Eversholt
Kelly's Directory of Bedfordshire 1894 (Extract)

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Eversholt is a parish 2 miles east of Woburn, on the borders of the park, in the Southern division of the county, hundred of Manshead, petty sessional division and union of Woburn, county court district of Ampthill, rural deanery of Fleete, archdeaconry of Bedford and diocese of Ely. The parish consists of several clusters of houses, called "Ends". The church of St John the Baptist is a building of stone in the early English, Decorated and Perpendicular styles consisting of chancel, nave of four bays, aisles and a western embattled tower containing 6 bells: the north aisle projects one bay beyond the nave, and opens into the chancel by a Decorated arch, on the side of which is a piscina: there is another in the south aisle and a third in the chancel: it underwent a complete restoration in 1864, under the direction of the late Sir G. G. Scott R A at a cost of about 3,000. The register dates from the year 1628. The Eversholt Parochial Charity estate of 110 acres, produces 245 14s yearly: the income administered by trustees, is applied for the benefit of the church, the poor and the schools, the later receiving one-third of the total income. There is a reading room managed by a committee of 10 members, the rector being president; at the school is a parish library of about 250 volumes.

The Duke of Bedford is lord of the manor and chief landowner. The soil is loam and gravel; subsoil, clay. The land is chiefly in pasture; the chief crops are wheat, barley, oats, beans and peas. The area is 2,136 acres; rateable value 3,205; the population in 1891 was 623.

POST OFFICE - Mrs Ann Harris, sub-postmistress. Letters arrive through Woburn at 7.15 a.m.; dispatched at 5.20 p.m. the nearest money order & telegraph office is at Woburn.

A School Board of 5 members was formed in October 1885; the Rev. W S Baker, chairman and hon. clerk to the board.

Board (formerly National) School (mixed), erected in 1844, for 140 children, & (infants) erected in 1862, for 60 children, now annexed; average attendance 80; Benjamin Wild, master.

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