Cauldwell, Bedford

infobox UK place
country = England
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static_image_caption =
latitude=
longitude=
official_name = Cauldwell
population = 8,656 [ [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=5948426&c=Cauldwell&d=14&e=15&g=423245&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1204154039683&enc=1 Neighbourhood Statistics ] ]
shire_district = Bedford
shire_county = Bedfordshire
region = East of England
constituency_westminster = Bedford
post_town = BEDFORD
postcode_district =
postcode_area=
dial_code=
os_grid_reference=

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

The boundaries of Cauldwell are approximately the River Great Ouse to the north, Kingsbrook 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 in the area by Franciscan Friars in 1238. "Cauldwell" comes from the old-english "Cauldwella" meaning cold well or spring [ [http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.digitised_resources/bedford_victorian_super_sleuth_quiz1_extra.htm Bedford - Victorian Super Sleuth Quiz 1 Extra - Bedfordshire's Virtual Library ] ] . The Priory included a leper colony dedicated to St Leonard. The Priory was dissolved by King Henry VIII in 1541. Around this time a new bridge was built over the river, and the town of Bedford began to expand into the Cauldwell area. The River Ouse became navigable as far as Bedford by 1689. [http://www.bedford.gov.uk/Default.aspx/Web/BriefHistoryofBedford 'History of Bedford']

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. [ [http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.digitised_resources/bedford_digitisation_garibaldi.htm Bedford: Visit of Garibaldi - Digitised Resources - Bedfordshire's Virtual Library ] ] . Bedford Infirmary was established in Cauldwell in 1803, becoming Bedford Hospital in 1897 [ [http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.digitised_resources/bedford_digitisation_timeline_modern.htm Bedford Timeline: Modern - Digitised Resources - Bedfordshire's Virtual Library ] ] . Bedford Lunatic Asylum was built on Ampthill Road in 1812, but closed in 1860 [ [http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.digitised_resources/bedford_digitisation_timeline_modern.htm Bedford Timeline: Modern - Digitised Resources - Bedfordshire's Virtual Library ] ] . The area was significantly expanded to the south in the 1950s and 60's. [http://www.localhistories.org/bedford.html 'A brief history of Bedford' by Tim Lambert]

Politics

Cauldwell and Kingsbrook Urban Community council is the local council for Cauldwell and the neighbouring ward of Kingsbrook, with 12 seats elected every four years (6 of which are from Cauldwell). There are currently 3 Liberal Democrat, 1 Conservative, 1 Labour Party and 1 independent councillors representing Cauldwell on the Community Council.

Cauldwell elects 3 councillors to Bedford Borough Council and 1 councillor to Bedfordshire County Council, all of which are currently from the Labour party.

Local Amenities

For many years Cauldwell was home to the headquarters of Granada Rentals which became Box Clever. The company is based on Ampthill Road. Bedford Hospital is also located on Ampthill Road, as is Bedford St Johns railway station. 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.

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

There are a few more shops located around the St Mary's Street/St John's Street/Cauldwell Street area. It is here that Bedford College is located, as well as offices for Cap Gemini and a Farmfoods store. Bedfordshire County Hall, the administrative headquarters of Bedfordshire County Council is also located here.

There are more local shops and a post office located on Elstow Road.

Education

Lower schools

There are two lower schools in Cauldwell - "Shackleton Lower School" located on Pearcey Road, and "Cauldwell Lower School" situated on Edward Road.

Abbey Middle School

Children in Cauldwell usually go on to attend Abbey Middle School sited on Mowbray Road. Although the school is situated in the Cauldwell neighbourbood of Bedford, it is also the middle school for the adjoining village of Elstow. [ [http://www.abbey.beds.sch.uk/ Abbey Middle School] ]

Currently there are a large number of surplus places at the school which has caused Bedfordshire County Council to debate whether to close the school. A new housing estate to be built in the locality may mean a higher demand for places at the school in the future, but the current status of Abbey Middle School is still undecided. [ [http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/bed-news?articleid=2931197 And Abbey Middle is optimistic too - Bedford Today ] ]

Upper schools & further education

There is no upper school in the area. Cauldwell is in the catchment area for John Bunyan Upper School which is situated in the nearby area of Kingsbrook. However Bedford College (situated in Cauldwell) offers a range of further education courses including GCSEs, A Levels, Apprenticeships and Access courses. The University of Bedfordshire has a small nurse-training site at Bedford Hospital.

Places of worship

St John's and St Leonard's church is located on St Johns Road as is the Southside Family Church (Part of the Newfrontiers family of churches). The Wesleyan Holiness Church is situated on Offa Road as is the Southend Methodist Church.

References

External links

* [http://www.bedford.gov.uk/Default.aspx/Web/FaradaySquareCommunityCentre Faraday Square Community Centre]
* [http://www.bedford.gov.uk/Default.aspx/Web/CauldwellCommunityCentre Cauldwell Community Centre]
* [http://www.bedfordhospital.nhs.uk/ Bedford Hospital]
* [http://www.bedford.ac.uk/ Bedford College]
* [http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/ Bedfordshire County Council]
* [http://www.cauldwellschool.com/ Cauldwell Lower School]
* [http://www.acts-online.com/ St John's & St Leonard's Church]
* [http://www.southsidechurch.org.uk/home.htm Southside Church]