Eggington
Encyclopedia
Egginton – or Eggington as it is now known – is a village and civil parish in the Central Bedfordshire
district of Bedfordshire
, England
, about three miles east of Leighton Buzzard
. Apart from the village itself, the parish also includes the hamlet
of Briggington on the road to Leighton Buzzard
, and the hamlet of Clipstone
to the north of Clipstone Brook. The hamlet of Leedon
was in Eggington parish, but it is now part of Leighton Buzzard.
The village is relatively small – some 225 residents, living in approximately 120 houses; it now has an Indian
restaurant, a church and a village hall
, formerly the village school (which closed in 1984). The Congregational chapel was pulled down in the 1970s: the village shop also closed in that era, and the old Methodist chapel was converted to a dwelling in 1988.
Nearby places are Leighton Buzzard, to the west, Hockliffe
, to the east and Stanbridge
to the south. At the eastern end of the village is Eggington House
built in 1696. In the 1970s this was the home of Sir Gilbert Inglefield (a former Lord Mayor of London) but is currently the home of Lord Slynn of Hadley, the first English judge to move from the Queen's Bench Division to the Court of Justice of the European Community in Luxembourg, where he was one of six Advocates General.
The White House – a former parsonage in the village – became a home for displaced children during/after the war. In the late 1970s it became a care home for the elderly.
The Horseshoes pub
was replaced by Lavang – an Indian restaurant – in 2007.
Contrary to the historic law, local resident and entrepreneur Anne Parkinson obtained a license to sell alcohol in the local town hall on a regular basis. Close friend who asked not to be named quoted her in saying "we were so successful on our first evening, that we sold out all 2 kegs of beer in the first two hours, and made £900. I can't wait for my pockets to be lined after the next one..."
The farming culture is something that has lived on through history in Egginton, and Egginton was made famous by the chief bull of the village, who was known only as Sam. The legend reads that Sam one day leapt over the cattle grid and ran rampant around the village. Having charged over 3 innocent bystanders walking their dogs, Sam actually destroyed a tractor when the local farmer tried to herd him back to his field. In the end, Sam was lured into the field using 100 virgin cows.
Stories were told in the 60's that likened Sam to the Minotaur, given his ability to speak to people trespassing through his field. It was later discovered that said people were in the field to pick rare opiates, and such conversations were only taking place in their minds.
In 2009, it is said that Sam the bull died age 109, the eldest member of the village.
Eggington is part of the political ward of 'Heath and Reach' which sends a Councillor to Central Bedfordshire Council. The ward includes the villages of Heath and Reach, Hockliffe, Eggington, Stanbridge, Tilsworth, Tebworth, and Wingrave. The ward was created in 2011 and has since been represented by Councillor Mark Versallion
.
Central Bedfordshire
Central Bedfordshire is a unitary authority in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. It was created from the merger of Bedfordshire County Council, Mid Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire on 1 April 2009...
district of Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, about three miles east of Leighton Buzzard
Leighton Buzzard
-Lower schools:*Beaudesert Lower School - Apennine Way*Clipstone Brook Lower School - Brooklands Drive*Greenleas Lower School - Derwent Road*Dovery Down Lower School - Heath Road*Heathwood Lower School - Heath Road*Leedon Lower School - Highfield Road...
. Apart from the village itself, the parish also includes the hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Briggington on the road to Leighton Buzzard
Leighton Buzzard
-Lower schools:*Beaudesert Lower School - Apennine Way*Clipstone Brook Lower School - Brooklands Drive*Greenleas Lower School - Derwent Road*Dovery Down Lower School - Heath Road*Heathwood Lower School - Heath Road*Leedon Lower School - Highfield Road...
