Houghton Regis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Houghton Regis |
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| Town and civil parish | |
 King's Arms and All Saints' Church |
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 Houghton Regis
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| Population | 19,692 (Parish, 2021) 18,820 (Built up area, 2021) |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DUNSTABLE |
| Postcode district | LU5 |
| Dialling code | 01582 |
| Police | Bedfordshire |
| Fire | Bedfordshire and Luton |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Houghton Regis is a market town and civil parish in the Central Bedfordshire area of Bedfordshire, England.
It's part of a larger group of towns, including Dunstable and Luton. Together, these towns form a big urban area with over 286,000 people. The parish also includes smaller areas called Bidwell, Thorn, and Sewell.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Houghton comes from old Saxon words. 'Hoe' means the top of a hill, and 'tun' means a village.
By the 11th century, much of South Bedfordshire became land owned by the King. So, Houghton became known as Houghton Regis, which means 'King's Houghton'. This helped people tell it apart from another Houghton in Bedfordshire, which became Houghton Conquest.
A Look at History
Before the Town Existed
People have lived in the Houghton Regis area for a very long time. We know this because tools made of flint and bones from ancient animals have been found. These items show that people lived here even in the Paleolithic (Stone Age) period.
There's also an Iron Age hill fort called Maiden Bower near Sewell. You can still see parts of its old walls. Some parts of the fort show even older remains from the Bronze Age.
The Icknield Way Path is an ancient track that goes through the parish. It's 110 miles long! There's also the Icknield Way Trail, which is a path for walkers, horse riders, and cyclists.
Records of the Town
Houghton Regis is actually older than its neighbour, Dunstable. It's even mentioned in the Domesday Book, a very old survey from 1086. Back then, it was called Houstone.
When King Henry I started the town of Dunstable, he gave the people of Houghton a wood called Buckwood. This was to make up for some land that was taken for Dunstable.
Long ago, many people in Houghton Regis made a living by straw plaiting. This meant weaving straw into braids, often for hats. In 1689, people from Houghton and nearby villages asked the government not to make them wear woollen hats. They said it would ruin their straw-plaiting business.
Houghton Regis used to be a small village. But in the 1950s and 60s, it grew a lot. Many people from London moved here as part of a "London overspill" plan. This changed the town's feel. Some streets were even named after London places, like Chelsea Gardens.
You can still see parts of the town's past. The Parish Church of All Saints is from the 1400s. It has a great Norman tower. Houghton Hall, a former large house, was built in the 1700s.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, many shops on the High Street were taken down. This made way for new industrial buildings. Some of these have also been taken down since.
A famous American actor, Gary Cooper, lived in Houghton Regis when he was young. He even went to school here!
Town Businesses
Houghton Regis has several business areas. The Townsend Industrial Estate has roads like Townsend Farm Road and Blackburn Road.
To the south, there's the Houghton Hall Business Park. Big companies like Whitbread and Renault Trucks have offices here. Whitbread runs well-known places like Premier Inn hotels and Beefeater restaurants.
Another area is the Lovett Way Woodside estate. Here you can find businesses like Hermes and DPD.
A large Co-op store was damaged by fire in 2006. It reopened smaller but then closed for good in 2014. A Morrisons supermarket opened in 2012, and a Tesco Express store closed in 2015.
Fun and Community
The Houghton Regis Town Council puts on many free events each year. These include a Pancake Race, an Easter Egg Hunt, and a May Fayre. They also have a Carnival and a Classic and Vintage Car Show. Since 2016, the car show has been part of an event called Houghton Rocks.
The Greenway is a path that goes through Dunstable and Houghton Regis. It's part of National Route 6 of the National Cycle Network. This path is great for walking and cycling between Milton Keynes, Luton, and London.
The Houghton Regis Leisure Centre, called Lifestyles (@) Houghton, has been updated. It's a great place for sports and activities.
The Luton to Dunstable Busway opened in 2013. This special bus system makes it easy to travel from Houghton Regis to Luton Airport. It also stops in Dunstable and Luton.
Learning and Schools
Houghton Regis has several primary schools. These include Hawthorn Park Community Primary School and Houghton Regis Primary School. St Vincent's RC Primary School, Thomas Whitehead CE Academy, Thornhill Primary School, and Tithe Farm Primary School are also in the town.
For older students, there are secondary schools like Houstone School and All Saints Academy. The Chiltern School is a special school with a campus here.
You can also find sites for Central Bedfordshire College and Bedford College in Houghton Regis. They offer many courses for further education.
Future Plans
A5-M1 Link Road
A new road called the A5 was built to connect to the M1 at a new junction (11A). This road opened in May 2017.
It will also connect to a planned Luton Northern Bypass. Together, these roads will help reduce traffic in Houghton Regis and Dunstable. They will also make journeys faster for people traveling longer distances.
Woodside Link Road
The A5505 Woodside Link road is about 1.8 miles long. It opened in April 2017. This road connects the Woodside Estate industrial area to Junction 11a of the M1 motorway.
The Woodside Link will also help people get to a new development area. This area will have 5,150 new homes and new business spaces by 2031.
Houghton Regis North Framework Plan (HRN1)
This plan suggests building 6,950 new homes and more business areas north of Houghton Regis by 2026. There's also a chance for another 4,050 homes and more business land later.
The Houghton Regis Development Consortium is planning 5,150 homes and other facilities. These will be built on farmland north of the Tithe Farm estate.
Bidwell West Consortium Group (HRN2)
This plan is for another new area of Houghton Regis. It's located near the Chalk Quarry and Bedford Road. It will have up to 1,850 new homes, a primary school, and a local centre.
Work started in mid-2018 to prepare this large area for building. It will eventually have almost 2,000 new homes.
How the Town is Run
Houghton Regis has two levels of local government. There's the Houghton Regis Town Council, which handles local matters. Its offices are on Peel Street.
Then there's the Central Bedfordshire Council. This is a larger council that looks after the whole Central Bedfordshire area.
Freedom of the Town
The "Freedom of the Town" is a special honour given to people or groups. It's a way for the town to show its thanks and respect.
Individuals Honoured
- Robin Hines, who was the Mayor of Houghton Regis from 2010 to 2011. He received the honour on November 23, 2017.
- Beryl Morton, a local expert in gardening. She received the honour on October 13, 2018.
- Jabez Inwards (1817-1880), a popular speaker and expert on character reading from the Victorian era.
See also
In Spanish: Houghton Regis para niños
