Steppingley
General History
Kelly's Directory of Bedfordshire 1894 (Extract)

Places > Steppingley > General History

Steppingley is a village and parish, bounded on the north-east by the Flitt, a tributary of the Ouse, and is just over 2 miles south west from Ampthill station on the main line of the Midland railway, and 10 south from Bedford, in the Southern division of the county, hundred of Redbournestoke, petty sessional division, union and county court district of Ampthill, rural deanery of Fleete, archdeaconry of Bedford and diocese of Ely. The church of St. Lawrence, rebuilt in 1860 by the Duke of Bedford and the rector, is a building of local sandstone in the Early Decorated and Perpendicular styles, consisting of chancel, nave, north aisle and a tower containing 4 bells; it is seated with open oak benches for 200 persons. The register dates from 1562, but is continuous only from 1647. Here is also a small Wesleyan chapel. The Duke of Bedford is the lord of the manor and principal landowner.

The soil is chiefly sand; subsoil, sand. The chief crops are wheat, barley, clover and turnips. The area is 1,283 acres; rateable value, 1,708; the population in 1891 was 308.

Sexton, Abel Dolton.

A School Board was formed here Mar. 21, 1874; H.R.I. Swafield, Beckerings park, Ampthill, clerk to the board.

Board School (mixed), Average attendance, 55; Miss Elizabeth Fox, mistress.

Page last updated: 4th February 2014