GenUKI Contents

Bedfordshire

RAVENSDEN

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"RAVENSDEN, a parish in the hundred of Barford, county Bedford, 4 miles north-east of Bedford, its post town. The village, which is of small extent, is wholly agricultural. The surface is rather hilly, and the soil clayey. The tithes were commuted for land and a money payment under an Enclosure Act in 1809. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Ely, value £100. The church, dedicated to All Saints, is an ancient structure of stone with a square embattled tower containing five bells. The parochial charities produce about £8 per annum. There is a National school adjoining the church. The Wesleyans have a place of worship."

[The above was transcribed (and edited) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2023

The following information was transcribed by Craig Pickup from Kelly's Bedfordshire Directory, 1940

• "CHURCH END, in the parish of Ravensden, adjoining Ravensden to the south."
• "NORTHFIELDS, a hamlet in the parish of Ravensden, county of Bedfordshire, ¼ mile north east of Ravensden."
• "TILWICK, a farmhouse in the parish of Ravensden, county of Bedfordshire, 2 miles north of Ravensden."

Census

• The 1851 Census Index for Ravensden can be found in the 1851 Index to Census of Bedfordshire, Volume 2, Book 3 available from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.

Churches

• Here are photographs of Churches etc. in the parish:
  • All Saints Church, Church End.
  • The Zion Baptist Church, Ravensden.

Church History

• Church of England
  • The church of All Saints is an ancient building of stone, in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave, north aisle, south porch and an embattled tower containing 3 bells. The register dates from the year 1558. [Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
• Non-conformist
  • Here is a Baptist chapel. [Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]

Church Records

• Church of England
  • The parish record transcripts for All Saints are available on microfiche for the period 1558-1812 from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.

Description and Travel

• Bricks, tiles and draining pipes are made in this parish. Ravensden House, the seat of Francis Aspinall Wythes Wythes esq. J.P. is pleasantly situated about a mile and a half west of the church. Ravensden Grange is the residence of Lieut.-Col. Thomas Joseph Sunderland J.P. The Duke of Bedford is lord of the manor. [Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]

Gazetteers

• A transcript of the Ravensden parish entries from Stephen Whatley's 1750 Topographical Gazetteer of England,
• A transcript of the Ravensden parish entries from Samuel Lewis's 1831 Topographical Dictionary of England,
• A transcript of the Ravensden parish entries from Samuel Lewis's 1835 Topographical Dictionary of England,
• A transcript of the Ravensden parish entries from The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales, 1866-9

History

• There is a large amount of Historical Information for Ravensden on the Archive.org web site.

Military History

• The BFHS Project in conjunction with Roll of Honour contains the Ravensden War Memorial transcription for WW1 and WW2 with details of the men found on it