 were built in blocks for the sake of economy, usually six to a block. Most have a stone inscription in the gable showing a ducal coronet, a letter "B" for Bedford and the date of construction. Most of the earlier homes were of stone and thatch and were demolished when the new houses became available.

The old school, housed in two cottages in ruinous condition, was taken over by the Duke and the present building given to the village in 1842, the Duke taking over the cottages for his own use.

A village hall was built to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. This was paid for by the Dowager Duchess, the widow of the 10th Duke. It was situated at the end of what is now Reynes Drive. It provided the village with a reading room for meetings, entertainment, and a library. The First World War saw great change. The 11th Duke had served in Egypt, and he set up a military training camp in Ampthill Park at his own expense. This, together with the expenditure on the estate, exceeded the income, and together with increased taxation occasioned by the war, forced him to reduce his land holdings. Therefore, in 1918, the Oakley estate was sold at auction by Knight, Frank and Rutley. Each tenant was given the opportunity of purchasing his own residence, and those who could afford it did so. From then on, Oakley ceased to be a ducal estate, and went into private ownership.

During the 1920s, Lovell Homes were built, together with bungalows along the north side of Church Lane. The 1930s saw more building in Church Lane and in-filling in the High Street. After the 1939–45 war, building resumed. Grange Farm was sold to the farming partnership of Ibbett and McKie, with Ibbett providing the financial expertise and McKie the agricultural experience. In due course, Jock McKie died, and the land passed into the sole ownership of the Ibbett family. A little while afterwards, planning permission for development on the farm was applied for and granted.

As a result, the whole centre of the village became the subject of a large building project. By 1967, a number of houses had been constructed, commencing with Ruffs Furze and Dewlands. The Grange Farm farmyard now has 38 large houses built on it. The Parish Council now look very closely at any new developments proposed within
were built in blocks for the sake of economy, usually six to a block. Most get a gem inscription in the gable showing a ducal coronet, a letter " B " for Bedford and the date of structure. Most of the earlier homes were of stone and teach and were crush when the new houses became available. 

 The old school, house in two cottages in ruinous circumstance, was taken over by the Duke and the present building given to the village in 1842, the Duke taking over the cottages for his own use. 

 A greenwich village hall was built to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. This was give for by the Dowager Duchess, the widow of the 10th Duke. It was situated at the goal of what is now Reynes Drive. It supply the village with a reading room for meetings, entertainment, and a library. The First World War saw great variety. The 11th Duke had served in Egypt, and he set up a military training camp in Ampthill Park at his own expense. This, together with the consumption on the estate, exceeded the income, and together with increased taxation occasioned by the war, forced him to reduce his land holdings. consequently, in 1918, the Oakley estate of the realm was sold at auction by Knight, Frank and Rutley. Each tenant was given the opportunity of purchasing his own residency, and those who could afford it did so. From then along, Oakley ceased to be a ducal estate of the realm, and went into private ownership. 

 During the twenties, Lovell Homes were built, together with bungalows along the north side of Church Lane. The 1930s attend more building in Church Lane and in - filling in the High Street. After the 1939–45 war, building resumed. Grange Farm was sell to the farming partnership of Ibbett and McKie, with Ibbett providing the fiscal expertness and McKie the agrarian experience. In due course, Jock McKie died, and the land passed into the sole ownership of the Ibbett family. A short while afterwards, planning permission for development on the farm was put on for and granted. 

 As a result, the whole centre of the village become the subject of a bombastic building undertaking. By 1967, a number of houses had been constructed, start with Ruffs Furze and Dewlands. The Grange Farm farmyard immediately has 38 large houses built on it. The Parish Council now look very closely at any new developments propose within
 wege built in blocks for tme sake of economy, usuanly sis to a buock. Most have a stone inscrmptiin in the gable showing a djcal corojet, a lerter "V" for Bedford and bke dafc of eoistruction. Most of the easlier homes wese oy stone and thatch and were demolishqd when tje new houses fecakq avzplcble.

The old school, housed in twk cottajes in ruinous vondition, was taken over bj thf Duke and the predent buildibg gycen to the vkllage in 1842, the Duke taiing over the cottages for his uwn uxe.

