Cardington and beyond

	To the South-east of Bedford lie several historic villages. Most of these villages were once part of the “Wixamtree Hundred” (the administrative unit into which shires were divided in late Anglo-Saxon times). The area is well worth visiting because, as well as containing some picturesque villages,Wixamtree is the birthplace of one of the world’s best-known authors, Cannot appreciate the size of these buidling from this shot, however, they are huge!. Built to construct airships, the first shed was erected in 1915, with shed 2 following in the 1920's. The internal floor area is some 5 acres (2.02 hectares or 223,300 sq ft) and some 3,700 tonnes of steel has gone into the framework alone. The buildings in terms of airships fell into disuse in 1930 following the fatal crash of the R101 Airship nr Paris. Shed two is now used/rented by Warner Bros and a number of scenes from recent movies such as Batman and Inception have been shot inside.raf cardington the home of a prison reformer, two of the most unusual huge buildings in England and several interesting medieval sites. Wixamtree today consists of seven villages and hamlets; Cardington, Cople, Cotton End, Eastcotts, Harrowden, Shortstown and RAF Cardington, Elstow, Willington, Wilstead and Wixams. Cardington was the home of John Howard, the prison reformer. The churchyard of the parish church holds the graves of 48 of the officers and men who died in the R101 airship crash and there is a memorial in the church itself. Cardington has a history of being used for filming movies. Some scenes for "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" were filmed at the sheds, some flying sequences for "Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines" were filmed along the old railway line between Cardington and Old Warden and, more recently, since 2005, shed two has become a film studio, housing the set of Gotham City for the "Batman" films. Cardington in film and television. Shortstown was built by the Shorts brothers to house their airship-building workers. It is best known for the two massive airship sheds where the R100 and the ill-fated R101were built. RAF Cardington is just as well known by many as the place where they underwent their basic National Service RAF training. A personal record of one serviceman’s time there can be found here. There are two pubs in Harrowden, one which was used by the RAF officers, one by the enlisted men. The Gate pub has a collection of airship photographs on permanent display. Willington is recorded in the Doomsday Book as Welitone. In addition to some charming cottages and impressive old houses, Willington boasts a wonderful medieval dovecote and stables. The Greensand Ridge walk runs through Willington. Elstow is perhaps best know as the birthplace of the author John Bunyan, but it has several other claims to fame. Elstow was the home of one of England’s largest and richest Abbeys. Many of the timber framed houses built by the Abbey still stand, together with Elstow Moot Hall – a most unusual medieval building, being a combined market house and meeting hall. Two thirds of the old Abbey church still stands and is used as Elstow’s parish church. Now a conservation area, containing medieval and several other listed buildings, Elstow is one of England’s ’must see’ villages. You can pre-book to visit both Moot Hall and the Abbey church. The Grade II listed Red Lion pub in Elstow dates back to at least the 17th Century. Wixams is a new village, currently being built south west of Elstow. It will be one one of the largest new communities built in the UK in recent times. Places to Visit Elstow Abbey Elstow Abbey was founded in 1078 by the Countess Judith, niece of William the Conqueror. It became one of the richest of the 106 Benedictine nunneries existing at the time and in its hey-day, in the fourteenth century, the building was twice its present size. The end of the Abbey came in 1539, as part of the dissolution of the monasteries. By the time of Elizabeth I, the church itself had been reduced to its present dimensions, becoming the parish church of the village. The six Norman arches that still remain from the original building remind us of the Abbeys long history of Christian worship. Elstow is famous as the home of John Bunyan . He was baptised in here in 1628 and as a child and young man he worshipped regularly in this abbey church. Elstow Moot Hall Step into the world of John Bunyan when you visit this delightful timber-framed market hall set on the village green at Elstow. Elstow Moot Hall was originally built to serve Elstow Abbey as a market house. Now a museum containing beautiful period furniture, it illustrates the life and traditions of 17th century England. The Stables Equestrian Centre The yard has facilities for 34 horses and ponies, currently some 16 animals in livery and the remainder owned by the school. All the animals used for tuition have been carefully developed and are safe and sound rides. The Centre’s objective is to provide an environment which is professional but friendly with tuition and riding for children from 3 years old to adults well into their retirement There is a 50m x 20m indoor school and a large outdoor mnage, both floodlit and usable at all hours. 15 acres of grazing incorporating a mini cross country course and access to several off road hacking rides. Willington Dovecote and Stables Enjoy the tranquil setting of this outstanding 16th-century stone-built dovecote and stable buildings, which nestles alongside Willington church. Home to over 1,500 resident pigeons, a nesting site for barn owls and kestrels, the dovecote is a great spot for bird-watching.

Cardington is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire, England Part of the ancient hundred of Wixamtree, the settlement is best known in connection with the Cardington airship works founded by Short Brothers during World War I, which later became an RAF training station. However most of the former RAF station is actually in the parish of Eastcotts, as is the settlement of Shortstown, which was originally built by Short Brothers for its workers.^[1] The old village of Cardington is located to the north east of Shortstown and the RAF station, and houses most of the population of the parish, which was 270 in 2005, making it one of the least populated parishes in Bedfordshire