Bedford.

What towns and villages are in Bedfordshire?

The county of Bedfordshire does not have a city. But the county’s towns and villages include:

Bedfordshire Local History On Facebook

We didn’t find any relevant Facebook pages or groups about local history in Bedfordshire. If you know of one we’ve missed, please do get in touch.

Local History Groups And Resources In Bedfordshire

A1 Searchers Metal Detecting Club

Albion Archaeology Ltd (formerly Bedfordshire County Archaeology Service)

Ampthill & District Archaeological & Local History Society

Ampthill & District Preservation Society

Ampthill History Forum

Bedford Architectural, Archaeological & Local History Society

Bedfordshire Family History Society

Bedfordshire Gardens Trust

Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment Museum Collection

Bedfordshire Historical Record Society

Bedfordshire Libraries Virtual Library

Bedfordshire Local History Association (BLHA)

Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service

Bedfordshire War Memorials and Rolls of Honour

Bedfordshire Women’s Land Army

Biggleswade History Society

British Newspaper Archive

Caddington Local History Group

Carlton & Chellington Historical Society

Clapham Historical Society

Colmworth & Neighbours History Society

Dunstable & District Local History Society

Francis Frith Collection (Photographs)

Friends of Bedford Cemetery

Friends of Luton Museums

Gazeteer of markets and fairs in England and Wales to 1516

Harlington Heritage Trust

Heritage Gateway

The Higgins, Bedford (museum and art gallery)

Historical Directories of England & Wales

Historic Environment Record (HER) – Bedford Borough Council

Historypin

International John Bunyan Society

John Bunyan Museum Bedford

Langford & District History Society

Leighton Buzzard & District Archaeological & Historical Society

Luton & District Historical Society

Manshead Archaeological Society of Dunstable

Maulden History Society

Maypole Heritage

North East Medals 

Old Warden History and Heritage Society

Potton History Society

Riseley Historical Society

Rootsweb: Bedfordshire Genealogy – Bedfordshire Parishes

Rootsweb – Bedfordshire Genealogy – Military History

Rootsweb – Bedfordshire Geneaology – Railways

Roxton & District Local History Group

Sandy & District Historical Society

Sandy Historical Research Group

Sharnbrook Local History Group

Shortstown Heritage

Stevington Historical Trust

Toddington Historical Society

Turvey History Society

Victoria County History (Institute of Historical Research, University of London) 

Willington Local History Group

Woburn Abbey

Woburn Heritage Centre Trust

Woburn Sands & District Society

Wrestlingworth History Society

Wrest Park Volunteer History Research Team

In addition, there are many national resources (enough to justify their own page!) which could help your local history research.

Back to Home page.

Thanks to TheOtherKev from Pixabay for the photo at the top of this page.

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