Buntingford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buntingford |
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 Buntingford |
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 Buntingford
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| Population | 7,879 (2021 census) |
| OS grid reference | TL363292 |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BUNTINGFORD |
| Postcode district | SG9 |
| Dialling code | 01763 |
| Police | Hertfordshire |
| Fire | Hertfordshire |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Buntingford is a market town and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England. It is located in the East Hertfordshire area. The town sits by the River Rib and is on the old Roman road called Ermine Street.
Because of its location, Buntingford became an important stop for travelers. It had many inns where coaches could stop. You can still see an old 18th-century prison called The Cage near the ford (a shallow river crossing) at the end of Church Street. In 2021, about 7,879 people lived in Buntingford.
Contents
What's in a Name?
Many people think Buntingford is named after the bunting bird. But that's not true! The name probably comes from an old Saxon leader or group called Bunta. It also refers to the local ford over the River Rib.
"Buntingford" was first used for the ford and the land around it. A village six miles north was called "Bunting." This name meant "place or people of Bunta" in Old English. The earliest names for Buntingford, like Buntas Ford, appeared in 1185. The modern name Buntingford was first seen in 1255. It means "Ford of the people of Bunta."
A Look Back in Time
Buntingford was first mentioned in a document from 1185. This document was from the Knights Templar, a famous group of knights. In 1253, King Henry III officially made Buntingford a market town. This was done with a special royal paper called a royal charter.
Later, in 1360, a noblewoman named Elizabeth de Burgh moved her market to Buntingford. She had permission from King Edward III. She then gave the market to the people of Buntingford. This made it one of the first markets in England owned by the community!
Buntingford was traditionally part of the Layston parish. St Bartholomew's Church (Layston) is about half a mile north-east of the town. St Peter's Church is the main Anglican church in Buntingford. It's a unique brick building from the 1600s. There's also St Richard's for the Roman Catholic community and a United Reformed Church.
It's said that Queen Elizabeth I once stayed in Buntingford. She supposedly stopped at a building now called the Bell House Gallery. This was during a coach trip to Cambridge. The Angel Inn, now a dental office, was another important stop for coaches.
The town has an annual firework display at The Bury. This event is put on by Buntingford Town Football Club. Many old buildings from the Georgian and medieval times can be found here. These include the Buntingford almshouses and the Buntingford Manor House. Buntingford was a key stop on the main road between London and Cambridge, which is now the A10.
How Buntingford is Run
Buntingford is part of East Hertfordshire. This is a district in the county of Hertfordshire. It's also in the parliamentary area called North East Hertfordshire. This area has been represented by Sir Oliver Heald since 1992.
Hertfordshire has a three-level local government system. This means different groups handle different tasks. These groups are the county council, district council, and parish councils (which include town councils).
Buntingford is managed by three main councils:
- Buntingford Town Council
- East Hertfordshire District Council
- Hertfordshire County Council
The Town Council is based at Buntingford Manor House in Buntingford. They elect councillors every four years. The district and county councils are based in Hertford.
Fun Things to Do
Market day in Buntingford is every Monday. The Buntingford Cougars Football Tournament is held every year at The Bury. Teams from all around come to play in this youth event. There's also a classic car show each year, held on the first Saturday in September.
The town has several pubs, including The Fox and Duck, The Black Bull, and The Crown. A fun event called the 'World Sausage Tossing Championship' happens every August. It takes place at The Countryman Inn near Buntingford.
Getting Around
Buntingford railway station opened in 1863. However, it closed in 1964 as part of the Beeching cuts, which closed many railway lines. The old station area has now been turned into houses.
Local Business
Buntingford has many local shops, restaurants, and pubs. Most of these are on the town's high street. You can find a Co-op food supermarket and a Sainsbury's Local here. There are also two fuel stations just outside the town.
The town used to have a large Sainsbury's distribution center. This was a big warehouse that sent food to stores. It closed and was later replaced by houses in 2014. Before that, the site was a factory for army supplies.
Buntingford was also home to two major UK auto racing teams, Team BMR and Triple Eight Racing.
Learning in Buntingford
Buntingford is one of only two towns in Hertfordshire that uses a three-tier school system. This system was started in Buntingford in 1969.
Here's how it works:
- Children go to first schools until they are in Year Five.
- Then they move to middle school.
- After middle school, they go to upper school in Year Nine. They stay there until they finish sixth form.
First and Middle Schools
Buntingford has one middle school and two first schools. A third first school is planned to open in September 2023.
- Layston Church of England First School is for boys and girls. It's a Church of England school. It has been rated "outstanding" by Ofsted since 2009. About 149 students go there.
- Millfield First and Nursery School is also for boys and girls and includes a nursery education. This school has also been rated "outstanding" by Ofsted since 2009. It has about 341 students. The school even has animals, including a dog, as part of its staff team!
- Buntingford First School (BFS) is a new school. It is expected to be Hertfordshire's first "net zero" school, meaning it will produce very little carbon. It will have space for 300 students.
- Edwinstree Church of England Middle School is Buntingford's only middle school. It's a Church of England school for boys and girls. It has been rated "good" by Ofsted since 2018. About 477 students attend this school.
Secondary Education
Buntingford has one upper school called Freman College. It used to be known as Ward Freman School. This school is for both boys and girls and includes a sixth form. It opened around 1970 or 1971. It replaced the old Buntingford Secondary Modern School.
Freman College is named after Bishop Seth Ward and Elizabeth Freman. They both helped the old Buntingford grammar school, which closed in 1900. Freman College has been rated "good" by Ofsted since 2006. It has about 961 students.
The original Buntingford Grammar School building was built between 1630 and 1633. It was for 25 schoolboys. After 1877, the building became a house. The Town Council now owns the rest of the school's land and keeps it as a park.
Famous People from Buntingford
Many interesting people have connections to Buntingford:
Athletes
- Twin cricketers Herbert Pigg and Charles Pigg were born here.
- Professional footballer Nathan Tella went to Edwinstree C of E Middle School and Freman College.
Bishops
- Archbishop of Westminster Arthur Hinsley died near Buntingford.
- Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol James Henry Monk was born in Buntingford.
- Bishop of Salisbury Seth Ward was a student and helper of Buntingford Grammar School. Freman College is partly named after him.
Politicians
- Politician Sam Gyimah studied at Freman College.
- Politician Walter Wren was born and went to school in Buntingford.
- Local politician Harold Herbert Williams lived in Buntingford.
- Merchant John Watts was born in Buntingford.
Others
- Performer Ouida MacDermott lived and died in Buntingford.
- Television presenter Anna Williamson went to Freman College.
- Sculptor Reginald Butler was born in Buntingford.
- Inventor William Stanley lived in Buntingford.
- Army officer Sir Frederick Abbott was born in Buntingford.
- Magistrate and editor Jefferson Stow was born in Buntingford.
Sister Towns
Buntingford is twinned with two towns:
- Luynes, France
- Ólvega, Spain
Media and News
Local news and TV shows for Buntingford come from BBC East and BBC London (on BBC One). They also come from ITV Anglia and ITV London (on ITV1). You can listen to local radio stations like BBC Three Counties Radio and Heart Hertfordshire. The local newspaper is the Hertfordshire Mercury.
Buntingford in Pop Culture
The Beehive, a pub near Buntingford, appeared in the 1981 TV show The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It also showed up in the 2005 movie version, called the "last pub in the world."
See also
In Spanish: Buntingford para niños
