View source for Leighton Buzzard

{{Short description|Town in Bedfordshire, England}}
{{About|the town|the band|Leyton Buzzards|the professional wrestler|Leyton Buzzard}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|51.9165|-0.6617|display=inline,title}}
| static_image_name =  Market Cross, Leighton Buzzard - geograph.org.uk - 7727471.jpg
| static_image_caption = Market Cross
| population = 42,727 <!-- Only the census figure should go here. Please do not give estimates. -->
| population_ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=Leighton Buzzard (Central Bedfordshire) |url=https://citypopulation.de/en/uk/eastofengland/central_bedfordshire/E63004105__leighton_buzzard/ |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref>
| official_name = Leighton Buzzard
| civil_parish = [[Leighton-Linslade]]
| unitary_england = [[Central Bedfordshire]]
| lieutenancy_england = [[Bedfordshire]]
| region = East of England
| post_town = LEIGHTON BUZZARD
| postcode_district = LU7
| postcode_area = LU
| dial_code = 01525
| os_grid_reference = SP921250
| constituency_westminster = [[Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard (UK Parliament constituency)|Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard]]
}}
'''Leighton Buzzard''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|eɪ|t|ən|_|ˈ|b|ʌ|z|ər|d|audio=Leighton_Buzzard.wav}} {{respell|LAY|tən|_|BUZ|ərd}}) is a [[market town]] in the [[civil parish]] of [[Leighton–Linslade]], in the [[Central Bedfordshire]] district, in [[Bedfordshire]], England, in the southwest of the county and close to the Buckinghamshire border. It lies between [[Aylesbury]], [[Tring]], [[Luton]]/[[Dunstable]] and [[Milton Keynes]], near the [[Chiltern Hills]].

It is {{convert|36|mi|km|0}} northwest of [[Central London]] and linked to the capital by the [[Grand Union Canal]] and the [[West Coast Main Line]]. The built-up area extends on either side of the [[River Ouzel]] (here about {{convert|2|m}} wide) to include its historically separate neighbour [[Linslade]],<ref name=NOMIS2011>{{NOMIS2011|id=E34003354|title=Leighton Buzzard (built-up area)}}</ref> and is administered by Leighton-Linslade Town Council.

==History==
===Foundation and development===
[[File:The Market House, Leighton Buzzard (geograph 3451357).jpg|thumb|right|upright|The [[Old Town Hall, Leighton Buzzard|Old Town Hall]]]]
It is unclear when the town was initially founded, although some historians believe that there may have been settlement in the area from as early as 571.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url= https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/beds/vol3/pp399-417 | chapter = Parishes : Leighton Buzzard |series = [[Victoria History of the Counties of England]] | title= A History of the County of Bedford |  volume= 3 | date=1912 | pages = 399{{ndash}}417 |editor= William Page |publisher= [[Constable & Robinson|Constable & Co. Ltd.]] | location = London }}</ref> There are a number of theories concerning the derivation of the town's name: ‘Leighton’ came from [[Old English]] ''Lēah-tūn'', meaning 'farm in a clearing in the woods', and one version of the addition of ‘Buzzard’ was that it was added by the [[Dean of Lincoln]], in whose diocese the town lay in the 12th century, from ''Beau-desert''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wedgwood |first=Hensleigh |author-link=Hensleigh Wedgwood |year=1855 |title=On False Etymologies |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3924121;view=1up;seq=77 |journal=Transactions of the Philological Society |issue=6 |pages=67}}</ref> Another version is that having two communities called ‘Leighton’ and seeking some means of differentiating them the Dean added the name of his local Prebendary or representative to that of the town. At that time it was Theobald de Busar and so over the years the town became known as Leighton Buzzard. The other Leighton became [[Leighton Bromswold]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Building – All Saints Leighton Buzzard |url=http://www.allsaintslb.org.uk/welcome/our-building/ |access-date=13 February 2015 |website=allsaintslb.org.uk}}</ref> In the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086, Leighton Buzzard and Linslade were both called Leestone.
A further variation may be seen in a legal record of 1424, where "William Dagenale of Leytun Busherd, Beds" appears as a defendant.<ref>Plea Rolls of the Court of Common Pleas; National Archives; year: 1424;; image seen at: http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT1/H6/CP40no654/aCP40no654fronts/IMG_0378.htm; second entry, with William Judde as the plaintiff;  His surname appears at the start of line 2.</ref>

Leighton Buzzard developed into a thriving [[market town]] supported by good road, canal and, later, rail links to the agricultural hinterland and London. The town's market charter was granted in 1086 and is still active today.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About {{!}} Leighton Buzzard Markets |url=https://www.leightonbuzzardmarket.co.uk/about/ |access-date=2020-11-10 |language=en-GB}}</ref> The High Street has numerous historical buildings, more than 70 of which are listed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Listed Buildings in Leighton-Linslade, Central Bedfordshire |url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/leighton-linslade-central-bedfordshire#.X6qbpGj7Q2w |access-date=2020-11-10 |website=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk}}</ref> They include the notable Bank Building on the Market Square (now home to Barclays Bank),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alfred Waterhouse |url=https://www.leightonlinslade-tc.gov.uk/alfred-waterhouse/ |access-date=2020-11-10 |website=Leighton Linslade Town Council |language=en-GB}}</ref> designed by the eminent architect [[Alfred Waterhouse]], designer of London's [[Natural History Museum, London]]. They also include the [[Old Town Hall, Leighton Buzzard|Old Town Hall]], later used as a fire station and now as a restaurant.<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Fire Station, Market Square (South Island Site)|num=1114566|access-date=19 December 2021}}</ref>

