Ampthill
Ampthill maps (2 available)
Map of Bedfordshire
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
See this old map of Bedfordshire
Personalised maps
Create an historic map centred directly on any postcode!
Ampthill books (5 available)
- 7 photos on Ampthill appear in 1 Frith books - View photos of Ampthill
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Ampthill and Bedfordshire
Ampthill memories
Read and share memories of Ampthill and Bedfordshire inspired by Frith photos
ampthill siren
My abiding memory of Ampthill is when I used to go to the Saturday pictures with my cousins and the fire engine would be called out. The only problem was the siren that called them out was the old wartime air-raid siren. What a noise !!! I lived in Maulden but often visited Ampthill. thanks for the memories. !!!
Contributed by christine ager
Butchers shop
Browsing Ampthill, for the first time, I came across the above photo. On the left just above the logo is a shop blind that used to protect the meat in the window display from sunshine (when it appeared). That blind was the bain of my life in 1952/3/4 when I was a so called "butchers boy". It never ran correctly on it's tracks, and I caused many a car to swerve my long pole manipulations putting it up and down. Funny when I think about it. The bicycle outside (possibly me pictured) was used for deliveries. The carrier full of orders for Maulden and surrounds was a steering hazard particulary in the snow. One Saturday morning I came to grief down ...read more here
Contributed by Paul Guyton
Shop names.
The shop next door to The Ampthill News was and still is Cheesman's the chemist and the shop next door to that was Underwood's an electrical appliance shop.
Contributed by Mr J Emmerton
Grandma
The lady with the white coat and shopping basket on the right hand side of the photo is my grandmother - Clara Billington - and lovely to see her in print!
Contributed by Julia Lovell
Extracts From Ampthill & Bedfordshire books
Dating back to the 18th century, the deed to each of these cottages restricts the householder to replacing the thatched roof only with thatch, and further prescribes the method and colour of redecoration that may be carried out. It is doubtful that the legality of the covenant has ever been challenged. The bus on the right is an Eastern National vehicle operating the route between Ampthill and Bedford.
An extract from from"Bedfordshire Photographic Memories".
It is entirely possible that Queen Katherine of Aragon worshipped in the 10th-century church during her stay at Ampthill Castle in 1533. Katherine’s Cross in Ampthill Park gained a subsequent measure of recognition when it proved to be the burial site of the ‘Golden Hare’ - the subject of a national treasure hunt based on Kit Williams’ book ‘Masquerade’.
An extract from from"Bedfordshire Photographic Memories".
The Zonita Cinema has followed ‘Adventures of Quentin Durward’ into obscurity, but the pub across the road still provides a service for thirsty residents and travellers. The owner, Charles Wells Brewery of Bedford, is the only independent brewery left in the county.
An extract from from"Bedfordshire Photographic Memories".
In late morning sunshine, the boys of the village head for the newsagents, possibly to collect their wages for the daily delivery run. Behind them the Queen Anne façade of the White Hart hides the fabric of a Tudor building, while the structure housing Babbs footwear shop is not so bashful.
An extract from from"Bedfordshire Photographic Memories".
This substantial open space at the heart of the town is the original site of the Charter Market. All the main roads converge here, and Ampthill’s history as a coaching stop is still visible in the form of the White Hart hotel on the right of the picture. Much of the building is of Tudor origin, but later additions are said to include panelling removed from Houghton House (see 39964). The Market Place has been redeveloped as a Millennium project.
An extract from from"Bedfordshire Photographic Memories".