Brickhill Timeline
Brickhill’s past has been varied and interesting so we have tried to summarise it as best as we can in a Timeline format. It is best read in conjunction with out history page. If you can think of anything to add, discover any old photos etc, please drop us a line.
1750
Brickhill Farm House mentioned in ‘a terrier’. A terrier being a register of landed property.
1765
Brickhill Farm shown on Jeffrey’s Map of Bedfordshire
1807
John Foster of Brickhill House wrote a pamphlet, ‘Observations on the Agriculture of North Bedfordshire’. There is a copy of this pamphlet in The Heritage Library, Bedford Central Library.
1821
John’s son Algernon Foster dies in Dresden and is commemorated by the erection of a monument in the grounds of Brickhill House.
1824
The American, Washington Irving, author of ‘Rip Van Winkle’ visits Brickhill House.
1861
Brickhill House leased to Alexander Pym ancestor of Francis Pym, prominent politician of the 20th century, until 1880.
1927
Frank Brightman, tenant of Brickhill Farm, purchases Brickhill House from the Foster family.
1930
Emily Foster’s journal is published.
1946
Brickhill House destroyed by fire on Boxing Day.
1954
Bedford Borough Council purchases the Brickhill Farm estate.
1956
Planning for Brickhill Estate reaches an advanced stage. It was decided that the estate would consist of 900 houses, two churches, a garage and a group of shops.
1959
The first house is occupied (in Robin Hill).
1960
Brickhill County Infants School now Brickhill Primary School is opened.
1962
Brickhill shopping centre officially opens in January. The shops were seven in number and comprised a self service store, dry cleaners, newsagents and post office, chemists, butchers, hair stylists and a greengrocers.
1963
Brickhill County Primary Junior School opens in October with The Bird in Hand Public House opening in December.
1966
Building of a further residential estate known as North Brickhill begins and the Avon Drive community facilities are planned.
1967
Manton Primary School opens followed by Parkwood Middle School.
1976
Kelly’s Bedford Directory of 1976, the last published, lists the following shops: Murdoch Norton, grocers; Beswick & Holmes, newsagents and post office; A.R. Miller, chemists; Maria, ladies’ hairdresser; F.Harris, butchers; H.F. Keech, fruiterer.
1981
1993
Parkwood and Brickhill Middle Schools merge as Beauchamp Middle School.
1993
Elections are held for Brickhill Urban Community Council, forerunner of the Brickhill Parish Council.
2004
Following a residents’ petition the Government establishes Brickhill as a Parish Council.
2015
Woodlands Park formally became part of Brickhill parish in 2015 but remains part of Great Barford ward for elections to Bedford Borough Council.