===Relationship to Linslade===
The [[Grand Junction Canal]] opened in 1800. It skirted the western edge of the town, but lay just over the parish and county boundary (the River Ouzel), being in the neighbouring parish of [[Linslade]] in [[Buckinghamshire]].<ref name=Chelsea>{{cite web |title=Chelsea |url=https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityHistories/Linslade/Chelsea.aspx |website=Bedfordshire Archives |date=21 June 2019 |access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref> The [[London and Birmingham Railway]] was built in the 1830s and passed just over half a mile west of the centre of Leighton Buzzard; [[Leighton Buzzard railway station|Leighton railway station]] opened with the line in 1838.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Butt |first1=Raymond V. J. |title=The Directory of Railway Stations |date=1995 |publisher=Patrick Stephens Ltd |location=Sparkford |isbn=978-1-85260-508-7 |page=141}}</ref> Although named after Leighton Buzzard, the station (like the canal) was actually in the parish of Linslade. When built, the station was in open countryside, with Linslade village lying {{convert|1|mile|km}} north of the station at what is now known as Old Linslade. New development was subsequently laid out between the station and the canal, known initially as Chelsea or New Linslade, before assuming the name Linslade.<ref name=Chelsea/>

Linslade has always had Leighton Buzzard postal addresses, forming part of the Leighton Buzzard [[post town]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Linslade |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/place/483 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref> Linslade remained administratively separate from Leighton Buzzard until 1965, when it was transferred from Buckinghamshire to Bedfordshire, and the [[Urban district (England and Wales)|urban districts]] of [[Leighton Buzzard Urban District|Leighton Buzzard]] and [[Linslade Urban District|Linslade]] merged into a single [[Leighton-Linslade Urban District]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Leighton Linslade Urban District |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10002072#tab02 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref> The [[Office for National Statistics]] uses the name Leighton Buzzard for the whole built-up area, including Linslade.<ref>{{cite web |title=Towns and cities, characteristics of built-up areas, England and Wales |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/articles/townsandcitiescharacteristicsofbuiltupareasenglandandwales/census2021 |website=Census 2021 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref>

===Rothschild family===
The town has had a long association with the [[Rothschild family]], since [[Lionel de Rothschild]] bought neighbouring farmlands to the west of the town in 1873.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ascott, Buckinghamshire, England {{!}} Rothschild Family |url=https://family.rothschildarchive.org/estates/45-ascott |access-date=2020-11-10 |website=family.rothschildarchive.org}}</ref> Over time the farm developed into the [[Ascott House]] estate located less than {{convert|2|mi|km|0}} from the town. In the late 19th century, [[Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild]] used the now demolished Leighton House and its stabling, on the High Street, as a [[hunting box]]. The family still maintain links with the town through their ownership of Southcourt Stud in [[Southcote, Bedfordshire|Southcote]].

===Non-conformism===
The town has a strong history of [[dissenter]]s and is home to one of the oldest [[Friends meeting house]]s in the region. Established in the 18th century, local [[Quakers]] continue to meet in the Meeting House on North Street.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-21 |title=The Society of Friends in Leighton Buzzard |url=https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityHistories/LeightonBuzzard/TheSocietyOfFriendsInLeightonBuzzard.aspx |access-date=2020-11-10 |website=bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk}}</ref>

===Poor law union===
After the [[Poor Law Amendment Act 1834]] Leighton Buzzard became the centre of a [[poor law union]] that consisted of 15 surrounding parishes with the union workhouse (still standing) being sited in Grovebury Road.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-21 |title=Leighton Buzzard Union Workhouse |url=https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityHistories/LeightonBuzzard/LeightonBuzzardUnionWorkhouse.aspx |access-date=2020-11-13 |website=bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk}}</ref>

