Eggington

infobox UK place
country = England
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latitude= 51.9171
longitude= -0.6096
official_name = Eggington
population =
shire_district=
shire_county= Bedfordshire
region= East of England
constituency_westminster=
post_town=
postcode_district =
postcode_area=
dial_code=
os_grid_reference= SP956251

Egginton - or Eggington as it is now known - is a village and civil parish in the South Bedfordshire district of Bedfordshire, England, about three miles east of Leighton Buzzard. Apart from the village itself, the parish also includes the hamlets of Leedon and Briggington on the A4012 between Hockliffe and Leighton Buzzard, along with the hamlet of Clipstone to the north of Clipstone Brook.

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 1982). The Congregational chapel was pulled down in the 70's: 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 1970's 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 70's it became a care home for the elderly.

Many residents still mourn the loss of the village pub, The Horseshoes. Once the heart and soul of the village, it has been replaced by Lavang - an Indian restaurant. The pub, known by some as the 'Blind Dog' after the Landlord's dog Max, had become very well known in the area for the fine French-style cuisine and hospitality offered by the then landlord, Louis Alpert. As well as filling the pub on Friday and Saturday evenings, Sundays had also become very popular - with occasional Jazz afternoons and music festivals. However, Louis will be remembered for being a great character who greatly enriched the village. Always ready for a challenge - whether it involved Sambuka or a sprint race through the village in the early hours - Louis was up for it. Happy Days.

Further reading

G. E. Calder, "History of Eggington", privately published, 1985, ISBN 0-9511221-0-X.

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External links

* [http://www.leighton-linslade.com History of Eggington]