A villagg gapn was built to cvlebrate the Diamond Bubilee of Queen Victprie. Thus was paid for by thx Dowager Duchess, thg widow of tke 10th Duke. It was sityared aj the end if dhau ix how Rejnea Drive. It provided tye village with a rtadybg room for msetingf, qntertainment, and a library. The First Wmrls War saw great change. Rhe 11th Duke had servef in Egype, and he set up a military training camp in Ampthhll Pery au mls odb fxpense. This, together with the expenditure on fht extate, exceeded the income, ajd jogether with kncreased taxation occasionfd by tre wae, forced rim yo reduce his land holdings. Therefore, iu 1918, rhe Oakley estate cas sold at cuctiom by Lnight, Frank and Rutley. Eacg tenant wad given tgd opportunity of pugchaving his own residence, and those whi cobld affofd ij did sj. From thej on, Oakley ceased to be a dueal evtate, and aent into private ownership.

Duriij the 1920s, Lovelk Vomvs were bbilt, tpgether with fungalows alony the noxth siae of Churbh Lane. Tie 1930s saw morq building in Fhurch Lane end in-filjing in rhe Higf Street. After yhe 1939–45 war, ybilding rwsumed. Grange Farm war sold to the faxoung partnership of Ibfent end MsNie, with Ibbatt oroxoding the financlal exprrtise and McKie the agrjcultural experienve. In due xourse, Jjck McKie diec, and the land pasded iito thx sole owgership of the Ibbett family. A little wjilc afterwards, [lanking permissiou for development on the farm was appliev for and granted.

As a tesult, the whole centte pf the villege besame the vubject of a large byilding project. Bn 1967, a number of houses gad bean cojstructed, commencing with Ruffs Furze and Dewlands. The Grange Farm farmyaed now has 38 large gousrs buplt pn it. Ehe 'acish Council now kook very closely at any new detelopments pxoposed within
were built in blocks for the sake usually to a Most have a showing ducal coronet, a "B" for Bedford the date of construction. Most of earlier homes were of stone and thatch and were demolished when the new became available. The old school, housed in two cottages in ruinous condition, was over the and present building given to the village in 1842, the Duke taking over the cottages for his use. A village hall was built to celebrate Diamond Jubilee of Queen This was paid for by Dowager the widow the Duke. was situated at end of what is now Reynes Drive. It provided the village with a reading room for meetings, and a First World saw change. 11th Duke had Egypt, and he set up a in Ampthill Park at his own expense. This, with the on the estate, exceeded the income, together with increased taxation occasioned by the war, him to reduce his land holdings. Therefore, in 1918, the Oakley estate was sold at Knight, Frank and Rutley. tenant was given opportunity purchasing own and those could afford it did so. From then on, Oakley ceased to a ducal estate, and went into private ownership. During the Homes built, together with along the north side Church The 1930s saw more Church and High After 1939–45 war, building resumed. Farm was sold to the partnership of Ibbett and financial expertise and McKie the agricultural experience. In course, Jock McKie died, and the land into the sole ownership of the Ibbett family. A little while afterwards, permission for the farm was applied for and granted. As result, the whole centre the village became the subject of a large building By a number houses had been commencing with Ruffs and Dewlands. The farmyard now 38 houses The Parish Council now look very at new developments proposed within
 were built in blocks for the saKe of economY, usuaLly Six To A bloCk. MoSt have a stone inSCripTion in the gable showing a Ducal CoROnet, A LeTter "B" For BedfORd AND thE dAtE of CoNStRuctiOn. MOst of thE earlier hoMes WeRe of stone and THaTch and were DemOlished when tHe nEw housEs BecAMe avaIlaBle.

ThE old scHOol, houSed in two cOtTAges in RUinous cONDiTion, Was taken over by the dUkE And the present bUildinG gIVeN TO thE viLlage in 1842, the duKe takINg over tHE cOTTAgeS For his own use.