=== <small>Leighton Buzzard Isolation Hospital</small> ===
In 1847, additional land was obtained  adjacent to the workhouse on which to build an isolation hospital. It had twenty beds over three wards, one each for patients with [[Diphtheria]], [[Scarlet fever|Scarlet Fever]] and [[Typhoid fever|Typhoid]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 August 2023 |title=Leighton Buzzard Union Isolation Hospital |url=https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityHistories/LeightonBuzzard/LeightonBuzzardUnionIsolationHospital.aspx |access-date=8 August 2023 |website=Bedfordshire Archives}}</ref>  Jane Sarah Downer was appointed Nurse-Matron of the Isolation Hospital in 1899, and worked there until at least 1911.<ref name=":0">Rogers, Sarah (2022). 'A Maker of Matrons’? A study of Eva Lückes’s influence on a generation of nurse leaders:1880–1919' (Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Huddersfield, April 2022)</ref><ref>Jane Sarah Downer, RG13/1507, 14; The General Record Office, The England and Wales census 1901 for Grove, Leighton Buzzard, Buckinghamshire; The National Archives, Kew [Available at: www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed on 21 January 2018]</ref><ref>Jane Downer, RG14/8971, 26; The General Record Office, The England and Wales Census 1911 for Grove, Leighton Buzzard, Buckinghamshire; The National Archives, Kew [Available at: www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed on 27 October 2017]</ref> Downer had trained under [[Eva Luckes]] at [[Royal London Hospital|The London Hospital]] between 1895 and 1897,<ref>Jane Sarah Downer, Register of Probationers; RLHLH/N/1/5, 74; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London</ref> and then worked on the Private Nursing Staff for one year,<ref>Jane Sarah Downer, Register of Sisters and Nurses; RLHLH/N/4/1/207; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London</ref> before her appointment as Matron in Leighton Buzzard.<ref name=":0" />

===World War II===
During [[World War II]], [[RAF Leighton Buzzard]], a secret communications facility described as "the largest telephone exchange in the world", was located to the south of Stanbridge Road. Also the headquarters of [[No. 60 Group RAF]], which controlled the air defence radar network across Britain, operated from Oxenden House (now demolished) off Plantation Road.
<ref>Paul Brown and Edwin Herbert (eds.), ''The Secrets of Q Central: How Leighton Buzzard Shortened the Second World War''. The History Press, 2015. {{ISBN|0750960728}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/37883640-0462-4f26-a322-a401475a5d99 |title=Oxenden House, Leighton Buzzard |date=1962–1974 |language=en}}</ref>

===The Great Train Robbery===
The [[Great Train Robbery (1963)|Great Train Robbery]] took place in 1963 at Bridego Bridge just outside Leighton Buzzard. The robbers were held at the Old Police Station on Wing Road [[Linslade]] while waiting to be seen by the local magistrate after being captured a month after the robbery.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leighton-Linslade Past Times - Tour |url=http://www.leighton-linslade.com/tours/other/linslade_police.html |access-date=2020-11-13 |website=www.leighton-linslade.com}}</ref>

Leighton Buzzard station was the location for part of the film ''[[Robbery (1967 film)|Robbery]]'', which is based on the ‘[[Great Train Robbery (1963)|Great Train Robbery]]’.

===Telephone exchange===
{{main|TXE}}
The UK's first and only [[TXE#TXE1|TXE1]] electronic telephone exchange went into service here in 1968.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}} The large building, built on the site of the former Lake House, that housed this and later exchanges, can be found in Lake Street.

===Expansion===
The population of Leighton-Linslade was originally recorded in the 2001 census as 32,417.<ref>Office for National Statistics, [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=791996&c=Leighton-Linslade&d=16&e=15&g=423631&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1224922285885&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 2001 Census Parish Headcounts for Leighton-Linslade].</ref> Part of [[Billington, Bedfordshire|Billington]] parish was transferred in 2003 to Leighton-Linslade, and the revised census result including this area was 32,753.<ref>Bedfordshire County Council, [http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/census/ward-profiles/up-leighton-linslade.htm Urban Area Profile for Leighton Linslade] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212215444/http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/census/ward-profiles/up-leighton-linslade.htm |date=12 February 2012 }}.</ref> At the 2011 census, the population of the Leighton-Linslade built-up area was recorded by the [[Office for National Statistics]] as 37,469,<ref name=NOMIS2011 /> and was estimated to have reached 43,203 in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Leighton Buzzard |website=CityPopulation.de |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/eastofengland/central_bedfordshire/E34003354__leighton_buzzard/ }}</ref>

The town is expanding southwards, with the development of sites in southern Leighton Buzzard<ref>{{Cite web |title=Southern Leighton Buzzard - |url=http://www.slb.uk.com |website=slb.uk.com}}</ref> through the Southern Leighton Buzzard Development Brief.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Customer services, Town Hall, George Street, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 2BQ. |title=CMIS Home |url=http://agendas.luton.gov.uk/cmiswebpublic/Binary.ashx?Document=9619 |website=agendas.luton.gov.uk |access-date=10 June 2010 |archive-date=11 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811054652/http://agendas.luton.gov.uk/cmiswebpublic/Binary.ashx?Document=9619 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is also expanding eastwards, with several developments forming the Eastern Leighton Linslade Urban Extension Scheme.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013 |title=East of Leighton Linslade Framework Plan |url=http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/Images/east-linslade-framework-plan_tcm3-6810.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119173510/http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/Images/east-linslade-framework-plan_tcm3-6810.pdf |archive-date=19 November 2018 |access-date=19 November 2018 |website=centralbedfordshire.gov.uk}}</ref>

==Places of interest==
The town is home to the [[Leighton Buzzard Light Railway]], a [[narrow-gauge railway|narrow-gauge]] [[heritage railway]], one of England's longest at just under {{convert|3|mi|km}} long and oldest narrow-gauge lines, with an extensive collection of locomotives and rolling stock.<ref>[http://www.buzzrail.co.uk/ Train site] retrieved 7 August 2007</ref>

The [[Grand Union Canal]] runs through the town, alongside the [[River Ouzel]].

