1830 Pigot's Directory - LEIGHTON BUZZARD
ANCIENTLY written Leighton-Beau-desert,
is a thriving and respectable market town, in rather an extensive parish
of the same name, in the hundred of Manshead
and deanery of Dunstable: it is situated on the river Ousel, near to the borders
of Buckinghamshire; 41 miles from London, 33 from Oxford, 20 from Bedford,
17 from Buckingham, 10 from Aylesbury, 8 from Dunstable, and 6 from Woburn.
This place lays claim to some notice in early ages; it is contended to be
the Lygean burgh of the Saxon chronicle, which was taken from the Britons
by Cuthwulph, in the year 571: it still boasts an erection of ancient date,
in the form of a Gothic cross of stone, beautiful even in decay; standing
in the open area of the Market-place, and is said to have been erected more
than 500 years, but by whom, or for what purpose other than that of sanctity,
is not known; its form is pentagonal, in height 38 feet: the upper story is
divided into five niches, each containing a statue; the first is in an episcopal
habit, the second represents the virgin and Jesus, the third appears to be
St. John the evangelist, the others are too mutilated to be known. The whole
of this strcture was repaired in 1650, on which occasion a rate of fourpence was levied upon every inhabitant towards defraying the expense. The parish
church, dedicated to All Saints, is a handsome Gothic structure in the cathedral
form, and was formerly collegiate; it consists of a nave, chancel, two side
aisles, two transepts, a vestry and school room; a plain massive tower rises
from the centre, surmounted by a beautiful octagonal stone spire, 193 feet
in height, which contains a ring of bells and set of chimes: the living is
in the gift of the Bishop of Lincoln and the present vicar is the Rev. John
Wilson. The quakers, who are a numerous and respectable class here, as have
the baptists and methodists. Here are alms-houses for eight poor women, founded
by Matthew Wilkes in 1630, and a school, endowed by the Hon. Mrs. Leigh in
1790. Chandos Leigh, Esq. Is lord of the manor, and courts leet and baron
are held under him twice in the year; when the officers in whom the government
of the town is vested are chosen. Leighton Buzzard enjoys a considerable trade
in corn, timber, seed, iron &c.; the grand junction canal affording, by
its proximity, the means of conveyance to all parts. There are also some very
respectable establishments in the lime and brick trade; and the making of
straw plat and lace [as in many other towns in this county] gives employment
to a great number of females. The market day, which is on Tuesday, is most
populously attended, and extensively supplied with cattle, corn, lace, straw
plat &c.: the fairs are held on the second Tuesday in April, Whit-Tuesday,
July 26th, October 24th, and the first Tuesday after the 10th of December.
The parish of Leighton Buzzard contains the chapelries of BILLINGTON, EGGINGTON,
HEATH-AND-REACH, and STANDRIDGE, which, with the township of Leighton Buzzard,
contained collectively, by the census of 1821, 4,421 inhabitants, 2,749 of
which number were returned as resident in the township.
POST OFFICE, Church-square,
Charles Pyne, Post Master, - Letters from all parts arrive from
DUNSTABLE, by a horse post, every morning between eight
and nine,
and are despatched every evening at six.
GENTRY AND CLERGY
Ashwell Mrs. High st.
Bassett Mrs. Market place
Benson Rev. Martin, Heath
Deverell Mrs. Church square
Millard John, gent. Leek st.
Wilson Rev. John, Church square
ACADEMICS AND SCHOOLS
Brown John, [boys’], High st.
Cooper Mary, [girls’], Leek st.
LANCASTRIAN, America - John Cooper, master
Rogers Sarah, [girls’], Leek st.
ATTORNEYS
Ashfield Arthur, Market place
Willis David Lee, & Fredk. High st.
AUCTIONEERS
Flint John, Market place
Wood Thos. Lane, [& land agent], High street
BAKERS
Chew William, North st.
Claridge Daniel, North st.
Claridge David, Leek st.
Claridge Mary, Leek street.
Collett Thomas, Canal st.
Goodman Thomas, Leek st.
Loke William, High st.
Maltby Thomas, North st.
Odell Thomas, Leek street
Proctor John, High street
Rogers Charles, Leek st.
