Freeman's Common
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Freeman's Common is a 12.5 hectare area of land situated to the north of
Bedford Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population of the Bedford built-up area (including Biddenham and Kempston) was 106,940, making it the second-largest settlement in Bedfordshire, behind Luton, whilst ...
, in the parish of
Ravensden Ravensden is a village and civil parish located in the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire, England. The parish borders the town of Bedford, with Mowsbury Park, farmland and Freeman's Common acting as a buffer between the two settlements. The vil ...
. It was created in 1858. Over many years it has been the focus of local dispute as to whether the site should be developed. Despite the name, it is not in fact registered as common land.


History

On 12 June 1797, an inclosure award created the Bedford Freeman's Common charity, following a 1795 Act of Parliament (35 Geo. III c.87) which covered "Parishes of St. Paul, St. Peter and St. Cuthbert, Bedford". This charity held land which in 1858 was sold to the
Midland Railway The Midland Railway (MR) was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844. The Midland was one of the largest railway companies in Britain in the early 20th century, and the largest employer in Derby, where it had its headquarters. It am ...
to build
Bedford railway station Bedford railway station (formerly Bedford Midland Road and historically referred to on some signage as Bedford Midland) is the larger of two railway stations in the town of Bedford in Bedfordshire, England. It is on the Midland Main Line from ...
. A new Freeman's Common was purchased near Ravensden to replace the original. In 1867 Freemen's Common formed part of the course for the Grand National Hunt Steeplechases, which ran from close to Clapham Wood across to Kimbolton Road. The Prince of Wales (later
Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria an ...
) attended the steeplechases on the second day, arriving in Bedford via the Midlands Railway. It also formed part of the 1868 course, although the race was less successful in its second year at Bedford, and was subsequently moved elsewhere. In 1871 it was suggested to build a smallpox hospital on the Freeman's Common at Cleat Hill. As of 1928 only four Freemen of Bedford remained with rights to graze animals on the Common. On 22 September 1970 the original charity was merged with the Bedford Freeman's Trust Fund, and combined charity was registered as the Bedford Freeman's Common Charity. In 2008 the site was proposed for development in the draft Local Plan, before the trustees had been consulted as to whether the site should be developed. In 2016 the site was added to
Bedford Borough Council Bedford Borough Council is the local authority of the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire, England. It is a unitary authority, having the powers of a non-metropolitan county and district council combined. The executive of the council is the direct ...
's draft Local Plan 2035, but in February 2017 was withdrawn following a decision of the Executive Committee, based on a previous view expressed by a government planning inspector when considering the development of Woodlands Park. In 2018 the Freeman's Common charity was merged with the House of Industry Estate – the trustees of both charities were the members of the General Purposes Committee of
Bedford Borough Council Bedford Borough Council is the local authority of the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire, England. It is a unitary authority, having the powers of a non-metropolitan county and district council combined. The executive of the council is the direct ...
.


Archaeology

An archaeological study in 2003 found no archaeological features of interest.


References

{{Bedfordshire Borough of Bedford