Cranfield

This article is about the village in Bedfordshire. For the university there, see Cranfield University.

Cranfield
240px Village centre
Cranfield  Cranfield shown within Bedfordshire
Population	4,909 (2001)
OS grid reference	SP959425
– London	52 miles (84 km)
Civil parish	Cranfield
Unitary authority	Central Bedfordshire
Ceremonial county	Bedfordshire
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Bedford
Postcode district	MK43
Dialling code	01234
Police	Bedfordshire
Fire	Bedfordshire and Luton
Ambulance	East of England
EU Parliament	East of England
UK Parliament	Mid Bedfordshire
List of places UK England Bedfordshire

Cranfield is a village and civil parish in north west Bedfordshire, England, between Bedford and Milton Keynes. It has a population of 4,909, and is in Central Bedfordshire District.

The hamlet of Bourne End is located just north of Cranfield, and is part of the civil parish. Wharley End was a separate settlement, but now forms the northern part of Cranfield village, by the university.

Amenities

Cranfield has two public houses, a football club, hairdressers, several take-away restaurants, two small supermarkets and one car dealership. There is also a surgery and dentist's practice along with a pharmacy. Cranfield has a university, two schools, two parks and a multi-use games area.

The village Post Office is now contained within the Co-op store; previously it was on separate premises near the centre of the village. Cranfield has one of only a small number of Morgan dealerships, in addition to a Ford dealer. There are further facilities at the university campus including a Post Office and bookshop.

The local newspaper is the Cranfield Express. There is a community website Cranfieldwebsite.info giving village information, local business, forum etc.

The Church of St Peter and St Paul has records going back at least to 1600, and is notable for its newly restored bells.

From 1992-2005 the village had its own amateur dramatics society, the 'Cranfield Players' with many village members.

There is a newly opened Bed and Breakfast establishment called 'Number 25' at 25 Bedford Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0EU.

Sport and leisure

Cranfield has a Non-League football team Cranfield United F.C. who play at their own ground in Crawley Road, Cranfield MK430AA

Airport

Main article: Cranfield Airport

Cranfield's airfield was originally an RAF training airfield, and was used after the war by the College of Aeronautics. Today the main user is the Cabair School of Flying. The future of the airfield is uncertain – one runway was closed to allow the construction of the Nissan building and technology park, and there are controversial plans to build further housing on airfield land.

Kennett Aviation, who previously operated a range of vintage aircraft from Cranfield, were forced to move to North Weald due to these plans. However, Cranfield is still home to one of the few remaining serviceable English Electric/BAC Lightning jet fighters.

University

Main article: Cranfield University

Cranfield University is adjacent to the village, on the other side of the airfield.

Technology park

The Cranfield Technology Park is west of the University at the entrance to the campus. It is being developed on a phased basis by Cranfield University and its development partner. The park's objective is to encourage knowledge-based companies to locate their activities on the park and to encourage the growth of such companies. A major extension to the technology park was started in January 2007 using land on Cranfield Airport.

In August 2005 a new business incubation centre was opened. It was designed to encourage and support hi-tech and knowledge based pre-start and early start companies during the formative stages of their development.

External links

• Cranfield Football Club
• Cranfield Colts Football Club
• Cranfield Village Website
• Cranfield Technology Park
• Account of Cranfield during the second world war