[[Church of All Saints, Leighton Buzzard|All Saints' Church]], an [[English Gothic architecture|Early English]] [[parish church]] dating from 1277. The church is the starting point for the annual Wilkes Walk, described as "a curious procession of the church choir, clergy, and churchwardens across town to the alms houses in North Street."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Express |first=Britain |title=Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire |url=https://www.britainexpress.com/counties/bedfordshire/az/leightonbuzzard.htm |access-date=2019-05-18 |website=Britain Express |language=en}}</ref> The church was damaged by fire in the 1980s, but has since undergone restoration. For information on the origin of the Medieval choir stalls see Tracy 1991.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Tracy |first=C |date=1991 |title=Medieval Choir-Stalls at Leighton Buzzard Church, Bedfordshire |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/library/browse/details.xhtml?recordId=3248906&recordType=Journal |journal=Bedfordshire Archaeology |volume=19 |pages=40–50 |via=ADS}}</ref>

The town has a combined library and theatre (called the Library Theatre) where both live events and film screenings are regularly held.<ref>[http://www.leightonbuzzardtheatre.co.uk/ Theatre Site] retrieved 7 August 2007</ref>

Rushmere Country Park and [[Stockgrove Country Park]] are in nearby [[Heath and Reach]]. The [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]]-operated country home [[Ascott House]] is located {{convert|2|mi|km|0}} from the town in neighbouring Buckinghamshire.

==Transport==
[[File:NatWestLB.JPG|thumb|The [[NatWest]] bank at Leighton Buzzard in the style of an Italian [[palazzo]] is an example of [[Neo-Renaissance]] architecture.]]
[[File:LBhighSt.jpg|thumb|High Street, Leighton Buzzard. The former "Bassett's Bank" (now [[Barclays]]) designed by [[Alfred Waterhouse]].]]

Leighton Buzzard is close to the [[M1 motorway]] and [[A5 road (Great Britain)|A5 road]], and is served by [[West Midlands Trains|London Northwestern Railway]] services on the [[West Coast Main Line]] railway at [[Leighton Buzzard railway station]] (in Linslade). The railway operates non-stop commuting services to [[Euston railway station]], with the fastest journey times at 30 minutes.

The majority of Leighton Buzzard's bus services are operated by [[Arriva Shires & Essex]]. Services X2 and X3 provide a direct [[bus rapid transit]] service to [[Milton Keynes]] and {{rws|Luton}} via the [[Luton to Dunstable Busway]], with an onward connection to [[Luton Airport]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=F70 Timetable |url=https://bustimes.org/services/f70-luton-station-interchange-to-central-railway-s |access-date=8 November 2020 |website=bustimes |language=en}}</ref> Arriva also operate the X4 service through the town to [[Aylesbury]]. Z&S and Red Rose also operate bus services into Leighton Buzzard which serve local estates and surrounding villages, with local, town services operated by Centrebus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=F77 Timetable |url=https://bustimes.org/services/f77-luton-station-interchange-to-the-open-univer-2 |access-date=8 November 2020 |website=bustimes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Routes & Timetables |url=http://www.busway.net/routes-times |access-date=7 July 2017 |website=Busway |publisher=[[Luton Borough Council]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bus timetables and bus routes |url=http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/transport/public/bus-timetables-routes.aspx |access-date=7 July 2017 |website=centralbedfordshire.gov.uk |publisher=[[Central Bedfordshire Council]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Economy==
Leighton Buzzard is now home to several UK head offices for national and international firms. [[Connells Group]], the estate agents' chains, have their head offices in the town, as do the UK operations of [[Tupperware]] and [[Grundfos]]. FTSE 250 company [[Rightmove]] had their first ever office in the town, which at the time consisted of just 25 employees. Leighton Buzzard is also home to the [[Vinci SA]] Technology Centre, where technology for London's new [[Crossrail]] stations was tested.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Glimpse of the future as mock-up Crossrail station revealed |url=http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/articles/glimpse-future-as-mock-up-crossrail-station-revealed |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141122090444/http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/articles/glimpse-future-as-mock-up-crossrail-station-revealed |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 November 2014 |access-date=2020-11-10 |website=Crossrail |language=en}}</ref> Since 2014, the town has had its own [[brewery]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Craft Beer {{!}} Bedfordshire {{!}} Leighton Buzzard Brewing Company |url=http://leightonbuzzardbrewing.co.uk/ |access-date=2018-02-04 |website=Leighton Buzzard Brewery |language=en-US}}</ref>

The town has a sizeable [[sand]] [[quarry]]ing [[Industry (economics)|industry]], with good enough quality 'building' sand to export to Egypt. The town is, or has at one time been, the home to various other industries including [[B/E Aerospace]] (Aircraft Interiors), Polyformes, [[Lipton|Lipton Tea]] which has now closed down, [[Gossard]] clothing, and Lancer Boss ([[forklift]]s, etc.).

