Welcome to Elstow Village
An independant website, containing:
The Elstow Picture Archive.
Contact details for local groups and organisations.
A space for local councillors to consult & inform.
Links to other useful and informative Elstow websites.
Elstow - a place of History
Elstow, located on the southern edge of Bedford, has a long history, with settlements dating back, at least, to Saxon times.
For almost 500 years, it was home to a thriving Benadictine Nunnery and is still home to the Abbey Church.
Elstow is an oasis of tranquility, with an attractive village green - a good place for a picnic or for children to play. There are half-timbered 13th and 14th century cottages, and the Moot Hall - a unique medieval building, being a combined market-house and Manor courtroom.
Elstow's royal charter, to hold markets, dates back to the 11th century and it's May festivals may predate that by manycenturies. Images of such events, and other aspects of Elstow - ancient and modern - can be viewed at the Elstow Picture Archive.
Elstow was also the birthplace of the famous 17th century preacher and author, John Bunyan.
The extensive history of this village is well documented and that information is easily accessed - by visiting the Moot Hall website and Bedfordshire Record Office's Elstow Community archive pages.
You can arrange guided tours of Elstow by contacting our local historian (ie me - Clive Arnold, Curator Moot Hall)
For almost 500 years, it was home to a thriving Benadictine Nunnery and is still home to the Abbey Church.
Elstow is an oasis of tranquility, with an attractive village green - a good place for a picnic or for children to play. There are half-timbered 13th and 14th century cottages, and the Moot Hall - a unique medieval building, being a combined market-house and Manor courtroom.
Elstow's royal charter, to hold markets, dates back to the 11th century and it's May festivals may predate that by manycenturies. Images of such events, and other aspects of Elstow - ancient and modern - can be viewed at the Elstow Picture Archive.
Elstow was also the birthplace of the famous 17th century preacher and author, John Bunyan.
The extensive history of this village is well documented and that information is easily accessed - by visiting the Moot Hall website and Bedfordshire Record Office's Elstow Community archive pages.
You can arrange guided tours of Elstow by contacting our local historian (ie me - Clive Arnold, Curator Moot Hall)
