Kingsbrook

infobox UK place
country = England
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static_image_caption =
latitude=
longitude=
official_name = Kingsbrook
population = 9,134 [ [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=5948415&c=Kingsbrook&d=14&e=15&g=423461&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1204155814734&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=

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

The boundaries of Kingsbrook are (roughly) the River Great Ouse and Priory Country Park to the north, Cambridge Road and the A421 to the south and east, with London Road and Cauldwell to the west.

The Fenlake and Silver Jubilee neighbourhoods are both part of the Kingsbrook ward, as is the Priory Business Park and the Cambridge Road Industrial Estate. Kingsbrook is the largest ward (in terms of population) in Bedford.

History of Kingsbrook

There is evidence of a late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age settlement and ritual site, located next to the Bunyan Centre in Kingsbrook. Excavations in 1995 uncovered three skeletons, one of which was accompanied by a complete Beaker pot [ [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 ] ] .

There was some settlement in the northern part of Kingsbrook (by the river) in the 19th Century. However the area was not properly developed until the 20th Century. Dame Alice Harpur School located to Kingsbrook in 1938. [http://www.localhistories.org/bedford.html 'A brief history of Bedford' by Tim Lambert]

The final part of southern Kingsbrook was settled in the late 1970s. The new estate was named 'Silver Jubilee' in honour of Queen Elizabeth II and her jubilee in 1977.

Politics

Cauldwell and Kingsbrook Urban Community council is the local council for Kingsbrook and the neighbouring ward of Cauldwell, with 12 seats elected every four years (6 of which are from Kingsbrook). There are currently 4 Liberal Democrat, and 2 independent councillors representing Kingsbrook on the Community Council.

Kingsbrook elects 3 councillors to Bedford Borough Council, all of which are currently Liberal Democrats. The area also elects 1 councillor to Bedfordshire County Council, that councillor is currently from the Labour Party.

Local Amenities

There are many local shops and services located on London Road, including a supermarket, petrol station, Post Office, bakery and a Gala Bingo Hall. There is a large Tesco superstore sited on Cardington Road, as is the Oasis Beach Pool, a public swimming pool.

Two of Bedford's largest hotels are located in Kingsbrook. The first is The Barns Hotel located on Cardington Road, and the second is the Bedford Park Inn situated on St Mary's Street. Kingsbrook's largest open space is Jubilee Park sited on Canvin Way. There are two Community centres in the area - The first is Scott Hall Community Centre located on Barford Avenue, and the second is the Jubilation Centre situated on Moulton Avenue.

There are two large business parks in Kingsbrook. The first is the Cambridge Road Industrial Estate which houses many companies including Fujifilm. The second is Priory Business Park on Cardington Road, which houses many other firms including the head offices of Autoglass and Chiltern Radio, Bedford's local radio station.

The Bunyan Centre is a leisure centre situated in Kingsbrook. The site has been selected as an official training site for the London 2012 Olympics. The venue is expected to attract fencers, wrestlers and judo players training for the event. [ [http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/bed-news/Bedfordshire-to-host-Olympic-training.3838179.jp Bedfordshire to host Olympic training camps - Bedford Today ] ]

chools

There is one lower school in Kingsbrook - Stephenson Lower School located on Canvin Way. Middle school age children in the area attend Harrowden Middle School situated on Oak Road. For older students, Kingsbrook is served by John Bunyan Upper School sited on Mile Road. The school shares some sports facilities with the nearby Bunyan Centre. [http://bedfordshire.gov.uk/EducationAndLearning/SchoolAdmissions/SchoolCatchmentAreas.aspx 'Bedfordshire School Catchment Areas']

Dame Alice Harpur School is an independent school for girls aged 7-18, located on Cardington Road in Kingsbrook. The school is part of the Harpur Trust.

Places of worship

Christ the King Roman Catholic Church is located on Harrowden Road. The Bedford Nirankari Satsung Bhawan Hindu Temple is situated on Cardington Road as is The Kings Arms Church (Part of the Newfrontiers family of churches), which meets at Dame Alice Harpur School.

References

External links

* [http://www.foliohotels.com/barns/ The Barns Hotel]
* [http://www.rezidorparkinn.com/cs/Satellite/Page/ParkInn/Page/parkinnHotelSEO/1131091388212/en/hotelCode--ltnp2/ Park Inn, Bedford]
* [http://www.bedford.gov.uk/Default.aspx/Web/ScottHallCommunityCentre Scott Hall Community Centre]
* [http://www.bedford.gov.uk/Default.aspx/Web/JubilationCentre Jubilation Centre]
* [http://www.autoglass.co.uk/ Autoglass]
* [http://chilternfm.musicradio.com Chiltern Radio]
* [http://www.bunyancentre.bedford.gov.uk/ Bunyan Centre]
* [http://www.harrowden.beds.sch.uk Harrowden Middle School]
* [http://www.johnbunyan.beds.sch.uk/ John Bunyan Upper School]
* [http://www.dahs.co.uk/ Dame Alice Harpur School]
* [http://www.btinternet.com/~christthekingchurchbeds/ Christ the King Church]
* [http://www.kingsarms.org/ The Kings Arms Church]