Harlington
Timeline
Places > Harlington
1086: Nigel D'Albini is listed as Lord of the Manor of Harlington in the Domesday survey. Harlington was part of the Barony of Cainhoe, based at Cainhoe Castle in Clophill. D'Albini took over the Manor after displacing four Saxon thegns who lost their lands at the time of the Norman Conquest
1300-50: Church of St Mary the Virgin built. It is constructed of Tottenhoe stone (sometimes known as 'clunch') and was built near or over the top of an earlier wooden structure. The tower was added in the 15th century
1349: The black death ravaged Harlington and more than one quarter of the population of the village died including the Vicar
1442-1471: John Benet, a chronicler of some note, is the Vicar of Harlington
16th Century: Harlington Manor (previously known as Harlington House) probably dates to this period. Charles II (1660-1685) is reputed to have slept here
1660: On the 12th November John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim's Progress, was brought before Francis Wingate for questioning at Harlington House. Bunyan was accused of preaching illegally and as a result he was committed for trial and spent 12 years in the County Gaol in Bedford
1828: Methodism first established in the village
1841: Population of the village totals 521
1851: Population of the village totals 597
1859: The first village school built by George Butler, the vicar. It became a Board School in 1873 and a council school in 1898
1868: On the 13th July Harlington railway station was opened. It was built by the Midland Railway Company. The renowned cricketer W.G. Grace used the station when he occasionally played cricket at Toddington Manor
1871: Population of the village totals 546
1871: The Harlington Arms built in Station Road, it became a private house in 1960
1902: A new cemetery constructed on the corner of Lincoln Way and Barton Road
1906: Bute Cottages in Westoning Road constructed
1914-1918: The First World War results in the loss of 27 Harlington men
1920: On the 9th May Harlington War Memorial was dedicated by the Rev. Arthur G. Hodgson, it cost 477
1990: Two Roman cremations found in situ on the north face of Sheepwalk hill in a field known as 'Wickhern'. As a result a small scale excavation was undertaken and eight further cremations were recovered. In 1994 more archaeological work was undertaken and the remaining parts of the cemetery cleared
1999: Harlington Church bells repaired
2007: Action Group formed by residents to fight the development on Green Belt land of a new stadium for Luton Town Football Club on a 250 acre site next to M1 at Junction 12. Campaign for Sustainable Harlington (CaSH) (Luton News, 7th March 2007)
Sources:
- Harlington: glimpses of the past by Martin Lawrence (1991)
- Harlington Roman Cemetery by Michael Dawson in Beds. Archaeological Journal Vol. 24
- Newspaper articles and pamphlets in the collection of Bedford Central Library
- The Parish of St. Mary the Virgin, Harlington by Russell Preston (1988)
Further Reading:
- Harlington: heydays and highlights by Edna L. Wilsher (2002, Bookcastle)
- Harlington by Eric Rayner in Bedfordshire Magazine Vol. 7 p.168
Page last updated: 28th January 2014