Sinfield James [of gingerbread], North street
Walker Ann, High street
BANKERS
Bassett & Grant, Market place - [draw on Barclay & Co. London]
BASKET & SIEVE MAKERS
Collett Thomas, Canal st.
Wheeler Josiah, Market st.
BLACKSMITHS
Cooper George, Leek st.
Grace George, near Canal wharf
Roberts John, Back lane
Whybrow Henry, North st.
BOOKSELLER, PRINTER, STATIONER &c.
Flint John, Market place
BOOT & SHOE MAKERS
Harris James, [& leather cutter], Market place
Middleton Samuel, [& leather cutter & corn dealer], Friday
st.
BRAZIERS AND TINMEN
Sharp John, Leek street
Sharp Joseph, Canal street
Wyton William, North st.
BRICKLAYERS
Elliot Thomas, North st.
Saunders Francis, North st.
Saunders James, North st.
BUTCHERS
Ginger Coleman, Market place
Goss Henry, Friday st.
Hopkins Benjamin, High st.
Hopkins Joshua, Leek st.
Hopkins Samuel, North st.
Reeve Benjamin, Leek st.
Stonhill Richard, Canal st.
Turnham Thomas, North st.
White Thomas, North st.
CABINET MAKERS AND UPHOLSTERERS
Aveline George, High st.
Inwood John, High street
CHINA, GLASS &c. DEALERS
Cox John, Jeffs lane
Neale Nathaniel, High street
CORN MILLERS
Chew William, North street
Claridge Mary, Leek street
Flemons Joseph, Lamsey
DRESS MAKERS
Claridge Mary & Hannah, Leek st.
Dickins Sarah, High street
Matthews Elizabeth, High street
FIRE, &c. OFFICE AGENTS
County, John D. Bassett and Co. Market place
Protector, Chas. Pyne, Church square
Royal Exchange, Dav. Lee Willis, [and notary], High street
Sun, John Proctor, High st.
GARDENERS & SEEDSMEN
Felts John, Leek street
Hopkins Samuel, Market place
Parsons Matthew, Market place
GROCERS & TEA DEALERS [see
also Shopkeepers]
Allen Joshua and William, Market place
Cotching Robert, High street
Edwin Edmund, [and druggist], Leek street
Morris Thomas, Market place
Odell Gregory F. and Sarah, Market place
Poulter James, Friday st.
Sanders Richard, Market place
Wilson Sarah, High street
HAIR DRESSERS
Anthony Elizabeth, Market place
Partridge Jesse, Market place
Matthews Thomas, [& toy dealer], High street
HATTERS
Deverell Ann, Market place
Hon Thos. Wm. Market place
INNS
Swan [and posting house], John Bushell, Market place
Unicorn, Geo. Claridge, Leek st.
IRONMONGERS
Matthews John, High street
Page Charles, High street
Wheeler Josiah, Market place
JOINERS & CARPENTERS
Adams Thomas, Canal street
Dawson Edward, North street
Mead Thomas, Leek street
LAND SURVEYORS
Bevan Benjamin, [& civil engineer], High street
Flint John, Market place
Wood Thos. Lane, High street
LINEN AND WOOLLEN DRAPERS
Bassett John Dollin and Co. Market place
Price Thomas, jun. High st.
Ridgway Charles, Leek street
MALSTERS
Clarke James, Leek street
Cotching William, High street
Franklin Henry, Leek street
Hopkins Benjamin, High st.
How John [and corn dealer], North street
Reeve Samuel, High street
Rogers Josiah, Leek street
Stonhill Nathaniel, North street
MERCHANTS - GENERAL
Grant and Lawford, High street - office, Canal wharf
Osborn John, High street - office, Canal wharf
PLUMBERS, PAINTERS AND GLAZIERS
Lawley John, North street
Purser Jabez, High street
Purser Richard, High street
Watkins John, [painter & plasterer], Prospect place
SADDLERS AND COLLAR MAKERS
Bates Richd. [& tawer], Leek st.
Clare Thos. [& tawer], Leek st.
Stutchfield Edward, Market place
Swinstead Bernard, High st.