==Governance==
[[File:Leighton and Linslade Council Offices - geograph.org.uk - 956654.jpg|thumb|White House, Hockliffe Street: Leighton-Linslade Town Council offices]]
There are two tiers of local government covering Leighton Buzzard, at [[civil parish]] (town) and [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]] level: [[Leighton-Linslade]] Town Council and [[Central Bedfordshire Council]]. The town council is based at the White House on Hockliffe Street.<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact us |url=https://www.leightonlinslade-tc.gov.uk/contact/ |website=Leighton-Linslade Town Council |access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref>

===Administrative history===
Leighton Buzzard was an [[ancient parish]]. The parish historically comprised five [[Township (England)|townships]], being [[Billington, Bedfordshire|Billington]], [[Eggington]], [[Heath and Reach]], [[Stanbridge, Bedfordshire|Stanbridge]] and a Leighton Buzzard township covering the town itself and adjoining areas. Such townships were all reclassified as [[civil parish]]es in 1866.<ref>{{cite web |title=Leighton Buzzard Ancient Parish / Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10152318 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref>

In 1891 the civil parish of Leighton Buzzard was made a [[Local board of health#Local Government Act 1858|local government district]], administered by an elected local board.<ref>{{cite book |title=Annual Report of the Local Government Board  |date=1892 |publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office |location=London |pages=346–348 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZqEaAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA346 |access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref> Such local government districts were reconstituted as [[Urban district (England and Wales)|urban districts]] under the [[Local Government Act 1894]].

The [[Leighton Buzzard Urban District]] was abolished in 1965, merging with [[Linslade Urban District]] to become [[Leighton-Linslade Urban District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/leighton%20buzzard.html|title=Leighton Buzzard Registration District|publisher=UKBMD|accessdate=31 January 2023}}</ref> The merged council was based at the White House, which had previously been the headquarters of the Leighton Buzzard Urban District Council. In 1961 (the last census before the merger) the parish and urban district of Leighton Buzzard had a population of 11,745.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10152318/cube/TOT_POP|title=Population statistics Leighton Buzzard CP/AP through time|publisher=[[A Vision of Britain through Time]]|accessdate=31 January 2023}}</ref>

Leighton-Linslade Urban District only existed for nine years; it was abolished in 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]]. District-level functions passed to [[South Bedfordshire]] District Council, which in turn was replaced by the unitary Central Bedfordshire Council in 2009, which also took over the functions of the abolished [[Bedfordshire County Council]]. A [[successor parish]] covering the abolished urban district of Leighton-Linslade was created in 1974, with its council taking the name Leighton-Linslade Town Council.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Local Government (Successor Parishes) Order 1973|year=1973|number=1110|access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref>

==Sport==
{{See also|Sport in Bedfordshire}}
Leighton Buzzard is represented by the sporting teams of [[Leighton Town F.C.]] who play [[Football (soccer)|football]] in the [[Spartan South Midlands Football League]]. Also at the Bell Close Site are Leighton Buzzard Tennis Club who have been a part of the town since the 1930s. Leighton Buzzard Hockey Club<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leighton Buzzard Hockey Club |url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/leightonbuzzardhockeyclub/ |website=pitchero.com}}</ref> established in 1901, play [[field hockey]] and run 4 Men's and 4 Ladies teams of all ability. The Men's teams play in the South Hockey League<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Hockey League - Welcome |url=https://www.south-league.com/ |website=south-league.com}}</ref> and the Ladies teams play in the 5 Counties Hockey League.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Administrator |title=Welcome to the 5 Counties Women's Hockey League |url=http://www.5counties.co.uk/ |website=5counties.co.uk}}</ref> Leighton Buzzard Hockey Club<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leighton Buzzard Hockey Club |url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/leightonbuzzardhockeyclub |website=pitchero.com}}</ref> also have junior sides; starting age of 5. [[Leighton Buzzard R.F.C.]] play [[rugby union]] in [[South West 1 East]] and the Ladies rugby team play in NC South East North 2.<ref>http://www.buzzardrugby.co.uk/2011a/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=467:ladies-rugby&catid=21:ladies-rugby-news&Itemid=34 {{dead link|date=April 2013}}</ref>

[[Leighton Buzzard Golf Club]] was established in 1925 and there is also an active running club, Leighton Buzzard Athletics Club. Established in 2011 Leighton Buzzard Road Cycling Club is a cycling club for riders of all abilities. Their race team LBRCC-Solgar compete in local, as well as national, cycling events.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LBRCC |url=http://members.lbrcc.co.uk/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418084959/http://members.lbrcc.co.uk/ |archive-date=18 April 2013 |access-date=4 April 2013 |publisher=Members.lbrcc.co.uk}}</ref> Established in 2000, Leighton Linslade Croquet Club, a member of the Croquet Association, have three croquet lawns in Pages Park next to the pavilion.

