Elstow
Encyclopedia
Elstow is a village
and civil parish in the English
county
of Bedfordshire
. John Bunyan
, was born here - at Bunyan's End, which lay approximately halfway between the hamlet of Harrowden
and Elstow's High Street.
nunnery in Elstow in the year 1078. The Elstow nuns came from wealthy families and each came with an endowment of money and/or lands. So, by 1538 Elstow Abbey
was valued as being the eighth richest nunnery in England. On 26 August 1539, the Abbess
was forced to surrender the Abbey, the manor of Elstow and all the Abbey's other lands and estates throughout England, to King Henry VIII
, as part of his Dissolution of the Monasteries
. So large and significant was the Abbey at Elstow that, even after the dissolution, the building was being considered for elevation to cathedral
status, but this never transpired.
The Saunderson Tractor and Implement Co.
was founded in Elstow in 1890: it was one of the biggest tractor makers by the time of the First World War. From an undisclosed date the firm continued as the Bedford Plough and Engineering Co.
's southern bypass, with the hamlet of Harrowden
lying just to the south-east of that road.
Elstow is now, effectively, a suburb of Bedford
with the old village now almost surrounded by 20th century housing. But the original village - now a conservation area
- remains intact, with some beautiful 13th - 17th century buildings and a tranquil Village green
is a little oasis of calm, an ideal place for a summer picnic. Visits to the historic Moot Hall and the 11th century Elstow Abbey
church are highly recommended, both for their beauty and historical importance.
(or the "Green House", as it was formerly known) stands in isolation on Elstow village green
. It was built in the 15th century partly to serve as a Market house
, with four shops on the ground floor. The building was extended, probably in the late 15th century, adding two more shop bays and two rooms suitable for living in. The latter were probably used to accommodate important visitors to the nearby Abbey.
For many years, it was thought that the downstairs shop bays were used between annual village fairs for storing the stalls and other equipment in connection with the Abbey's bi-annual fairs. However, investigations, carried out in the 1990s, into the building's construction indicated that these six downstairs shop bays had probably been permanent shops, used throughout the whole year.
The main upper room of this Tudor timber-framed building was probably originally used as the Abbess' court. It was certainly used after the dissolution as a manor court
- where people who had committed local misdemeanors and petty crimes would be dealt with. Disputes arising during the Abbeys large four-day May fairs would also be heard and settled here. This room was probably also used through most of its history as a village meeting place - hence the present name - Moot
- the medieval word meaning 'meeting' Hall. Throughout much of the 19th century, the upper room was used every Sunday both as a school and, in the evening, by the Elstow congregation of the Bunyan Meeting Free Church, as a place of worship.
Moot Hall
was restored to its original medieval form by Bedfordshire County Council
in 1950. It is now cared for by Bedford Borough Council, which operates it as a museum
illustrating 17th century English life, with exhibitions of antique furniture and information relating to John Bunyan
.
Moot Hall is also used for art exhibitions, private and public meetings and is available to use for private functions, such as small receptions and musical evenings.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish in the English
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...
county
Counties of England
Counties of England are areas used for the purposes of administrative, geographical and political demarcation. For administrative purposes, England outside Greater London and the Isles of Scilly is divided into 83 counties. The counties may consist of a single district or be divided into several...
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....
. John Bunyan
John Bunyan
John Bunyan was an English Christian writer and preacher, famous for writing The Pilgrim's Progress. Though he was a Reformed Baptist, in the Church of England he is remembered with a Lesser Festival on 30 August, and on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church on 29 August.-Life:In 1628,...
, was born here - at Bunyan's End, which lay approximately halfway between the hamlet of Harrowden
Harrowden, Bedfordshire
Harrowden is a one street hamlet in the English county of Bedfordshire. The street runs from east to west parallel and to the south of the A421 Bedford Southern Bypass, and 200 metres to the north of the village of Shortstown...
and Elstow's High Street.
History
Countess Judith, niece of William the Conqueror founded a BenedictineBenedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
nunnery in Elstow in the year 1078. The Elstow nuns came from wealthy families and each came with an endowment of money and/or lands. So, by 1538 Elstow Abbey
Elstow Abbey
Elstow Abbey was a monastery for Benedictine nuns in Elstow, Bedfordshire, England. It was founded c.1075 by Judith, Countess of Huntingdon, a niece of William the Conqueror, and therefore is classed as a royal foundation...
was valued as being the eighth richest nunnery in England. On 26 August 1539, the Abbess
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
was forced to surrender the Abbey, the manor of Elstow and all the Abbey's other lands and estates throughout England, to King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
, as part of his Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
. So large and significant was the Abbey at Elstow that, even after the dissolution, the building was being considered for elevation to cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
status, but this never transpired.
The Saunderson Tractor and Implement Co.
Saunderson Tractor and Implement Co.
H P Saunderson founded his Saunderson Tractor and Implement Company in Elstow, Bedford in 1890 after visiting Canada and seeing the Massey and Harris companies. In 1898 Saunderson demonstrated a "Self Moving Vehicle" at a trial organised at the Royal Show which it unfortunately failed to complete...
was founded in Elstow in 1890: it was one of the biggest tractor makers by the time of the First World War. From an undisclosed date the firm continued as the Bedford Plough and Engineering Co.
