The Essential Guide for Residents Old and New
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AMPTHILL WELCOME PACK www.ampthill.info The Essential Guide for Residents Old and New Inside this Welcome Pack Introduction 2 Where to go if you need help 16 - 18 Brief History of Ampthill 3 Town Voluntary Groups 19 - 26 Map of Ampthill 4 Volunteer Opportunities 27 - 29 Town Communications 4 - 5 Local Events 30 Local Government and Local MP 5 - 9 Leisure and Recreation 31 Refuse and Recycling 10 Tourism 32 - 38 Emergency Services 10 - 11 Plans for the Future of the Town 38 Town Facilities and Services 12 - 15 About Ampthill.Info 39 Page 2 AMPTHILL WELCOME PACK Introduction Dear Resident or Future Resident, Welcome to the town of Ampthill to residents old and new. In this welcome pack you will find lots of useful information about our town, including clubs, facilities and useful phone numbers, email addresses and websites. Residents have commented, in the past that they have lived here for years without realising the full extent of facilities, services and opportunities available, so the aim of this pack is to put that right. Please feel free to print off pages from the pack or the whole forty page guide. Alternatively, you may wish to keep a copy on your computer for future reference. The aim is that the pack will be regularly updated. The information contained in the pack is expanded upon via Ampthill‟s two premier websites, Ampthill – Past Present and Future (www.ampthill.info) and the Ampthill and District Business Directory (www.ampthill.org.uk). Both websites are the brainchild of long time Ampthill Resident, Mark Smith, as is this Welcome Pack, with a mission to keep the town informed, engaged and empowered. You can additionally follow the latest information about Ampthill via the Ampthill.Info Facebook Page I‟m sure you will soon learn that our community holds so much for you and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch. I would also ask that if you have any suggestions for other information that should be included in the Welcome Pack that you also contact me. I hope that you find the pack of use as you go about your daily lives. Yours sincerely Marks Smith Tel: 01525 402560 Email: [email protected] Websites: www.ampthill.info & www.ampthill.org.uk Ampthill is twinned with Nissan-Lez-Enserune, France www.nissan-lez-enserune.net Page 3 AMPTHILL WELCOME PACK Brief History of Ampthill Ampthill is a Georgian Market Town with a more interesting and significant history than many towns of a much larger size. With its attractive buildings and unique charm it rarely fails to cast its spell on residents and visitors alike. Many of the town's Georgian fronted buildings can be seen from the Market Square. However, behind these facades lies a much older history. With its many assorted shops, places to eat and rich history a visit to Ampthill has much to offer. The ancient market town of Ampthill is situated under the brow of the Greensand Ridge. There is no clear evidence about the town's origin but it is thought it was once a Roman settlement. The first documentary evidence of a settlement on the site of the town is in the Doomsday Book. The name 'Ampthill' is of Anglo-Saxon origin, as the first settlement was called 'Aemethyll', which literally means either 'ant-heap' or 'ant infested hill'. In 1219, King Henry III confirmed the right to hold a market on Thursday's in the town and this remains a fixture of life in Ampthill to this day. The town is associated with Henry VIII who often visited Ampthill for deer hunting and archery contests. He chose to stay at the 15th century castle that once stood within Ampthill Park. His wife Katherine of Aragon was confined to the castle for three years during the annulment of their marriage. The castle no longer stands, falling to ruins during the reign of Elizabeth 1st; its site is marked by a stone cross, erected in 1773, known as Katherine's Cross. Coincidentally, Katherine's Cross gained additional fame in the latter part of the 20th Century, as it was at the base of this monument that the 'Golden Hare' was buried, as detailed in Kit Williams book 'Masquerade'. Ampthill Great Park, situated off of Woburn Street, is a great place visit as not only was it the home of Ampthill Castle, but the landscape we enjoy today was created by the renown 18th Century Landscape Designer Lancelot „Capability‟ Brown. The town is much older than its Georgian fronts with many buildings dating back to the medieval period. Ampthill boasts over 200 listed buildings. The four main streets lined with elegant houses and other buildings meet at the Market Square. The Square is dominated by the clock tower (the clock came from the old Market hall on site of Richardson's, then moved to Old Moot Hall placed in new tower and given Cupola from Ampthill house). An obelisk