SHOPKEEPERS & DEALERS IN SUNDRIES
Culverhouse Mary, High street
Hide John, Jeff’s Lane
Kiteley John, High street
Munday Martha, Canal street
Turney Edward, Canal street
Wilkinson Charles, Leek street
STRAW HAT MAKERS
Lock Sarah, North street
Page Maria, High street
Partridge John, [and plat dealer], Vandyke
Webb James, Church square
SURGEONS
Heckford William, Leek street
Lawford Wm. Robinson, Leek street
Wagstaff Thos. Michael, High st.
TAILORS
Doggett Thomas & Sons, [and drapers], Market place
Dumpleton William, [and clothes dealer], Market place
Ratt William, [and clothes dealer], Market place
Webb James, Church square
TALLOW CHANDLERS
Odell Gregory F. and Sarah, Market place
Poulter James, Friday street
Sanders Richard, Market place
TAVERNS & PUBLIC HOUSES
Bell, Coleman Ginger, Market place
Bell & Woolpack, Thos. Hutson, Leek st.
Black Horse, Thos. Irons, North st.
Black Lion, Benj. Hopkins, High st.
Boot, William Drage, Market place
Bull, Nathaniel Stonhill, High street
Coach & Horses, Thos. Parsons, Leek st.
Corbet Arms, William Cotching, near Canal wharf
Cross Keys, Henry Samuel, Market place
Crown, Thos. Turnham, North st.
Currier’s Arms, Ann Marlton, Market pl.
Ewe, Lamb and Shepherd, Edwd. Loke, Canal street
Falcon, John Felts, Leek street
George & Dragon, Hy. Franklin, Leek st.
Golden Bell, John Cotching, Church sq.
Greyhound, Charles Carter, North street
King’s Arms, Jos. Hopkins, North st.
Nag’s Head, Thos. Yirrell, Leek st.
Peacock, Saml. Hopkins, Leek st.
Plume of Feathers, Jas. Clarke, Leek st.
Raven, William Dickins, High st
Roebuck, Benj. Gartside, Market place
Saracen’s Head, Jos. Rogers, High st.
Shoulder of Mutton, Jos. Turney, Canal st.
Sun, William Simmonds, Leek st.
Wheat Sheaf, Wm. Collings, North st.
WATCH AND CLOCK MAKERS
Matthews John, High st.
Page Charles, High st.
WHARFINGERS AND LIME AND BRICK MAKERS
Grant & Lawford, High street - office, Canal wharf
Osborn John, High street - office, Canal wharf
Young John, [and coal dealer], Canal wharf
WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANT
Odell Gregory F. [& stamp distributer], Market place
MISCELLANEOUS
Drage Wm. gunsmith, Market place
Foster John, wheelwright, Leek st.
Hugh Jabez, fellmonger, Back lane
Norman Robert, cooper, Jeff’s lane
Lock Richd., coach, &c. maker, North st.
Page Jesse, turner, High st.
Pettit Chas. lace manufacturer, High st.
Reeve Samuel, brewer, High street
Simmonds Richd., corn dealer, Leek st.
Smith Wm. sheriff’s officer, Jeff’s lane
Wright Elizbth., confectioner, North st.
COACHES
To LONDON, a Post Coach, from the Swan, every morning [Sundays
excepted] at seven;
goes through Hockliffe, Dunstable, and St.
Albans.
To CAMBRIDGE, a Post Coach [from Oxford] calls
at the Swan,
every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at twelve;
goes through Woburn,
Ampthill, Bedford and St. Neots.
To OXFORD, a Post Coach [from
Cambridge] calls at the Swan, every Tuesday,
Thursday & Saturday afternoons
at two;
goes through
Aylesbury.
CARRIERS
To
LONDON, Wm.
Claridge’s Wagon, from Leek street, and John Young’s
Wagon, from Canal wharf, every Tuesday and Friday
morning.
To
DUNSTABLE, Wm.
Kent’s Wagon, from the Roebuck, twice a week.
CONVEYANCE BY WATER
To
LONDON, BIRMINGHAM,
MANCHESTER, &c. Fly Boats pass daily by which goods
left at the wharfs of Messrs. Grant and Lawford, J. Osborn,
or John Young, are safely forwarded to all parts of the kingdom.
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