A [[Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom|greyhound racing]] track was opened by the Leighton Buzzard Greyhound Racing Association. The track which was located on Bridge Meadows, a flood plain and wharfage between the Grand Union Canal and the River Ouze, south of Bridge Street and is believed to have opened during 1931. The racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body the [[National Greyhound Racing Club]]) known as a flapping track, which was the nickname given to independent tracks.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Barnes |first=Julia |title=Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File |publisher=Ringpress Books |year=1988 |isbn=0-948955-15-5}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |year=1931 |title=Leighton Buzzard Greyhound Racing Association - 24 July |work=Bucks Herald - Aylesbury}}</ref> The date of closure is not known.

==Media==
Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC East]] and [[ITV Anglia]].

Local radio stations are [[BBC Three Counties Radio]] on 103.8 FM, [[Heart East]] on 97.6 FM, [[Greatest Hits Radio Bucks, Beds and Herts]] (formerly Mix 96) on 96.2 FM.

The Leighton Buzzard Observer is the town's local newspaper.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-eang/leighton-buzzard-observer/|title=Leighton Buzzard Observer|date=5 March 2014|website=British Papers|accessdate=1 October 2023}}</ref>

==Education==

===Lower schools===
*Beaudesert Lower School – Apennine Way
*Clipstone Brook Lower School – Brooklands Drive
*Greenleas School – Derwent Road
*Greenleas School, Sandhills – Kestrel Way
*Dovery Down Lower School – Heath Road
*Heathwood Lower School – Heath Road
*Leedon Lower School – Highfield Road
*Linslade Lower School – Leopold Road
*Mary Bassett Lower School – Bassett Road
*Pulford VA C of E Lower School – Pulford Road
**As this is a religious school, distances to houses are not considered for admission, and no Leighton Buzzard residence will have it deemed as the closest school for priority admission purposes.<ref name=LBSchooladmissions>{{cite web|url=https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/info/5/school_admissions/504/school_catchment_areas/2|title=Lower school admissions in Leighton Buzzard|publisher=Central Bedfordshire|access-date=2025-01-03}}</ref>
*The Rushmere Park Academy – East Street
*St Leonard's (Heath & Reach) V A Lower School – Thrift Road
*Southcott Lower School – Bideford Green

The education authority, for Leighton Buzzard, since September 2019, calculates distances from each residence to the nearest lower school (in most circumstances) and uses that to determine priority admissions; the education authority uses computer systems to do this. Designated catchment zones are, as of 2024, no longer used for lower schools in Leighton Buzzard.<ref name=LBSchooladmissions/>

===Middle schools===
*Brooklands Middle School – a school near the south east edge of the town.
*[[Gilbert Inglefield]] Academy – next door to Vandyke Upper School.
*Leighton Middle School<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ofsted – Leighton Middle School |url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/109689 |access-date=13 February 2015 |website=ofsted.gov.uk}}</ref> – in the centre of the town, [[Mary Norton (writer)|Mary Norton]], who wrote ''[[The Borrowers (book series)|The Borrowers]]'' books, lived there in her childhood.
*Linslade School (Middle) – situated over the road from Cedars.

===Upper schools===
*[[Cedars Upper School]] – Located on the west edge of town, in Linslade, adjoined to Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre. Cedars was once a grammar school.
*[[Vandyke Upper School]] – Situated on the east edge of town, on Vandyke Road.

===Other schools===
*Oak Bank School – located on Sandy Lane.

===Further education===
*[[Central Bedfordshire College]] has a campus near the town centre of Leighton Buzzard.

==Twin towns==
Leighton Buzzard was twinned with [[Coulommiers, Seine-et-Marne|Coulommiers]] in France in 1958. The twinning was renewed in 1982.
It was also twinned with [[Titisee-Neustadt]] in Germany in 1991.

