CLIFTON
[Transcribed and edited information from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868]
"CLIFTON, a parish in the hundred of Clifton, in the county of Bedford, 1½
mile east of Shefford, its post town, and 4 from Biggleswade. The Great
Northern railway has a station at Shefford-road, and the Leicester and
Hitchin section of the Midland one at Shefford. It is situated on the west
bank of the river Ivel. The living is a rectory* in the diocese of Ely,
value £439, in the patronage of H. Miles, Esq. The church, dedicated to St.
Mary, is a stone structure, and contains a brass dated 1528. The charities
amount to £12 per annum. Henry Palmer, Esq., is lord of the manor. Clifton
Spinnies is a meet for the Oakley hounds."
[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2013
- Church of England
-
The church of All Saints is an edifice of sandstone in the Decorated and Perpendicular styles, consisting of chancel, nave,
north aisle, and an embattled western tower, with a turret; at the north-east angle, and containing a clock and 15 bells, 8 of
which are hung for ringing and the rest for chimes : the church was thoroughly restored and enlarged in the year 1862, and
reopened 23rd April, 1863, by the late H. Miles esq. at a cost of about £3,000: the stone reredos is divided by shafts of
Devonshire marble, into panels, the centre panel representing "The Crucifixion," executed in relief, and those on either side
containing figures of St. Peter and St. Paul: the pulpit is of carved alabaster, inlaid with marble : over the chancel arch is
a "Majesty," in mosaic work : the west window and others are stained; there is an alabaster tomb to Sir Michael and Lady Fysher,
beneath which and immediately beside it are effigies in incised brass of John, son of Sir Michael, ob. 1528, and his wife: the
former being in plate armour worn over a hauberk. Some portions of what has been supposed by some to have been a rood loft, and
by others a parclose screen originally surrounding Sir Michael's tomb; with paintings of saints, are now tied on the north and
south internal walls of the tower: there is a small and curious crypt at the south-east corner of the nave; over the porch is a
canopied niche with figure of the Good Shepherd. The register dates from the year 1538.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
- Non-conformist
- The Particular Baptist chapel was erected in 1853 by voluntary contributions. The New Baptist chapel was erected in 1883, is a building of brick and will seat 150.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
- The BFHS Project in conjunction with Roll of Honour contains the
Clifton War Memorial transcription for WW1 and WW2 with details of the men found on it.
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