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Bedford Community Centres
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About Bedford - show infohide info
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire in England. In the Middle Ages, Bedford was a market town for the surrounding agricultural region. Bedford was granted its borough charter in 1166 by Henry II, making it the second oldest borough in England. Most of the engineering works opened in Bedford during the 19th century have now closed, and the town no longer has a main drive for its economy. This has not slowed Bedford’s growth, as residential areas continue to progress. This is helped by the overspill from commuters to London and to Milton Keynes, which is about fifteen miles away. Bedford’s major features include the River Great Ouse which passes through the town’s centre. Set on the River Great Ouse is a 17th century restored Watermill, Bromham Mill. It still regularly mills flours and bakes, and provides a home to other country craft activities. Bromham Mill is also home to two contemporary art galleries displaying a range of arts and crafts. Bedford’s River Festival is held every two years in the summer. It is a two day event with sport, fairs and music, and is the second largest regular outdoor event in the UK. Bedford is called home by the largest concentration of Italian immigrants in the U.K. There is also significant immigration to Bedford from South Asia, Eastern Europe, Greece/Cyprus, the Middle East and Africa. Bedford is therefore one of the most diverse towns in Britain and in the EU, particularly considering its size. Over one hundred immigrant languages can be found in Bedford, including Italian, Punjabi, Turkish, Polish, Portuguese and both Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese.
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