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| Lidlington | |
|---|---|
 Lidlington High Street | |
  Lidlington Location withinBedfordshire | |
| Population | 1,347 (2011 Census)[1] |
| OS grid reference | SP989390 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | bedford |
| Postcode district | MK43 |
| Dialling code | 01525 |
| Police | Bedfordshire |
| Fire | Bedfordshire and Luton |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| |
Lidlington is a small village andcivil parish inCentral Bedfordshire, England surrounded by farmland, in theMarston Vale. Thehamlets ofBoughton End andThrupp End are also part of the parish.
The village has an unusual Gothic-style church built by the Duke of Bedford in 1845 and a thatched pub on its High Street. Lidlington is set on the Southern part of the vale's 'basin'. The village has a lower school for 5–9 year olds named after Thomas Johnson, aDick Whittington-type character who was Lord Mayor of London in 1840–41.
Brogborough Lake (also known as Lidlington Lake) at the edge of the village is popular forbirdwatching and fishing. The lake is also used forwindsurfing andstand up paddle surfing. The nearby landfill site (which was known as Brogborough Landfill site) was the largest landfill in Europe before closing to new deposits in 2009. With a population of about 1300 voters and over 500 homes, Lidlington is defined as a small village. It has a village hall, a pub, a hairdresser and a general store, plus a "farm store" on the A421. Lidlington has retained a daily doorstop milk and newspaper delivery service, but has lost its village post office. The village also has a single congregationAnglican/Baptist/Methodist church,[2] members of which worship regularly in the chapel.
The village lies between the mainA421Bedford toMilton Keynes road and theA507Ampthill toWoburn road.Lidlington railway station is on theMarston Vale Line which gives good access for walkers along theGreensand Ridge long-distance footpath which passes nearby the village. Local speculation is that the ridge was the model for the "Delectable Mountains" inJohn Bunyan'sPilgrim's Progress. Lidlington Hill may also be Bunyan's "Hill of Difficulty".
Lidlington is adjacent to the site of theMillbrook Proving Ground (formerly theVauxhall test track), which is distinguishable from the air by its large circular track. To the north of the Parish of Lidlington isCranfield Airport, used by small aircraft and for training flights.
To the west of the village at the former brick works is a business park which is home toAmazon.com UK. The former brickworks to the east of the village are known asLidlington Pit and forms part of the regeneration of theForest of Marston Vale area.
Like many other villages in the area it was formerly part of theDuke of Bedford's estate. Hence some London place names e.g.Bedford Square,Russell Square, Eversholt Street,Woburn Place and inCamden, NW1, Lidlington Place can be found nearMornington Crescent underground station.[clarification needed]
Lidlington United currently play in theBedfordshire Football League Premier Division after being promoted in three successive seasons. The village also has a cricket team, and all-weather tennis courts at the recreation ground.
Lidlington is mentioned in theDomesday Book. The entry readsLitinclitone: Abbess of Barking.
In April 2008 the area was listed as a site for the Government's 'ECO-town' competition.
In July 2008 thebrownfield locations for the 'ECO-town' were dropped in favour of using the prime farmland surrounding Lidlington.
Early in 2009 the developers' plans for an 'ECO-town' were dropped.
