Cauldwell, Bedford

Cauldwell is an electoral ward and area within the town of Bedford, England.

Cauldwell
Britannia Iron Works Gate in Cauldwell
Cauldwell is located in Bedfordshire
Cauldwell
Cauldwell
Location within Bedfordshire
Population8,656 [1]
9,681 (2011 Census.Ward)[2]
OS grid referenceTL050483
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBEDFORD
Postcode districtMK42
Dialling code01234
PoliceBedfordshire
FireBedfordshire and Luton
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament

The boundaries of Cauldwell are approximately Rope Walk to the north, Redwood Grove and Willow Road to the east, with the Midland Main Line railway line to the south. The area is sometimes known as St John's.

History

Cauldwell derives its name from Cauldwell Priory which was built to the north of the area by Franciscan Friars in 1238. Cauldwell comes from the Old-English Cauldwella meaning cold well or spring.[3] The priory included a leper colony dedicated to St Leonard.

The 19th Century saw Bedford transform into an important engineering hub. Many large industries located to the Cauldwell area, including Bedford Igranic on Elstow Road. The Britannia Iron Works were opened on Kempston Road in 1859, and General Giuseppe Garibaldi visited the works in 1864.[4] Bedford Infirmary was established in Cauldwell in 1803, becoming Bedford Hospital in 1897.[5] Bedford Lunatic Asylum was built on Ampthill Road in 1812, but closed in 1860.[5]

After the Second World War, the Cauldwell area was significantly redeveloped and expanded, and new residential estates were constructed to the south of the existing area.[6]

Governance

Cauldwell is an unparished area, with all community services under the direct control of Bedford Borough Council. Cauldwell elects two councillors to Bedford Borough Council, both of whom are currently from the Labour party.

Economy

Technology House is an office complex located on Ampthill Road, which is next to a Morrisons supermarket and then an Aldi supermarket. Bedford Hospital is also located on Ampthill Road,[7] as is Bedford St Johns railway station. A small rail depot (Bedford Cauldwell Walk depot) servicing passenger trains opened in 2004. Most of the shops and services in Cauldwell are located on Ampthill Road. These include small convenience stores, a post office and a variety of take away restaurants.

Bedford Hospital is located in Cauldwell

There are more local shops located on Elstow Road and Gostwick Road.

Education

There are two primary schools in Cauldwell – Shackleton Primary School located on Pearcey Road, and Cauldwell School situated on Edward Road.[8]

There is no secondary school in the area. Cauldwell is in the catchment area for Bedford Academy which is situated in the nearby area of Kingsbrook.[9]

The University of Bedfordshire operates a nurse-training site at Bedford Hospital.

Religious sites
  • South Bedford Islamic Cultural Centre & Masjid, located on Elstow Road
  • The Wesleyan Holiness Church, located on Offa Road
  • Southend Methodist Church, also on Offa Road
  • The Living Word Tabernacle holds meetings at the community centre on Faraday Square and Kelvin Avenue[10]
  • The Potters House Christian Fellowship Church also holds meetings at the community centre on Faraday Square and Kelvin Avenue[11]
  • The King's Arms Church (Newfrontiers), on Ampthill Road[12]
  • Bhagwan Valmik Sabha, on Muswell Road[13]
  • Daarul Huda Madrasa & Masjid (Bedford Islamic Education Centre), on Offa Road[14]

Community facilities

There are two community centres in Cauldwell. The Faraday Community Centre located on the corner of Faraday Square and Kelvin Avenue,[15] and the Cauldwell Community Centre located just off Ampthill Road, on Althorpe Street.[16] There are two open spaces in the area located on Miller Road and Moor Lane.

References
  1. Neighbourhood Statistics. "Neighbourhood Statistics". Neighbourhood Statistics. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  2. "Bedford Ward population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  3. "Bedford – Victorian Super Sleuth Quiz 1 Extra – Bedfordshire's Virtual Library". Galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk. 15 February 2008. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  4. "Bedford: Visit of Garibaldi – Digitised Resources – Bedfordshire's Virtual Library". Galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk. 11 August 2008. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  5. "Bedford Timeline: Modern – Digitised Resources – Bedfordshire's Virtual Library". Galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  6. "'A brief history of Bedford' by Tim Lambert". Localhistories.org. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  7. "Bedfordshire Hospitals". NHS Foundation Trust. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  8. "Welcome to Cauldwell Primary School". Cauldwell School. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  9. "'Bedfordshire School Catchment Areas'". Bedford.gov.uk. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  10. "Whats On at Faraday". Bedford Borough Council. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  11. "East of England". The Potters House Christian Fellowship Church. Archived from the original on 13 September 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  12. "Homepage". King's Arms Church.
  13. "Bhagwan Valmik Sabha Website". Bhagwan Valmik Sabha. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  14. "Madrassa & Masjid". Daarul Huda.
  15. "Faraday Community Centre". Bedford.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  16. "Cauldwell Community Centre". Bedford.gov.uk. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
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