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Introduction

This website was created to display information about the history of Clophill.


Heritage

Heritage is that part of history that we feel personally connected with. It may be the buildings and other objects that remind us of our past. It could be memories, customs and other valued reminders

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The Village

Clophill is a linear village with its High Street of three quarters of a mile lying between the River Flit valley to the south and the Greensand Ridge to the north. There is a secondary residential area mostly along Back Street. The village has developed by infill, but it used to be much more open with fields between the High Street and Back Street.

Clophill has a long history. There is evidence for a Roman road running east-west through the village. In the Domesday book of 1086, the village is called Clopelle, which means “tree-stump hill”. Near Top Farm at Beadlow, is the site of the Benedictine Priory of Beaulieu which was founded between 1140 and 1146 by Robert D'Albini. At Cainhoe Castle is the remains of a motte and bailey castle dating from the Norman Conquest.

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People

Rectors, Teachers, a Shopkeeper, Farmer, Naval Officer, Soldier, Highway Man and a Tramp.

Stories by and of people who have lived in Clophill.

Read about them

Family History

There is a lot of information on this site that could be of interest to people tracing their family tree. It includes Censuses and Burials.

To search all the pages on the site enter a word (such as a surname) in the box and click the search button.

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Old Photos

Mike Pearson's "Clophill- A Photographic History" has been recreated here as the original site was taken down. There are over 200 photos of old Clophill.

It is arranged by time period with the locations of the photos shown on a map of the period.

See them

World War One

Week by week account and details of all those from Clophill who died.

Read them

Places

Shops, Schools, Pubs, Churches, Mills, Workhouse and a Castle.

Read about how they used to be.

Learn

Village Life in 1911

Transcripts from the Ampthill News, the Parish Council minutes, the Census and Kelly's Directory show what life was like in 1911.

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Walks

Learn about Clophill's history by following the Heritage Trail along the High Street. You can download a guide. There is also a Children's Trail, an i-spy quiz for your children to do as you follow the Heritage Trail.

Explore the attractive countryside around Clophill, by following the five Clophill Discovery Walks. Download and print a guide.

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Contact

Please contact me if you have any comments about this website or have additional information about Clophill.

Do it

Unless stated otherwise, © Colin Watt 2024. 
Last Updated: November 15 2021