OS grid reference SP995424 Unitary authority Country England Dialling code 01234 Post town Bedford | Civil parish Marston Moreteyne Region East Local time Monday 7:10 PM Ceremonial county Bedfordshire UK parliament constituency Mid Bedfordshire | |
 | ||
Population 4,556 (2011) census including Lower Shelton and Upper Shelton Weather 12°C, Wind SW at 6 km/h, 74% Humidity | ||
Marston Moreteyne (Marston Moretaine) is a large village and civil parish located on the A421 between Bedford and Milton Keynes. It has a population of 4,560, and is served by Millbrook railway station, which is about a mile away, on the Marston Vale Line. The population at the 2011 Census had decreased marginally to 4,556.
Contents
Map of Marston Moretaine, Bedford, UK
On the outskirts of the village sits the Forest Centre and Millennium Country Park in the heart of the Forest of Marston Vale. The village now has several shops, post office, Co-op store, Ingle and Caves Family Butchers, one public house (The Bell), fish & chip shop, doctor's surgery, an Indian restaurant and two Lower schools, across the main village and the adjoining hamlets of Upper Shelton, Lower Shelton and Wood End along with a small local art gallery/dealer: New Urban Art.
Sir Thomas Snagge lived in the village in the 16th century. He owned the manor of Marston Moreteyne.
Future development
Marston Park was allocated in the Mid Bedfordshire Local Plan for an extension to the village of Marston Moretaine with a mix of land uses. In 2008, the developers O&H Properties gained outline planning permission for 480 new houses, three hectares of employment land for offices, a new local centre, a primary school, a community building and a sports ground with cricket field. David Lock Associates were then commissioned to produce a Design Code to guide the development, and this was approved by Central Bedfordshire Council in 2010. David Wilson Homes, Barratt Homes and Bovis Homes have begun building the houses and the community building, and have created play areas. The land allocated for employment and a local centre are currently reported to be for sale.
St Mary's Church
Dating from around 1340, the church of St Mary the Virgin is a 14th-century church with a very rare feature for the East of England, a Grade I listed detached tower to the north of the church located about 70 feet from the north wall of the chancel. Grade I listing denotes that the building is of outstanding or national architectural or historic interest.
According to legend, the church's detached tower is the work of the Devil, who was trying to steal it. Finding it too heavy, he dropped it where it still remains.