Bedford Rural District (RD)

Created: 1894   Abolished: 1974

Statistics

Population

Population

Densities and rates of growth. Age structure: concentrations of young people, and of the old.
Industry

Industry

How people made their living: identifying farming communities, pit villages, mill towns and so on.
Social Structure

Social Structure

Social class and socio-economic groups. Concentrations of professionals, and of unskilled labourers.
Learning & Language

Learning & Language

How many people were at school. The distribution of graduates, and of the unqualified.
Life & Death

Life & Death

Numbers of babies born. Deaths, especially infant deaths. Causes of death by age and gender.
Work & Poverty

Work & Poverty

Unemployment rates and poor relief. What proportions of men and of women did paid work?
Housing

Housing

Numbers of houses. Overcrowding: persons per room. Amenities: central heating, baths and WCs.
Place marker map of Great Britain and Ireland

The following alternate names exist for this unit:

Name Status Language Start End Authority
BEDFORD Preferred English     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 560.
E010009 CASWEB identifiers for 1971 Local Govt Districts English    

This unit contained the following units:

Name Type Start End Authority
BIDDENHAM CP/AP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 5.
BLETSOE CP/AP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 5.
BOLNHURST AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 5.
BOLNHURST AND KEYSOE CP Parish-level Unit 1934   F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 5.
BROMHAM CP/AP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 5.
CARDINGTON CP/AP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 5.
CARLTON AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 5.
CARLTON AND CHELLINGTON CP Parish-level Unit 1934   F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 5.
CHELLINGTON CP/AP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 5.
CLAPHAM Ch/AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 5.
COLMWORTH CP/AP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 5.
COLWORTH FARM CP/ExP Parish-level Unit   1895 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 6.
COPLE CP/AP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 6.
DEAN AND SHELTON CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 6.
EASTCOTTS CP/Tn Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 6.
EATON SOCON AP/CP Parish-level Unit 1934 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 6.
ELSTOW AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 6.
FELMERSHAM CP/AP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 6.
GOLDINGTON CP/AP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 6.
GREAT BARFORD AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 4.
HARROLD AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 7.
KEMPSTON CP/AP Parish-level Unit 1894 1896 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 7.
KEMPSTON RURAL CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 7.
KEYSOE AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 7.
KNOTTING CP/AP/Ch Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 7.
KNOTTING AND SOULDROP CP Parish-level Unit 1934   F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 7.
LITTLE BARFORD CP/AP Parish-level Unit 1934 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 4.
LITTLE STAUGHTON AP/CP Parish-level Unit 1934 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 10.
MELCHBOURNE CP/AP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 8.
MELCHBOURNE AND YELDEN CP Parish-level Unit 1934   F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 9.
MILTON ERNEST AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 9.
OAKLEY CP/AP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 9.
ODELL AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 9.
PAVENHAM Ch/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 9.
PERTENHALL CP/AP Parish-level Unit 1934 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 9.
PODINGTON AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 9.
RAVENSDEN AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 9.
RENHOLD AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 9.
RISELEY AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 9.
ROXTON CP/AP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 9.
SHARNBROOK CP/AP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 9.
SOULDROP AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 10.
STAGSDEN AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 10.
STAPLOE CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 10.
STEVINGTON AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 10.
STEWARTBY CP Parish-level Unit 1937   F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 10.
SWINESHEAD AP/CP Parish-level Unit 1934 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 10.
THURLEIGH CP/AP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 11.
TURVEY AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 11.
WILDEN AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 11.
WILLINGTON CP/AP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 11.
WILSHAMSTEAD AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 11.
WOOTTON AP/CP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 11.
WYMINGTON CP/AP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 11.
YELDEN CP/AP Parish-level Unit     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 11.

This unit was part of the following units:

Name Type Start End Authority
BEDFORDSHIRE Administrative County 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 560.

This unit was affected by the following changes:

Date Type of change Other unit involved Area transferred Authority
01 Apr 1934 was reduced to enlarge BEDFORD MB parts of the CPs of Biddenham, Bromham, Cardington, Clapham, Eastcotts, Elstow, and Goldington Area: 2749 acres. Population in 1931: 2052.   1931 Census of England and Wales, Table B, 'Areas altered between 26th April, 1931 and 30th June, 1934, showing constitution as at the latter date, in terms of constitution as at the former date, together with particulars of acreage and population'.; M. of H. Order No. 77788. The North Bedfordshire Review Order, 1934
01 Apr 1934 was enlarged by the abolition of EATON SOCON RD Area: 16935 acres. Population in 1931: 3224.   1931 Census of England and Wales, Table B, 'Areas altered between 26th April, 1931 and 30th June, 1934, showing constitution as at the latter date, in terms of constitution as at the former date, together with particulars of acreage and population'.; M. of H. Order No. 77788. The North Bedfordshire Review Order, 1934
01 Apr 1934 was reduced to enlarge KEMPSTON UD parts of the CPs of Elstow and Kempston Area: 47 acres. Population in 1931: 98.   1931 Census of England and Wales, Table B, 'Areas altered between 26th April, 1931 and 30th June, 1934, showing constitution as at the latter date, in terms of constitution as at the former date, together with particulars of acreage and population'.; M. of H. Order No. 77788. The North Bedfordshire Review Order, 1934
01 Apr 1965 was reduced to enlarge RUSHDEN UD part of Wymington CP Area: 19 acres.   1971 Census of England and Wales, Table 4, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 23rd April, 1961, and 25th April, 1971)', for 'AC, LAA, CP, NT'.; The East Midland Counties Order, 1965
01 Apr 1965 was abolished to enlarge ST NEOTS UD part of Eaton Socon CP Area: 539 acres.   1971 Census of England and Wales, Table 4, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 23rd April, 1961, and 25th April, 1971)', for 'AC, LAA, CP, NT'.; The Huntingdon and Peterborough Order, 1964
01 Apr 1965 was reduced to enlarge WELLINGBOROUGH RD part of Melchbourne and Yielden CP Area: 1 acres.   1971 Census of England and Wales, Table 4, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 23rd April, 1961, and 25th April, 1971)', for 'AC, LAA, CP, NT'.; The East Midland Counties Order, 1965
01 Apr 1968 was reduced to enlarge BEDFORD MB parts of Cardington, Clapham, Eastcotts, Ravensden, Renhold CPs Area: 421 acres.   1971 Census of England and Wales, Table 4, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 23rd April, 1961, and 25th April, 1971)', for 'AC, LAA, CP, NT'.; The Bedford (Borough of Bedford) Order, 1967
01 Apr 1968 was enlarged by gaining part of BEDFORD MB Area: 1 acres.   1971 Census of England and Wales, Table 4, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 23rd April, 1961, and 25th April, 1971)', for 'AC, LAA, CP, NT'.; The Bedford (Borough of Bedford) Order, 1967

Boundary Map of Bedford Rural District (RD)

If the boundaries of the Local Government District changed over time, this map will show all the different boundaries.

Maps Census reports

How to reference this page:

GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, Bedford Rural District (RD) through time, A Vision of Britain through Time.

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10002060

Date accessed: 08th April 2026