pump also occupies part of the Square. It was a gift to the town in 1785 by Lord Ossory and was a major source of water for the townsfolk for almost two centuries. St. Andrew‟s Church contains a monument dedicated to Colonel Richard Nicolls, the man responsible for giving New York its name. In 1664, King Charles II gave his brother, James, the then Duke of York, all of the Atlantic Coast from Maine to Delaware. Richard Nicolls was given the task of capturing the Dutch Colonial City of New Amsterdam, on Long Island, which lay within this swathe of land. He did so, by threatening to destroy the Dutch fort, on what is now Manhattan Island, with a flotilla of British warships. The Dutch capitulated, and Nicolls upon accepting the surrender, renamed the city after his commanding officer, the Duke of York. He subsequently became the first colonial governor of New York. Nicolls was killed in a naval battle and the cannon ball that killed him is incorporated in the memorial plaque. John Bunyan's 'House Beautiful' in 'Pilgrim's Progress' Houghton House, widely acclaimed as the inspiration for John Bunyan's 'House Beautiful' in 'Pilgrims Progress' (Published in 1678), is located to the north east of the town. It is contended that Bunyan used the landscape of Bedfordshire, as the backdrop for his classic allegorical tale. Unfortunately, only ruins now once great house. Page 4 AMPTHILL WELCOME PACK Map of Ampthill Secondary Story Headline Town Communications Town Newsletter: Around the Pump: Contact Details – Donna Searle, Ampthill Town Council, 66 Dunstable Street, Ampthill, Beds, MK45 2JS. Tel: 01525 404355. Email: [email protected]. Delivered to every household in the town every two months. Download copies from www.ampthilltowncouncil.org.uk. The Fuddler - available from local pubs and shops. Contact: [email protected] or ring 01525 841434. Website: www.thefuddler.com The Ampthill & Flitwick Directory (Bedfordshire Oracle) - Delivered to every house in the town. Contact: Pemberley Publications at [email protected] or by ringing 01234 215191. Notice boards: Town Council Notice boards (Town Centre Car Park – on the side of the toilet block & Ampthill Hall, Dunstable Street). To display posters contact Ampthill Town Council – 404355 Other Notice boards: Waitrose Supermarket, Cottage Bakery (Dunstable Street), Candy Joys (Russell Drive) Page 5 AMPTHILL WELCOME PACK Town Communications Town Websites: Ampthill – Past Present & Future – www.ampthill.info – your gateway to everything Ampthill Ampthill & District Directory - www.ampthill.org.uk - your guide to the plethora of shops and businesses in the town Ampthill Town Council – www.ampthilltowncouncil.org.uk – the Town Council‟s site Ampthill Weather Station - www.ampthillweatherstation.info – discover the latest weather forecast for the town Ampthill TV – www.ampthill.tv - video & photos of current and past events Ampthill Images - www.ampthillimages.com – historic images of the town Ampthill History – www.ampthillhistory.co.uk – the history of the town from Ampthill History Forum Around Ampthill Forum - www.aroundampthill.org/forum - all the salacious gossip from the town Local Government and Local Member of Parliament Ampthill Town Council Website: www.ampthilltowncouncil.org.uk 66 Dunstable Street, Ampthill, Beds, MK45 2JS. Tel: 01525 404355. Town Clerk: Dawn Sutherns – [email protected] Your Councillors are: Sally Bacon (Vice-Chair & Planning Chair), 1 Glebe Road, Ampthill. Tel: 754977. Email: [email protected] Richard Holden, 12 Preston Close, Ampthill. Tel: 403141. Email:[email protected] Paul Duckett, 62 Ampthill Road, Maulden. Tel: 07988 184061 Peter Eversley, 5 The Crescent, Ampthill. Tel: 752319 Penny Foster, 30 The Coppins, Ampthill. Tel: 754747. Email: [email protected] Mark Smith, 6 Sidney Road, Ampthill. Tel: 402560. Email: [email protected] Ghislain Pascal, Gates House, 28 Church Street, Ampthill, MK45 2EH. Tel: 406608. Email: [email protected] Gary Summerfield, 20 Arthur Street, Ampthill. Tel: 753723. Email:[email protected] Roy Tebbutt (Parks Chair), 25 Holland Road, Ampthill. Tel: 755730. Email: [email protected] Margaret Wilson (Mayor) , 15 Chandos Road, Ampthill. Tel: 750296 Margaret Wright, 2a Brinsmade Rd, Ampthill. Tel: 402060. Email:[email protected] Parish Council Meetings take place on the third Wednesday of every month (except August) and anyone is welcome to attend and talk to the council for up to three minutes on any subject at a meeting. Page 6 AMPTHILL WELCOME PACK Local Government and Local Member of Parliament Ampthill Town Council Services provided: Ampthill Town Council is responsible for the following: Allotments - Everett's Field (51 Plots) and Grange Farm (29 Plots). Waiting list in operation Ampthill Town Cemetery - Approximately 2 Acres, off Gas House Lane (Garden of Remembrance, Traditional & Lawn Burials).