Kensworth
Timeline
Places > Kensworth
12th century: The church of St. Mary dates from this period. There are small Norman windows in the chancel and nave. The west tower is of the 14th century or after.
c1720: Lynch House built of brick with seven bays and a three bay pediment. Porch with thin Doric columns.
1801: Kensworth Enclosure Act passed.
c1801: The Chequers Public House, Kensworth Lynch, licensed by this date, the pub closed shortly after 1903.
1830: Wesleyan Methodist Chapel built, the present chapel opened in 1935.
1853: National School opened.
1869: Vicarage House in Oakmore Close built. It no longer served as a vicarage after 1982.
c1869: Calafornia Public House, near Dunstable Downs first licensed around this date, closed between 1903-06.
1870: Church has new roof.
1882: St. Mary's Mission Church licensed on the 28th August.
1897: Kensworth transferred from Hertfordshire to Bedfordshire.
1931: The donkey wheel at Nash Farm ceased working and in the following year was removed to Luton Museum where it was restored and put on display. The donkey wheel was a common feature on many Kensworth farms. Water had to be obtained by sinking very deep wells through the chalk. Donkeys were made to walk inside and turn a large vertical wooden drum wheel fixed on a horizontal axle, the treadmill wound the well-rope and raised a full bucket of up to 30 gallons.
c1942: Kensworth House converted into a hostel for the Bedfordshire Women's Land Army. The hostel accommodated up to 50 Land Girls and during the war period was painted green, as a camouflage against aerial bombardment. Kensworth Hostel closed in 1949.
1960: St. Mary's Mission Church demolished and a new Mission church in Clay Hall Road was dedicated and licensed for worship in March 1961.
1962: Kensworth House purchased by Brothers of the Sacred Heart.
1970: Renovation work on church carried out at a cost of 4,000.
1992: Rugby Cement obtain permission to deepen Kensworth Quarry by some 36 metres providing additional chalk mineral reserves of up to 47m tons.
1998: Kensworth featured in the BBC 1 period drama 'Speedy Death'.
Page last updated: 30th January 2014