Leighton Buzzard, All Saints Church c.1955
Photo ref: L211013
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Photo ref: L211013
Photo of Leighton Buzzard, All Saints Church c.1955

More about this scene

Leighton Buzzard's name has nothing directly to do with birds of prey, despite several local organisations adopting the title 'The Buzzards' and using the hawk as an emblem. Leighton is a corruption of the Old English for a leek (or vegetable) farm, and Buzzard is an extension of the family name of Theobald de Busar, the first prebendary for the area. The architecture of the parish church suggests a 13th-century influence and the 190ft spire dominates the roofline on all the approaches to the town. This is the second ecclesiastical building to stand on the site.

A Selection of Memories from Leighton Buzzard

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. Here are some from Leighton Buzzard

Sparked a Memory for you?

If this has sparked a memory, why not share it here?

First real memories of Leighton Buzzard was being ‘put down’ for my afternoon nap as a child of about 5, and listening to the Church bells just the over the road. Another memory must be an early one as I remember the Stock market with all the sheep etc in the yard behind the High Street Pub, and the High Street itself full to bursting with market stalls and people. Another memory is of my Tricycle, riding it down ...see more
Having left Australia on an open-ended working holiday to England in January, 1974 with my girlfriend, it was hard to imagine that within six weeks of arriving in London we'd be living on a leaky old narrow boat in Braunston near Rugby, and that six months later - still living on the boat - we'd be calling Leighton Buzzard home for nearly two years. The boat was called SADLERS WELLS, and in the ...see more