Wootton, Bedfordshire

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 52.0987
longitude= -0.5319
official_name= Wootton
population = 4,230 (2001 census)
shire_district= Bedford
shire_county = Bedfordshire
region= East of England
constituency_westminster= Mid Bedfordshire
post_town= BEDFORD
postcode_district = MK43
postcode_area=MK
dial_code=01234
os_grid_reference= TL005455

Wootton (gbmapping|TL005455) is a large village and civil parish located to the south-west of Bedford, in the north of Bedfordshire, England. The parish also includes the hamlets of Hall End, Keeley Green and Wootton Green.

Wootton has had a long association with brickmaking, but is now mainly a dormitory community for Bedford and Milton Keynes. In the 18th century . To the west of the church is Wootton House, an impressive late 17th century house with a contemporary, red brick stable block.

Demography

The Domesday Book of 1086, listed Wootton as having 26 residents (20 villagers and six slaves) across ten hides. [cite web | publisher=Bedfordshire County Council | url=http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/CommunityAndLiving/ArchivesAndRecordOffice/CommunityArchives/Wootton/Introduction.aspx | title=Wootton Community Archives - Introduction | accessdate=2008-02-02] By 1901, the population had risen to 1,252. The population remained fairly steady throughout the first half of the 20th century. But by 1971, the population had climbed to 2,386, a 35.61% (1010 residents) increase within ten years. [cite web | publisher=Vision of Britain | url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10104592&c_id=10001043&add=N | title=Wootton AP/CP: Total Population - Introduction | accessdate=2008-02-02]

According to the 2001 Census, the area covered by Wootton civil parish had 4,230 residents who lived in 1,643 households. The median age of the population is 39. Of these residents, 74% describe their health as good and 1.78% of economically active people aged 16–74 were unemployed. [cite web | publisher=Office of National Statistics | url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadDatasetList.do?a=3&b=791982&c=MK43+9EN&d=16&e=15&f=3254&g=423625&i=1001x1003x1004x1005&l=781&o=1&m=0&r=0&s=1201944876950&enc=1 | title=Neighbourhood Statistics - Wootton (CP) Parish | accessdate=2008-02-02]

Village expansion

Wootton is currently undergoing many plans to expand the village, with the eventual hope of joining it with Cranfield and as far afield as Milton Keynes. A voluntary group of people living in the Wootton area who strongly oppose these plans have created a group known as the Wootton Against Village Expansion (aka WAVE). They are against any plans of the proposed mass development of new housing within the village. [cite web | publisher=Bedford Today | url=http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/bed-news/Housebuilding-protest-gathers-force.752398.jp | title=Housebuilding protest gathers force | accessdate=2008-02-02]

Housing plans include: [cite web | publisher=Bedford Borough Council | url=http://www.bedford.gov.uk/GetResource.aspx?file=Wootton_complete.pdf | title=Wootton Development Brief | accessdate=2008-02-01]
* More than 1000 new houses on fields situated next to the A421 road.
* Possible plans to build another 1000 houses on fields located on the road between the village and Kempston.
* A middle school, and a second lower school
* Dentist
* Small Cinema
* Gym

Public houses in Wootton

* The Rose and Crown
* The Cock Inn
* The Fox and Duck
* The Black Horse
* The Chequers
* The Cross Keys (The Fratellis)

hops in Wootton

* Londis (Post Office)
* One Stop
* Wootton Store (Newsagents)
* Pharmacy
* Wootton Garage

ee also

* Wootton Blue Cross F.C.
* Wootton Upper School

References

External links

* [http://85.12.98.34/BedsCC/xnoteslink/SDimr4.nsf/Web/ThePage/PP-Wootton 2001 Census - Parish Profile for Wootton]
* [http://www.wootton.beds.sch.uk/ Wootton Upper School]