Astwick Timeline

Places > Astwick

1209: The list of incumbents goes back to this date. It is one of only two churches in England to be dedicated to St. Guthlac, an early 12th century monk living a solitary life in the fens of Lincolnshire. The present nave and chancel are essentially 15th century but with many fragments of older masonry.

17th Century: The Tudor Oaks House built. It was originally a coaching inn and became a tollgate when The Great North Road was turnpiked in 1730. It became The Tudor Oaks Restaurant in the early 1980s.

1804: Astwick Enclosure Act.

1816: The Round House built, it was the home of the toll keeper who worked the gate at the Astwick and Hinxworth turn. There was a gate at the turn from 1729 to 1868.

1847: Watermill built as a combined water and steam driven mill. The wheel was one of the largest in the county measuring 25 feet in diameter and weighing 25 tons when it was installed.

1935: Restoration work on the church carried out by Professor Albert Richardson.

1940c: The Round House was demolished to allow for the widening of the road.

1971: Services at the church cut from two each month to one due to the lack of light in the winter months as the church had no gas or electric lighting.

Sources:

• The newspapers cuttings collection at Bedford Central Library
• PICKFORD, Christopher  Bedfordshire Churches in the 19th Century Vol.79 Bedfordshire Historical Record Society. 2000.

Page last updated: 21st January 2014