Wootton, Bedfordshire

Wootton, Bedfordshire
Wootton is a large village and civil parish located to the southwest of Bedford, in the north of Bedfordshire, England. The parish also includes the hamlets of Hall End, Keeley Green and Wootton Green.
History
Wootton has had a long association with brick-making, but is now mainly a dormitory community for Bedford and Milton Keynes. In the 18th century church bells were made here for several churches in Bedfordshire and adjoining counties. There has been a great deal of residential development over the last 30 years but some attractive old timber-framed houses still survive. The Church of St Mary the Virgin in the village is mainly 14th century but contains two fine monuments in the chancel to members of the Monoux family who died in 1685 and 1707. To the west of the church is Wootton House, an impressive late 17th-century house with a contemporary, red brick stable block.
Demography
The Domesday Book of 1086, listed Wootton as having 26 residents (20 villagers and six slaves) across ten hides. By 1901, the population had risen to 1,252. The population remained fairly steady throughout the first half of the 20th century. But by 1971, the population had climbed to 2,386, a 35.61% (1010 residents) increase within ten years. By 2001 that figure was 4,230.
According to the 2011 Census, the area covered by Wootton civil parish had 4,156 residents who lived in 1,654 households. The median age of the population is 44. Of these residents, 83% describe their health as "good" or "very good" and 2.6% of economically active people aged 16–74 were unemployed.
Village expansion
Wootton is currently expanding in size.
Housing plans include:
More than 1000 new houses on fields situated next to the A421 road.
Possible plans to build another 1000 houses on fields located on the road between the village and Kempston.
an upper school
small doctors Surgery
three shops
Salon
five Pubs
football club
Car Dealership
Garage
Office spaces
elderly Residential Home
three churches
library
fields
Development of Wootton Park as part of the expansion project was led by a consortium of Bovis, Bellway and Taylor Wimpey. ECL Civil Engineering was the sole civil engineering contractor on the 600 homes development south of the village of Wootton.
Sport and leisure
Wootton has a Non-League football team Wootton Blue Cross F.C., founded in 1887. For the 2020–21 season, they are members of the Bedfordshire County Football League Premier Division. Wootton Blue Cross play at Weston Park, that has a capacity of 750. The clubs most successful season came in the 2002–03 season, when they reached the 4th round of the FA Vase.
Public houses in Wootton
The Fox and Duck
Cock Inn
The Legstraps
The Blue Cross Members Club
The Cross Keys (Tre Fratelli)
Shops in Wootton
Tesco Express
Rumbles Fish & Chips
Pats Pizza
Pharmacy
Wootton Garage
Medical Health Centre
Women Salon
Sainsbury's Local
Londis / Post Office
Services in Wootton
Wootton Library
A number of independent companies
A R Security Systems
All About The Office Ltd
Assegai Security Solutions
Asta ay Permanent Make Up
Bedford Electrical
Coromel Cakes
D Young Carpentry Joinery and Renovations
Dream Digital
Floral Art By Ronnie
Foxglove Florals
Fresh Bites Catering
Hands in Harmony Home Care Services
Home Instead Senior Care
Pin Wizard
Simms Stuart
Bizzy Bees Pre-school
Wootton Vale Retirement Community
Notable residents
Letitia Dean, EastEnders actress
Steve Mattin, automobile designer
Past Residents
Mathew Scherne, clerk & vicar, fl. 1460
See also
Wootton Upper School
References
External links
Wootton Village Website
2001 Census - Parish Profile for Wootton
Villages in Bedfordshire
Civil parishes in Bedfordshire
Borough of Bedford