Bedfordshire
Natural History
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The Natural History of Bedfordshire by W. Owen
The General Magazine of Arts and Sciences, Temple Bar, 1760.
Page 5
Page five starts with the fairs and markets of Leighton Beaudesert and notes the horse fairs in particular. A description of Tuddington (now called Toddington) follows. The author remarks on Hockley in the Hole near this village which is "so called from a miry, thick clay".
Woburn is then described as a "handsome" town and its links with the Duke of Bedford are noted.
Aspley Gower (now Guise) is remarked on for the presence of a small stream and Fuller's earth which petrifies wood "proof of which, there was formerly shewn at Woburn-Abbey, a ladder, which, after it had lain some time on this earth was taken up all stone." The poet Michael Drayton (Poet Laureat to James I) wrote some lines about this unusual phenomenon in his Poly Albion.
Page last updated: 23rd January 2014