, and the hamlet of Clipstone
Clipstone, Bedfordshire
Clipstone is a small hamlet in Bedfordshire, England. It lies within the parish of Eggington that borders with Leighton Buzzard, Heath and Reach and Hockliffe...
to the north of Clipstone Brook. The hamlet of Leedon
Leedon
Leedon is a former hamlet in Bedfordshire, England, which is now part of Leighton Buzzard town.Originally, Leedon was a small rural settlement and was part of the Eggington civil parish. However, the expansion of Leighton Buzzard eastwards led to Leedon being encompassed in the wider...
was in Eggington parish, but it is now part of Leighton Buzzard.
The village is relatively small – some 225 residents, living in approximately 120 houses; it now has an Indian
Indian cuisine
Indian cuisine consists of thousands of regional cuisines which date back thousands of years. The dishes of India are characterised by the extensive use of various Indian spices, herbs, vegetables and fruit. Indian cuisine is also known for the widespread practice of vegetarianism in Indian society...
restaurant, a church and a village hall
Village hall
In the United States, a village hall is the seat of government for villages. It functions much as a city hall does within cities.In the United Kingdom, a village hall is usually a building within a village which contains at least one large room, usually owned by and run for the benefit of the local...
, formerly the village school (which closed in 1984). The Congregational chapel was pulled down in the 1970s: the village shop also closed in that era, and the old Methodist chapel was converted to a dwelling in 1988.
Nearby places are Leighton Buzzard, to the west, Hockliffe
Hockliffe
Hockliffe is a village and civil parish in Bedfordshire on the crossroads of the A5 road which lies upon the course of the roman road known as Watling Street and the A4012 road.It is about four miles east of Leighton Buzzard...
, to the east and Stanbridge
Stanbridge, Bedfordshire
Stanbridge is a village and civil parish in Bedfordshire which lies east of Leighton Buzzard. It also borders the Bedfordshire villages of Hockliffe, Eggington, Tilsworth, Totternhoe and Billington...
to the south. At the eastern end of the village is Eggington House
Eggington House
Eggington House is the manor house of the village of Eggington situated near Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, England. The house is regarded as a very fine example of late 17th century domestic architecture, and is a Grade II* listed building...
built in 1696. In the 1970s this was the home of Sir Gilbert Inglefield (a former Lord Mayor of London) but is currently the home of Lord Slynn of Hadley, the first English judge to move from the Queen's Bench Division to the Court of Justice of the European Community in Luxembourg, where he was one of six Advocates General.
The White House – a former parsonage in the village – became a home for displaced children during/after the war. In the late 1970s it became a care home for the elderly.
The Horseshoes pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
was replaced by Lavang – an Indian restaurant – in 2007.
Contrary to the historic law, local resident and entrepreneur Anne Parkinson obtained a license to sell alcohol in the local town hall on a regular basis. Close friend who asked not to be named quoted her in saying "we were so successful on our first evening, that we sold out all 2 kegs of beer in the first two hours, and made £900. I can't wait for my pockets to be lined after the next one..."
The farming culture is something that has lived on through history in Egginton, and Egginton was made famous by the chief bull of the village, who was known only as Sam. The legend reads that Sam one day leapt over the cattle grid and ran rampant around the village. Having charged over 3 innocent bystanders walking their dogs, Sam actually destroyed a tractor when the local farmer tried to herd him back to his field. In the end, Sam was lured into the field using 100 virgin cows.
Stories were told in the 60's that likened Sam to the Minotaur, given his ability to speak to people trespassing through his field. It was later discovered that said people were in the field to pick rare opiates, and such conversations were only taking place in their minds.
In 2009, it is said that Sam the bull died age 109, the eldest member of the village.
Eggington is part of the political ward of 'Heath and Reach' which sends a Councillor to Central Bedfordshire Council. The ward includes the villages of Heath and Reach, Hockliffe, Eggington, Stanbridge, Tilsworth, Tebworth, and Wingrave. The ward was created in 2011 and has since been represented by Councillor Mark Versallion
Mark Versallion
Cllr Mark Anthony Gaius Versallion is a British politician, businessman, and officer in the Royal Naval Reserve. He was Prospective Member of Parliament for Stretford and Urmston from 2007-09 and from 2009-11 was Chairman of the of the Conservative Party....
.