A BRIEF VILLAGE TIMELINE
Just 6 miles north west of the County town of Bedford, Pavenham has a population of around 750. Village amenities consist of St Peter's Church and The Cock Public House. In 1086, the Domesday Book identifies Pavenham in the ancient County Division of Buckelowe.
With its Cricket Club founded in 1888, Pavenham is home to many clubs and societies. The War Memorial was unveiled in 1920, Electricity came to the village in 1935 and in 1938, The Cock Inn was rebuilt.
Pavenham Bury was demolished in 1960. The Sports Pavilion, built by local developer Charles Cartlidge, opened in 1967, the Vicarage was demolished in 1972, and the new Village Hall opened in 1980.
THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY
St Peter’s Church has, for centuries, been at the heart of village life. A medieval building of early English gothic architecture, St Peter's is characterised by pointed arches.
It's likely that the church, or at least a small baptistery has existed in the village since Saxon times, built by the d’Abernon family in the 13C. They were granted the manor that subsequently became known as The Bury, one of three that existed in Pavenham after the Norman Conquest.
Today, St Peter’s has an impressive tower with five bells and a series of historic Jacobean carvings. The de Pabenham family lived at the Manor, that subsequently became Hill Farm. The chapel and transept were probably commissioned by Joan de Pabenham to commemorate her husband Lawrence de Pabenham, the last of his line, who died in 1399.
Read more about the links to Trinity College, Cambridge and and a centuries old ceremony in Peter Daniels’ history.
A TRADITIONAL AGRICULTULRAL COMMUNITY
Pavenham has always been a farming community but other agricultural industries have left their mark.
Apple matting once graced the floors of Parliament and Durham cathedral. This type of floor covering was made in Pavenham with rushes taken from the Great Ouse. In fact, Pavenham was an important centre in the region’s rush industry. Still today, the craft continues as a village pastime with rushes cut from the river..
OUT AND ABOUT IN PAVENHAM
Situated on the upper reaches of the River Ouse, we have many delightful walks, idyllic parkland and riverside including Stevington Marsh, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and Pavenham Osier Beds, which is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.
There are a number of stunning walking routes around Pavenham and we hope you will find time to enjoy the beauty of our village. Please do remember to keep to the public footpaths or bridleways and remember to take your litter with you.
We kindly ask you to observe The Countryside Code at all times and if a route is impassable at any point, you can report this either to Pavenham Parish Council or to Bedford Borough Council.
May we remind you there are dog waste bins around the village. Please don’t leave your filled doggie bags hanging on gates or fences and please don’t dump them on farmland and private roads where livestock and horses can choke on them. Thank you.
WALKING ROUTES AROUND THE VILLAGE
Please remember you cannot ride a bicycle or a horse on a public footpath. Action could be taken by the landowner for trespass or nuisance by the user. Public bridleways are for walkers, horse riders and pedal cyclists. Pedal cyclists should give way to walkers and horse riders.
Any vehicle using public byways must be licensed, insured, properly taxed and fit for use on public roads. A Green Lane is often referred to as a by-way. This term has no legal meaning.
Landowners may give permission by a formal agreement with the Borough Council to use paths or tracks over their land. These ‘permissive paths’ are not covered by rights of way legislation. You may come across notices to this effect on some paths.