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Elstow, Bedfordshire

Elstow photos

Displaying 1 of 8 old photos of Elstow.   View all Elstow photos

8
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Elstow maps

Historic maps of Elstow and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis.   View all Elstow maps

Elstow map

Historic map of Elstow

Bedfordshire map

Illustrated Victorian map of Bedfordshire

Elstow map

Historic Map of any Elstow postcode

Elstow maps
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Elstow books

Displaying 3 of 5 books about Elstow and the local area.   View all Elstow books

Bedfordshire Living Memories
Paperback
rrp £14  £11.20

Bedfordshire Photographic Memories
Paperback
rrp £14  £11.20

Bedford Photographic Memories
Paperback
rrp £13  £10.40

Elstow books
View all 5 Elstow and Bedfordshire books

Memories of Elstow

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Bedfordshire memories

Swimming in the river at Kempston

Great times were had at the river at the bend as we children called it, we would make mud slides down the banks.  What fun we had.  There was always a good crowd there on a Sunday afternoon, but now its all quiet, no swimmers, the bend has long since gone.

Shared on 23 July 2007 by Jackie Fleming.

SILVERY OUSE

I was a summer season driver of these boats during my college holidays in the early 1960s. We operated four boats, Silver Foam, Silver Stream, Silver Crest and my own boat, Silver Dawn, which I believe came from the Norfolk Broads.
The mornings were spent at Fenlake cleaning and polishing to the high standards demanded by Mr Smith (`The Guvnor`). We... [more]

Shared on 20 May 2009 by Edward Donnelly.

I was a projectionist at the Picturedrome

I worked there for a few years with Stan Hunt at the Picturedrome, and the Plaza which was nearly opposite across the river was owned by a man called Mr Cheetam. I also worked at the Plaza as a relief projectionist and also another cinema in Ampthill owned by Mr Cheetam.
They were great days and I now live in Leicester... [more]

Shared on 13 July 2008 by Eric Bootles.

Working memories.

I was the main weekday driver of the launch photographed during the student holiday periods of 1955-1958.  When I drove it, the name was 'Silver Stream'.  It was the largest of a set of three electric launches which carried paying passengers for trips of about 40 minutes duration from the steps on the downstream, north side of the town bridge.  Typically... [more]

Shared on 06 April 2006 by Mr Pc Hedgecock.

The RAF and Cardington

As RAF children, all three of us were christened in the picturesque church in Cardington, which is the unofficial 'favourite' church for RAF personnel! I obviously don't remember my own christening and wasn't about when my older brother was held over the font, but I do remember my sister's christening because she's nine years younger than I, so the memory is... [more]

Shared on 16 July 2009 by Janette Murphy.

My First Visit to Marston

The first time I went to Marston my boyfriend was taking me to visit his parents. I was 15 and he was 17. We caught a train from Bedford St John's and got off at Milbrook Halt. His family lived in a Brickyard home in "Jubilee Cottages". It wasn't as modern as my parents' council house as it had no hot... [more]

Shared on 16 June 2008 by Alice Pope.

39 Mill Lane

The gable end of the house on the left is 39 Mill Lane and Back St starts at the junction over the hill and not visible here. My father built the house about 1935 when he was  21 years old. I grew up there until 1955 when it was sold and we moved from Clophill for a short time. We returned... [more]

Shared on 20 December 2007 by Paul Nichols.

My House

This is where I live, it is no longer a village post office. It was built in 1680, and we are returning it to a residential property.

Shared on 11 October 2006 by Stephanie Howson.

Extracts From Elstow & Bedfordshire books

Displaying a selection of extracts from Frith books about Elstow, inspired by Frith photos.

Bedfordshire Photographic Memories

John Bunyan, author of 'Pilgrim's Progress', was born near Elstow, and lived in a cottage on Elstow High Street for four years after marrying his first wife. Bunyan's home in the village stood on the west side of the northern end of Elstow High Street, but was demolished in the 1960s. The Moot Hall in Elstrow dates back to the 17th... [more]

This is an extract from Bedfordshire Photographic Memories.
Read more and see photos from this book.

Bedfordshire Photographic Memories

As should be expected of the founder of a religious concept, John Bunyan's home village has become a place of pilgrimage. John Bunyan was born in Elstow, and lived in a cottage on Elstow High Street for four years after marrying his first wife. John Bunyan's home in the village is shown as it was in 1921 in this photograph; it... [more]

This is an extract from Bedfordshire Photographic Memories.
Read more and see photos from this book.

Bedfordshire Photographic Memories

The wooden plaque above the door of the cottage on the right proclaims it as John Bunyan's home. The village is not a great deal larger than is indicated in the picture. The majority of the buildings are in whole or part 17th-century in origin.

This is an extract from Bedfordshire Photographic Memories.
Read more and see photos from this book.

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