==Notable people==
<!-- Please do not add people unless there is already an article about them. See wp:notability. -->
[[File:Photo of young Ferdinand de Rothschild- antimatrix(dot)org.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Ferdinand de Rothschild]], ca.1880]]
[[File:Charlotte Dujardin 2012 Olympic Dressage (cropped).JPG|thumb|140px|[[Charlotte Dujardin]], 2012]]
*[[William Sclater (priest)|William Sclater]] (1575–1626), an English clergyman and controversialist.<ref>{{cite DNB |wstitle= Sclater, William (1575-1626) |volume= 50 |last= Seccombe |first= Thomas |author-link= Thomas Seccombe| pages=447-448 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[George Felt]] (1601–ca.1693), a founder of [[Charlestown, Boston|Charlestown, Massachusetts]]
*[[Edward Backwell]] (ca.1618–1683), a goldsmith-banker and politician.<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle=Backwell, Edward|last=Henderson|first=Thomas Finlayson|authorlink=|volume=2|short=1}}</ref>
*[[Samuel Claridge]] (1828–1919), early settler of the [[Muddy River (Nevada)|Muddy River]] Valley in Nevada and [[Thatcher, Arizona]].
*[[Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild]] (1839–1898), lived in Leighton House in the High Street before building and moving to [[Waddesdon Manor]].<ref>{{cite DNBSupp|wstitle=Rothschild, Ferdinand James de |first=Thomas|last=Seccombe}}</ref>
*[[Christian Tindall]] (1878–1951), officer in the [[Indian Civil Service]] and first-class cricketer.<ref>{{cricinfo|id=21853|name=Christian Tindall|check-wikidata=no}}</ref>
*[[Jim Kempster]] (1900–1945), an international speedway rider.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2047762/kempster,-ernest-arthur-david/|title=FIRST OFFICER ERNEST ARTHUR DAVID KEMPSTER|website=Commonwealth War Graves Commission website}}</ref> 
*[[Mary Norton (writer)|Mary Norton]] (1903–1992), children's writer, famous for ''[[The Borrowers (book series)|The Borrowers]]'' series, was brought up at ''The Cedars'' on the High Street, now the site of Leighton Middle School. The building now hosts a [[blue plaque]] in commemoration.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mary Norton - Author - Leighton Buzzard , Beds - Blue Plaques on Waymarking.com |url=https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/wm7HFQ_Mary_Norton_Author_Leighton_Buzzard_Beds |access-date=2020-12-05 |website=www.waymarking.com}}</ref>
* [[Fred Hartley]] (1905–1980), Scottish pianist and composer of light music, died at his home, 3 Pulford Road in April 1980.<ref>'Deaths', in ''The Times'', 10 April 1980, p. 26</ref>
*[[Philip O'Connor]] (1916–1998), writer and surrealist poet, was born in the town.<ref>Andrew Barrow, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-philip-oconnor-1162444.html "Obituary: Philip O'Connor"], ''The Independent'', 2 June 1998.</ref>
*[[Nicholas Bonsor|Sir Nicholas Cosmo Bonsor, 4th Baronet]] (1942–2023), a Conservative politician.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sir Nicholas Bonsor, Right-wing Eurosceptic MP who served under John Major – obituary |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2023/03/30/sir-nicholas-bonsor-eurosceptic-mp-death-obituary/ |access-date=30 March 2023 |publisher=The Telegraph |date=30 March 2023}}</ref>
*[[Rusty Goffe]] (born 1948), actor, lives in the town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trusty Rusty |url=http://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/what-s-on/trusty-rusty-1-878369}}</ref> 
*[[The Barron Knights]] (formed 1959) a humorous pop rock group were formed in the town.
* [[Kajagoogoo]] (founded 1978), a new wave band, were formed in the town.
*[[Louise Dearman]] (born 1979), who played [[Glinda]] in the [[West End theatre|West End]] production of ''[[Wicked (musical)|Wicked]],'' was brought up in Leighton Buzzard, attending Linslade Middle School and [[Cedars Upper School]]. 
* [[Charlotte Dujardin]] (born 1985), triple Olympic gold medallist, was brought up in the town and attended Vandyke Upper School.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dunn |first=Matthew |title=Charlotte Dujardin's lost days at school |date=10 August 2012 |url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/338783/Charlotte-Dujardin-s-lost-days-at-school- |access-date=11 August 2012 |publisher=Express.co.uk}}</ref>
* [[Martin O'Donnell (snooker player)|Martin O'Donnell]] (born 1986), an internationally ranked professional snooker player, lives in the town with his family.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leighton Buzzard snooker player blasts pandemic risk takers who are putting lives in jeopardy |url=https://www.leightonbuzzardonline.co.uk/health/coronavirus/leighton-buzzard-snooker-player-blasts-pandemic-risk-takers-who-are-putting-lives-jeopardy-3006165 |access-date=2020-12-05 |website=www.leightonbuzzardonline.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

<!-- Please do not add people unless there is already an article about them. See wp:notability. -->

==Nearby places==
{{Geographic Location
|title     = '''Neighbouring areas'''
|Northwest = [[Buckingham]]
|North     = [[Bletchley]], [[Milton Keynes]]
|Northeast = [[Flitwick]], [[Bedford]]
|West      = [[Bicester]], [[Winslow, Buckinghamshire|Winslow]]
|Centre    = Leighton Buzzard
|East      = [[Dunstable]], [[Luton]]
|Southwest = [[Aylesbury]]
|South     = [[Tring]]
|Southeast = [[Berkhamsted]], [[Hemel Hempstead]]
}}

==Climate==
Leighton Buzzard experiences an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfb'') similar to almost all of the United Kingdom.

