OS grid reference SP959425 Unitary authority Country England Dialling code 01234 Post town Bedford | Civil parish Cranfield Region East Local time Tuesday 11:27 PM Ceremonial county Bedfordshire UK parliament constituency Mid Bedfordshire | |
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Population 4,909 (2001)
5,369 (2011 Census) Weather 7°C, Wind S at 21 km/h, 86% Humidity Colleges and Universities Cranfield University, Cranfield School of Engineering | ||
Cranfield is a village and civil parish in north west Bedfordshire, England, between Bedford and Milton Keynes. It has a population of 4,909, increasing to 5,369 at the 2011 Census. and is in Central Bedfordshire District.
Contents
Map of Cranfield, Bedford, UK
The hamlet of Bourne End is located just north of Cranfield, and is part of the civil parish. Wharley End was a separate settlement, but now forms the northern part of Cranfield village, by the university.
Amenities
Cranfield has two public houses, a football club, hairdressers, several take-away restaurants, two small supermarkets and one car dealership. There is also a surgery and dentist's practice along with a pharmacy. Cranfield has a university, two schools with another in production, three parks and a multi-use games area.
The village Post Office is now contained within the Co-op store; previously it was on separate premises near the centre of the village. Cranfield has one of only a small number of Morgan dealerships, in addition to a Ford dealer. There are further facilities at the university campus including a Post Office and bookshop.
The local newspaper is the Cranfield Express. There is a community website Cranfieldwebsite.info giving village information, local business, forum etc.
The Church of St Peter and St Paul has records going back at least to 1600, and is notable for its newly restored bells.
Cranfield Court belonged to the Harter family. The last house was built in 1862-4 in the French Gothic style, but was later demolished.
From 1992-2005 the village had its own amateur dramatics society, the 'Cranfield Players' with many village members.
Sport and leisure
Cranfield has a Non-League football team Cranfield United F.C. who play at their own ground in Crawley Road, Cranfield MK430AA
Airport
Cranfield's airfield was originally an RAF training airfield and was used after the war by the College of Aeronautics. The future of the airfield is uncertain – one runway was closed to allow the construction of the Nissan building and technology park and there are controversial plans to build further housing on airfield land.
Kennett Aviation, who previously operated a range of vintage aircraft from Cranfield, were forced to move to North Weald due to these plans. However, Cranfield is still home to one of the few remaining serviceable English Electric/BAC Lightning jet fighters.
University
Cranfield University is adjacent to the village, on the other side of the airfield.
Technology park
The Cranfield Technology Park is west of the University at the entrance to the campus. It is being developed on a phased basis by Cranfield University and its development partner. The park's objective is to encourage knowledge-based companies to locate their activities on the park and to encourage the growth of such companies. A major extension to the technology park was started in January 2007 using land on Cranfield Airport.
In August 2005 a new business incubation centre was opened. It was designed to encourage and support hi-tech and knowledge based pre-start and early start companies during the formative stages of their development.