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Leighton Buzzard is a town near the Chiltern Hills in Bedfordshire, and is between Luton and Milton Keynes. It has a population of 32,417 (2001 census), and is part of the South Bedfordshire district.
For local government purposes, the town is administered jointly with Linslade as the civil parish of Leighton-Linslade.
History
There are a number of theories about its curious name but the most likely is that "Leighton" is a Saxon term meaning a clearing in the woods. The "Buzzard" was added by the Dean of Lincoln in whose diocese the town was in the 12th century. He had two communities called "Leighton" and in order to differentiate them he added the name of his local Prebendary or representative to that of the town. At that time it was a Theobald de Busar and so over the years the town became known as Leighton Buzzard. The other Leighton became Leighton Bromswold.
Amenities
Leighton Buzzard boasts All Saints Church, a fine Early English parish church dating from 1277. The church has a 190ft spire and has been described as the cathedral of South Bedfordshire.
The town is also known for the Leighton Buzzard Railway, a narrow gauge heritage railway.
Leighton Buzzard is represented in terms of sporting teams. Leighton Town F.C. play football in the Southern League Division One East, whilst Leighton Buzzard R.F.C. play Rugby Union in Midlands East Division 3.
Stockgrove Country Park is located in nearby Heath and Reach.
Infrastructure
Leighton Buzzard is close to the M1 motorway and A5 road, and is served by the West Coast Main Line railway at Leighton Buzzard railway station (in Linslade). The Grand Union Canal runs through the town, alongside the River Ouzel (known locally as the River Lovat).
In popular culture
The town was where the 1960s band The Barron Knights first formed and the 80's supergroup Kajagoogoo, who had an international superhit with Too Shy. The band Leyton Buzzards were not named after the town, but derived their name from Leyton in East London.
Other famous residents of, the villages close, to Leighton Buzzard include the late Bob Monkhouse, Kriss Akabusi and Darren Gough.
Industry
The town is, or has at one time, been the home to various industries: Lipton Tea, Gossard clothing, Lancer Boss (forklifts, etc.).
The town has a sizeable sand quarrying industry.
Countrywide and Connells/Sequence, the UK's two largest estate agents' chains, both have their head offices in the town, as does the UK branch of Tupperware.
References
- Kevin Quick (2005). Leighton-Linslade Past Times. Retrieved May 17, 2005.
External Links
"Leighton Buzzard"