Elstow today
The village and most of the populated part of Elstow parish are located inside BedfordBedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
's southern bypass, with the hamlet of Harrowden
Harrowden, Bedfordshire
Harrowden is a one street hamlet in the English county of Bedfordshire. The street runs from east to west parallel and to the south of the A421 Bedford Southern Bypass, and 200 metres to the north of the village of Shortstown...
lying just to the south-east of that road.
Elstow is now, effectively, a suburb of Bedford
Bedford (borough)
Bedford is a unitary authority with the status of a borough in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. Its council is based at Bedford, which is also the county town of Bedfordshire. The borough contains a single urban area, the 69th largest in the United Kingdom that comprises Bedford and...
with the old village now almost surrounded by 20th century housing. But the original village - now a conservation area
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
- remains intact, with some beautiful 13th - 17th century buildings and a tranquil Village green
Village green
A village green is a common open area which is a part of a settlement. Traditionally, such an area was often common grass land at the centre of a small agricultural settlement, used for grazing and sometimes for community events...
is a little oasis of calm, an ideal place for a summer picnic. Visits to the historic Moot Hall and the 11th century Elstow Abbey
Elstow Abbey
Elstow Abbey was a monastery for Benedictine nuns in Elstow, Bedfordshire, England. It was founded c.1075 by Judith, Countess of Huntingdon, a niece of William the Conqueror, and therefore is classed as a royal foundation...
church are highly recommended, both for their beauty and historical importance.
Elstow Moot Hall
Elstow Moot HallMoot hall
A moot hall is meeting or assembly building, traditionally to decide local issues.In Anglo-Saxon England, a low ring-shaped earthwork served as a moot hill or moot mound, where the elders of the hundred would meet to take decisions. Some of these acquired permanent buildings, known as moot halls...
(or the "Green House", as it was formerly known) stands in isolation on Elstow village green
Village green
A village green is a common open area which is a part of a settlement. Traditionally, such an area was often common grass land at the centre of a small agricultural settlement, used for grazing and sometimes for community events...
. It was built in the 15th century partly to serve as a Market house
Market house
A market house or country market is a type of building traditionally used as a marketplace at street level and for public functions on the upper floor....
, with four shops on the ground floor. The building was extended, probably in the late 15th century, adding two more shop bays and two rooms suitable for living in. The latter were probably used to accommodate important visitors to the nearby Abbey.
For many years, it was thought that the downstairs shop bays were used between annual village fairs for storing the stalls and other equipment in connection with the Abbey's bi-annual fairs. However, investigations, carried out in the 1990s, into the building's construction indicated that these six downstairs shop bays had probably been permanent shops, used throughout the whole year.
The main upper room of this Tudor timber-framed building was probably originally used as the Abbess' court. It was certainly used after the dissolution as a manor court
Manor court
The manor court was the lowest court of law in England . It dealt with matters over which the Lord of the Manor had jurisdiction. Its powers extended only to those living in the manor or who held land at the manor-Basic functions:Each Manor has its own laws listed in a document called the Custamal...
- where people who had committed local misdemeanors and petty crimes would be dealt with. Disputes arising during the Abbeys large four-day May fairs would also be heard and settled here. This room was probably also used through most of its history as a village meeting place - hence the present name - Moot
Moot
Moot may refer to:* from Moot as an Old English language term for meeting:**Folkmoot**Jamtamót, the old assembly of Jämtland**Witenagemot, the High Council of Anglo-Saxon England...
- the medieval word meaning 'meeting' Hall. Throughout much of the 19th century, the upper room was used every Sunday both as a school and, in the evening, by the Elstow congregation of the Bunyan Meeting Free Church, as a place of worship.
Moot Hall
Moot hall
A moot hall is meeting or assembly building, traditionally to decide local issues.In Anglo-Saxon England, a low ring-shaped earthwork served as a moot hill or moot mound, where the elders of the hundred would meet to take decisions. Some of these acquired permanent buildings, known as moot halls...
was restored to its original medieval form by Bedfordshire County Council
Bedfordshire County Council
Bedfordshire County Council was the county council of the non-metropolitan county of Bedfordshire in England. It was established in 1889 and was abolished on 1 April 2009. The county council was based in Bedford. It was replaced with three unitary authorities: Bedford Borough Council, Central...
in 1950. It is now cared for by Bedford Borough Council, which operates it as a museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
illustrating 17th century English life, with exhibitions of antique furniture and information relating to John Bunyan
John Bunyan
John Bunyan was an English Christian writer and preacher, famous for writing The Pilgrim's Progress. Though he was a Reformed Baptist, in the Church of England he is remembered with a Lesser Festival on 30 August, and on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church on 29 August.-Life:In 1628,...
.
Moot Hall is also used for art exhibitions, private and public meetings and is available to use for private functions, such as small receptions and musical evenings.
External links
- Elstow Abbey
- Elstow Community Pages at the Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records ServiceBedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records ServiceThe Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service is a county record office, holding archival material associated with Bedfordshire and Luton. Established in 1913 by George Herbert Fowler as the Bedfordshire Record Office, it was the first county record office in England. It is located in...
- Elstow Parish council
- genuki.org – Historical information about Elstow
- Moot Hall's official website
- Photographs of Elstow - Moot Hall Collection
- Photographs - Flickr images tagged Elstow