{{Weather box
|location = Leighton Buzzard
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan high C = 6
|Feb high C = 7
|Mar high C = 10
|Apr high C = 12
|May high C = 16
|Jun high C = 19
|Jul high C = 21
|Aug high C = 22
|Sep high C = 18
|Oct high C = 14
|Nov high C = 9
|Dec high C = 6
|year high C = 13
|Jan low C = 3
|Feb low C = 3
|Mar low C = 4
|Apr low C = 5
|May low C = 8
|Jun low C = 10
|Jul low C = 12
|Aug low C = 13
|Sep low C = 11
|Oct low C = 8
|Nov low C = 5
|Dec low C = 3
|year low C = 7
|Jan precipitation mm = 69.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 59.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 46.5
|Apr precipitation mm = 70.1
|May precipitation mm = 58.1
|Jun precipitation mm = 58.9
|Jul precipitation mm = 46.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 68.9
|Sep precipitation mm = 51.7
|Oct precipitation mm = 84.3
|Nov precipitation mm = 93.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 80.9
|year precipitation mm = 788.0
|source 1 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Averages for Leighton Buzzard |url=http://weather.msn.com/local.aspx?wealocations=wc:UKXX0257&q=Leighton+Buzzard%2c+GBR |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129081008/http://weather.msn.com/local.aspx?wealocations=wc:UKXX0257&q=Leighton+Buzzard,+GBR |archive-date=2013-01-29}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
For further information on the history and archaeology of Leighton Buzzard see the following references: 
* '''La Grava''': {{Cite book |vauthors=Jackman Spencer T, Robinson M, Stirland A, Marshall C, Bonner W, Grant A, Slowikowski A, Baker E, Coleman S, Holmes M, Harris A, Clarke T, Duncan H  |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/library/browse/issue.xhtml?recordId=1181576 |title=La Grava. The Archaeology and History of a Royal Manor and Alien Priory of Fontevrault |date=2013 |publisher=[[Council for British Archaeology]] |isbn=9781902771878}} 
* '''Leighton Buzzard market cross''': {{Cite journal |last=Lawford |first=D |date=1874 |title=The market cross at Leighton Buzzard |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/library/browse/details.xhtml?recordId=3254676&recordType=Journal |journal=Records of Buckinghamshire, Aylesbury: Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society. |volume=4 |issue=5 |pages=221–224 |doi=10.5284/1115527 |via=ADS}}
* '''Chamberlain's Barn Anglo-Saxon cemeteries''': {{Cite journal |last=Hyslop |first=M |date=1963 |title=Two Anglo-Saxon Cemeteries at Chamberlains Barn, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/library/browse/details.xhtml?recordId=3180074&recordType=Journal |journal=The Archaeological Journal |volume=120 |pages=161–200 |doi=10.5284/1068712 |via=ADS}} 
* '''Roman well nr Leighton Buzzard''': {{Cite journal |last=Hagen |first=R |date=1971 |title=A second century Roman well near Leighton Buzzard |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/library/browse/details.xhtml?recordId=3248733&recordType=Journal |journal=Bedfordshire Archaeological Journal |volume=6 |pages=71–72 |via=ADS}}
* '''Clipstone''': {{Cite book |last=Pine |first=J |title=Land at Clipstone, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire; an archaeological evaluation |date=2010 |publisher=Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd. |location=Reading |doi=10.5284/1036504}}
** '''Clipstone, Manor Farm''': {{Cite journal |last1=Crick |first1=J |last2=Shotliff |first2=D. |date=1996 |title=The Cottage, Manor Farm, Clipstone |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/library/browse/details.xhtml?recordId=3248931&recordType=Journal |journal=Bedfordshire Archaeology |volume=22 |pages=147–154 |via=ADS}} 
** '''Clipstone Brook Iron Age/Roman period''': {{Cite book |last1=Phillips |first1=M. |last2=Mordue |first2=J. |title=Leighton Buzzard Flood Alleviation Scheme, Bedfordshire: Archaeological Field Evaluation. |date=2006 |publisher=Albion Archaeology - unpublished report series |location=Bedford |doi=10.5284/1001904}} 
* '''Land near A4146 (geophysical survey; prehistoric field system)''': {{Cite book |last=Heard |first=H |title=Geophysical Survey Report, Area H17, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire |date=2005 |publisher=Stratascan Geophysical & Specialist Survey Services - unpublished report series |doi=10.5284/1026689}}; {{Cite book |last=Albion Archaeology |title=Southern Leighton Buzzard, Archaeological Field Evaluation. |date=2006 |publisher=Albion Archaeology - unpublished report series |location=Bedford |doi=10.5284/1002230}}
* '''Post-medieval and modern finds at Leighton Middle School''': {{Cite book |last1=Gregson |first1=R. |last2=Turner |first2=I. |title=Leighton Middle School: Programme of Archaeological Observation, Investigation, Recording, Analysis and Publication |date=2006 |publisher=Albion Archaeology - unpublished reports series |doi=10.5284/1000675}}
* '''Wilkes Alms Houses''': {{Cite book |last=Rouse |first=C |title=Archaeological Evaluation of land r/o Wilkes Almshouses, North Street, Leighton Buzzard |date=2011 |publisher=Archaeological Services & Consultancy Ltd. - unpublished report series |doi=10.5284/1035326}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Leighton Buzzard}}
* {{cite EB9 |wstitle = Leighton-Buzzard |volume= XIV |last= |first= |author-link= | page=429 |short=1}}
*{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Leighton Buzzard |volume=16 |page=399 |short=x}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101015085943/http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.digitised_resources/leighton_digitisation_timeline.htm Bedfordshire Library Service Leighton Buzzard Timeline]

{{Bedfordshire}}
{{Places in Bedfordshire}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Leighton Buzzard| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Bedfordshire]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Bedfordshire]]
[[Category:Central Bedfordshire District]]