Chicksands
{{Short description|Village in Bedfordshire, England}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{infobox UK place
|country = England
|official_name = Chicksands
|coordinates = {{coord|52.037|-0.360|display=inline,title}}
|static_image_name = Mid Beds District Council Offices - geograph.org.uk - 382472.jpg
|static_image_caption = Priory House, Central Bedfordshire Council offices
|region = East of England
|civil_parish = Campton and Chicksands
|unitary_england = Central Bedfordshire
|lieutenancy_england = Bedfordshire
|constituency_westminster = Mid Bedfordshire
|population =
|population_ref =
|post_town = SHEFFORD
|postcode_district = SG17
|postcode_area = SG
|dial_code = 01462
|os_grid_reference = TL124389
}}
Chicksands is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Campton and Chicksands in the Central Bedfordshire district of Bedfordshire, England. The village is on the River Flit and close to its parish village of Campton and the town of Shefford.
In 1961 the parish had a population of 607.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10172597/cube/TOT_POP|title=Population statistics Chicksands ExP/CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=30 January 2023}} In 2007, the population was estimated to be 2,510.Bedfordshire County Council, [http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/CouncilAndDemocracy/Statisticsandcensus/PopulationEstimatesAndForecasts.aspx Population Estimates and Forecasts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105071917/http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/CouncilAndDemocracy/Statisticsandcensus/PopulationEstimatesAndForecasts.aspx |date=5 January 2009 }}, estimate for 2007. By the 2011 census the figure was 1,699.{{NOMIS2011|id=1170221044|title=Campton and Chicksands Parish|access-date=6 March 2018}}
Mid Bedfordshire District Council moved to a new office building on part of the former RAF Chicksands sportsfield, adjacent to the A507, having previously been based in offices at Ampthill and Biggleswade. The new office, named Priory House, was officially opened by the Queen on 17 November 2006 accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh.{{cite news|title=Her Majesty the Queen in Bedfordshire|url=http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/her-majesty-the-queen-in-bedfordshire-1-1085456|access-date=20 May 2016|work=Bedford Today|date=17 November 2006|archive-date=5 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805122952/http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/her-majesty-the-queen-in-bedfordshire-1-1085456|url-status=dead}} The offices are now home to Central Bedfordshire Council.{{cite web|title=Customer Services Centre|url=http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/contact-us/customer-services-centres/chicksands.aspx|publisher=Central Bedfordshire Council|access-date=20 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528144752/http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/contact-us/customer-services-centres/chicksands.aspx|archive-date=28 May 2016|url-status=dead}}
History
Chicksands is mentioned in the Domesday Book the entry reads: Chichesana/e: William de Cairon from Bishop of Lincoln; Three freemen and Walter from Azelina, Ralph Tailbois' wife (it is of her dowry). Mill.{{cite web|title=Chicksands in 1086|url=http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/CommunityAndLiving/ArchivesAndRecordOffice/CommunityArchives/Chicksands/ChicksandsIn1086.aspx|publisher=Bedfordshire Borough Council|access-date=20 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420084346/http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/CommunityAndLiving/ArchivesAndRecordOffice/CommunityArchives/Chicksands/ChicksandsIn1086.aspx|archive-date=20 April 2016|url-status=dead}} It means "Cicca's sands", where Cicca is a personal name.{{cite web | title=Hosted By Bedford Borough Council: The Parish of Chicksands in General | publisher=Bedfordshire County Council | date=7 October 2015 | url=https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityHistories/Chicksands/TheParishOfChicksandsInGeneral.aspx | access-date=7 January 2024}}
Chicksands was the site of RAF Chicksands, an RAF station during World War II. The station was used by the United States Air Force from 1950 to 1995.{{cite magazine |last1=Beatty|first1=Gavin|title=Bedfordshire - Defence Intelligence and Security Centre|magazine=Sanctuary |publisher=Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) |date=2010|issue=39 |page=67 |issn=0959-4132}} It was the location for its first huge FLR-9 direction finding antenna from 1963 to 1995. The antenna was known as the 'Elephant Cage' and was dismantled before the USAF left in 1995.{{cite web|title=Chicksands Wood|url=http://www.visitshefford.co.uk/see/chicksands-wood.shtm|publisher=Visit Shefford|access-date=20 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506003214/http://www.visitshefford.co.uk/see/chicksands-wood.shtm|archive-date=6 May 2016|url-status=dead}} It is now home to the Joint Intelligence Training Group (JITG) and the Headquarters of the British Army's Intelligence Corps.{{cite web|title=Campton & Chicksands Parish Plan|url=http://www.camptonandchicksands.org.uk/parish_plan.pdf|publisher=Campton & Chicksands.org|access-date=20 May 2016|page=3|date=2010}}
Chicksands Priory, a monastic house built in 1150, is located within the grounds of the Joint Intelligence Training Group.{{cite web|title=Chicksands Priory|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1000574|publisher=Historic England|access-date=20 May 2016}} It is open to the public, by appointment only, on the 1st & 3rd Sunday afternoons, April–October.{{cite web|title=Visiting Chicksands Priory|url=https://www.chicksandspriory.co.uk/tours-of-the-priory|publisher=Friends of Chicksands Priory|access-date=30 July 2019}}
Chicksands Priory was formerly an extra-parochial tract,{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/place/4983|title=History of Chicksands in Mid Bedfordshire|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=30 January 2023}} from 1858 Chicksands Priory was a civil parish in its own right, it was later renamed to just "Chicksands", on 1 April 1985 the parish was abolished and merged with Campton to form "Campton & Chicksands".{{cite web|url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/biggleswade.html|title=Biggleswade Registration District|publisher=UKBMD|accessdate=30 January 2023}}
Education
{{expand section|date=January 2025}}
It is in the school catchment area for Robert Bloomfield Academy.{{cite web|url=https://www.bestacademies.org.uk:443/_site/data/files/governance/legal/8B8CB67B5833D0F23434CB8DA7134211.pdf|title=Admission Arrangements September 2025|publisher=Bedfordshire Schools Trust|access-date=2025-01-03|page=14/35}} - Map is on p. 34/35. It is also in the catchment area for Samuel Whitbread Academy, which has an upper school and sixth form.{{cite web|url=https://www.bestacademies.org.uk:443/_site/data/files/governance/legal/8B8CB67B5833D0F23434CB8DA7134211.pdf|title=Admission Arrangements September 2025|publisher=Bedfordshire Schools Trust|access-date=2025-01-03|page=15/35}} - Map is on p. 35/35.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline|Chicksands}}
- [http://www.camptonandchicksands.org.uk/history8.htm Campton & Chicksands]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070914172343/http://www.midbeds.gov.uk/ Chicksands Offices] – Mid Beds District Council
- [http://www.sheffordtown.co.uk/chicksands-history.htm Chicksands History]
- [http://www.chicksandspriory.co.uk/ Friends of Chicksands Prioy Website]
{{Places in Bedfordshire}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Villages in Bedfordshire