Facts and places of interest in Shefford

Interesting Facts about Shefford

• The name Shefford is derived from Sheeps Ford due to the previous sheep market and the ford over the rivers.

• Shefford has its own Michaelmas street fair in October every year on the wide main street.

• A weekly market is held every Friday in the High Street.

• Sheffords ancient history is reflected in the two iron age burials accidentally found near Stanford Bury Farm and the Roman cemetery which lay close to the Robert Bloomfield Middle School.

• In the 19th Century, Shefford enjoyed a brief status of an inland port when the Ivel Navigation was built to bring coal and other goods by boat from Kings Lynn via the River Ouse.

• A plaque on the wall of 19 North Bridge Street marks the home of the 19th Century poet Robert Bloomfield, who is buried in nearby Campton churchyard.
  

Places of Interest in and round Shefford

Shefford High Street

There is an interesting contrast in architecture on the High Street. On the south side are the Victorian buildings in St. Francis Court attached to St. Francis Roman Catholic Church. These once formed a boys' home and the buildings have been restored in recent years but have kept their original facade. There is also the Church of St Michael and All Angels which dates back to the 14th Century and built with local sand stone with later additions of bricks and mortar.

Hoo Hill Maze

Hoo Hill Maze can be found on the Hitchin Road just outside Shefford town centre. The maze is set within an orchard in the grounds of a privately-owned smallholding.

The maze was created in 1983, by the owner using 1000 Golden Leylandii saplings. The basic maze is 30 metres square, with a 6 metre square centre.

Chicksands

Chicksands is a Joint Services base situated on the edge of Shefford. Chicksands has a long history of military involvement stretching back to the Civil War in the 17th Century.

Local Walks

Walk along the old tow path taking in views of the wharf, the quay, a footbridge, which is on the site of an old swing bridge, and Shefford Lock, which is the highest lock in the Ivel navigation system which is now derelict.

There is a picnic area at Waterside where games can be played.

Beautiful views can be seen from the top of Cockshoot Hill which is above Target Wood.

Near the centre of town you can walk along the public footpath from New Street across farm land and across the River Hit and on to Meppershall.

Rowney Warren

Rowney Warren is partly owned and worked by the Forestry Commision. It offers something for walkers and cyclists. Some of the woods are maintained as a mountain bike course, the remainder is a quiet area of pines, oaks and beeches for those who enjoy a peaceful stroll.