Leighton Buzzard Guide
Review of the town of Leighton Buzzard, located in the county of Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom.
Leighton Buzzard Bedfordshire
Leighton Buzzard Factfile -
Location: Bedfordshire, England UK.
Population: 32,417.
Leighton Buzzard History: It is thought that there were settlements in or around what is now called Leighton Buzzard going back to prehistoric times, ancient artefacts and coins found nearby give evidence of this. The ancient Watling Street (built by the Romans), now known as the A5, passed through nearby Dunstable and Hockliffe some 2,000 years ago, and the Romans would have at least known of the village at this time. The Romans were followed by the Anglo-Saxons, who were using the market place during the 10th Century, and artefacts found suggest that they were inhabiting the area probably from the 6th Century. The village as such is not mentioned until 906 when the Danes made a peace treaty at Tiddenfoot, the Domesday Book (1086) described Leighton Manor. The ecclesiastical parish of Leighton Buzzard, historically, encompassed a much larger area than just the town itself, and included the hamlets of Billington, Eggington, Heath & Reach and Stanbridge. The "Leighton" appears to come from the old English for "a clearing in the woods", the "Buzzard" was not added until the 12th Century when the Dean of Lincoln needed to differentiate it from another "Leighton" within his diocese. The Manors of Leighton were let to various tenants over the centuries, including the Leighs of Stoneleigh, who supported Charles I during the English Civil War (1642-1645). Leighton Buzzard continued to grow during the ensuing years and the arrival of a railway and a canal during the 19th Century saw the town develop and grow. Modern day Leighton Buzzard is a thriving market town which has seen increased development in recent years.
Leighton Buzzard Places of Interest: All Saints Church dating from 1277, and its 190 foot spire, Leighton Buzzard Light Railway, a narrow guage heritage railway which runs for 5½ miles from the station in Pages Park, Billington Road, the railway uses restored steam engines, Stockgrove Country Park, a 40 acre park at nearby Heath and Reach with lake, picnic area and woodland walks.
Leighton Buzzard Hotels:
The Swan Hotel - 50 High Street Leighton Buzzard Bedfordshire LU7 1EA.
Leighton Buzzard lies just off the A5 (Watling Street), the A505 and the A4146.