Supporting Honeycomb with fast news for villagers
Melchbourne is a small village of some 100 inhabitants lying 12 miles to the north of Bedford and just three quarters of a mile from the borders of both Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. It sits four miles from the nearest main road in any direction and is squarely in the middle of prime arable countryside.
Melchbourne was the seat of the Lords St. John of Bletsoe, whose fine 17/18th century mansion house stands in a scenic park of 400 acres, with well-wooded grounds and two ornamental lakes. The original Melchbourne House was built by Sir William Weston, the last Prior of the Knights Hospitaller who had a major Preceptory in Melchbourne, second only at one time to the Order’s headquarters in Clerkenwell, London. The present house was built in the early 17th Century. The church of ST. MARY MAGDALENE was largely rebuilt in the 17th century although parts of the tower and chancel are much older.
Today, there are no shops, but there is a pub – the St John Arms. Villagers spread across the whole spectrum from pensioners, to City workers, to farmers and professionals. Students and school children constitute about 10% of total numbers. The village has a very active social dimension, largely centred upon the Village Hall.
In all, a lovely quiet place to live in, or visit. So welcome to the Village website
