Freeman's Common

Freeman's Common is a 12.5 hectare[2] area of land situated to the north of Bedford, in the parish of Ravensden. 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.[3]

Freeman's Common
Type	Open space
Location	Ravensden, Bedford
Coordinates	52.16738°N 0.45208°W
Area	12.5ha
Created	1858[1]
Operated by	Bedford Borough Council
Open	All year
Status	Open

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".[4] This charity held land which in 1858 was sold to the Midland Railway to build Bedford railway station. A new Freeman's Common was purchased near Ravensden to replace the original.[1][5]

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) attended the steeplechases on the second day, arriving in Bedford via the Midlands Railway.[6] 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.[7]

In 1871 it was suggested to build a smallpox hospital on the Freeman's Common at Cleat Hill.[8]

As of 1928 only four Freemen of Bedford remained with rights to graze animals on the Common.[9]

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.[1]

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.[10][11][12]

In 2016 the site was added to Bedford Borough Council's draft Local Plan 2035, but in February 2017 was withdrawn following a decision of the Executive Committee, based on a previous view expressed by a government planning inspector when considering the development of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.[13][2]

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.[14][15]

Archaeology

An archaeological study in 2003 found no archaeological features of interest.[16]

References

1. "Proposed amendment of area of benefit of charity – Report by the Head of Corporate Administration" (pdf). Government of the United Kingdom. 3 June 2008.
2. "Campaign success as Freemen's Common saved from development". CPRE Bedfordshire. 27 February 2017.
3. "Freeman's Common – Bedford Borough Council – Internal Memorandum from the Legal Division" (pdf). 12 July 2001.
4. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/changes/chron-tables/private/21
5. "Freemen's New Common". The Bedford Times & Bedfordshire Independent. 12 November 1859.
6. "Grand National Hunt Steeple Chases". The Bedford Times & Bedfordshire Independent. 6 April 1867.
7. "Grand National Hunt Steeplechases". The Bedford Times & Bedfordshire Independent. 4 April 1868.
8. "Town Council and Local Board". The Bedford Times & Bedfordshire Independent. 26 December 1871.
9. "Freemen's Common at Cleat Hill". The Bedfordshire Times & Independent. 27 May 1932.
10. "'Botched Process' could result in further urban sprawl". North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats. 13 November 2008.
11. "Trust 'under pressure' to sell its land". Times & Citizen. 14 November 2008.
12. "Land at Freemen's Common Bedford – Joint report of the Director of Finance, Head of Corporate Administration and the Service Manager (Land and Property)" (PDF). 3 February 2009.
13. "Agenda item – Bedford Borough Local Plan 2035". Government of the United Kingdom. 22 February 2017.
14. "Bedford Freemen's Common Charity". Government of the United Kingdom.
15. "Veil of secrecy over future of Freemen's Common". CPRE Bedfordshire. 14 November 2016.
16. Webb, A. (2003). "Land at North Brickhill: Jackmans Farm and Freemans Common, Bedford". archaeologydataservice.ac.uk. Archaeological Services WYAS.