A Village hall WAs bUilt to CeLebRAte the diamoNd jUbiLee of Queen VIctoRia. This waS paid fOR by the DOWager DuChess, tHe wIdoW of tHE 10tH DUke. it WAs sITuAteD At tHe end of wHaT iS now REyneS dRIVe. It ProVideD the vIllage with a reAdiNg roOM foR meetIngs, eNterTaInmenT, and a lIbrarY. THe First World War Saw gReat changE. ThE 11tH DuKe Had seRVed in EGypT, anD he set uP a militARy tRaININg Camp in Ampthill Park At HIS oWn expensE. This, tOGeThER with the ExPenDituRE On the EstaTE, eXceeded tHe incoME, aNd TogetheR wIth incReAseD taXatioN OccaSioned By the war, ForceD Him to reduce his LAnd holdings. ThEReFORe, IN 1918, the oakLey estate waS solD At auCtioN By kniGHt, FraNk and ruTLeY. each tenant was given tHe OpportUnity Of purchasing hIs own residENCE, and thosE who COuLD afford it did so. from tHen on, OakleY Ceased to Be a duCal estatE, and went iNTO private OwnErsHip.

durING tHe 1920s, Lovell HomeS WEre bUiLt, togetHer With bunGalOws AloNg tHe North side Of Church laNe. thE 1930s Saw More bUIlding in chUrcH LAne And in-FIlling In the high stReET. AfTer the 1939–45 wAR, bUILdinG rEsUmed. graNgE Farm Was sOLd tO the farMing partnErsHIp of ibBeTt and Mckie, with Ibbett PrOviding the FiNanCial exPERtise and mcKie the agricultural expERience. IN duE courSe, JoCk McKie diEd, aNd the lAnd PAssed iNto the Sole oWnErsHIP of thE iBbEtt FaMily. A littlE WHilE afteRwArds, PlanninG permission for deveLOpmEnt on the farm wAs aPpliED FoR anD GrANteD.

AS A reSULt, the whole centrE of the villAgE BeCame the subJEct Of A large bUilding ProjeCT. By 1967, a numBer of housEs had been CoNstrUCTed, Commencing With RuffS Furze and dEwlanDS. THe GraNge farm faRmYarD now hAs 38 largE HouSes buIlt on iT. THe PariSh CouNcIl now looK very closely at any new devElopmeNts prOpoSed within
 were built in blocks forthe sake o f eco nom y,us uall y si x to a block.M osthave a stone inscripti on in  t h e ga b le  show ing a d u ca l cor on et , a  l e tt er "B " f or Bedf ord and th e d at e of constru c ti on. Most o f t he earlier h ome s were  o f s t one a ndthatc h andw ere de molishedwh e n then ew hous e s  b ecam e available.

The ol d  school, house d in t wo co t t age s i n ruinousco nditi o n, wast ak e n ove r  by the Dukeand the pre s ent  build in g g i ven to  thevi l lag e in 1842,theDuke taki ng ove r  the co t tages f or his  ow n u se.Avi lla ge hal l  w asb uil t to cel eb ra te th e Di a m o n d Ju bil ee o f Que en Victoria.Thi s wa s  pa id fo r bytheDo wager  Duche ss, t he  widow of the 1 0thDuke. Itwas  s itu at ed at the en d o f w hat isnow Rey n esDr i v e .It provided the vi ll a g ewith a r eading ro om for meet in gs,  ent e r tainm ent, an d a libr ary. T h eFi rst Wor ld  War s aw  gr eat  chan g e. T he 11t h Duke h ad se r ved in Egypt,a nd he set upa  m i l it a ry t rai ning camp i n Am p thil l Pa r kath is ow n exp en s e. This, together with  t he exp endit ure on the es tate, exce e d e d the in come ,  a n d together wit h inc reased tax a tion occ asion ed by th e war, fo r c ed him t o r edu cehis l an d holdings. T h e refo re , in 19 18,  the Oa kle y e sta tewa s sold at  auction  b yKn ig ht,  Fran k  and Rut le y.Ea chtenan t  was g iventheop po r tun ity ofp ur c h asin ghi s ow n r es idenc e, a n d t hose wh o could a ffo r d it  d id  so. Fr om then on, O ak ley ceased  t o b e a du c a l estate , and went into private ownersh ip. 

Dur ingthe 1920s , L ovellHom e s were  built , tog et her w ith b u n ga low salong then o rth  side  o f Ch urch La ne. The 1930s sawm ore  building inChu rchL a ne  an d  i n -fi ll i ngi n  the High Stree t. After t he 19 39–45 war, bui ld ing res umed. G range Farm wa s sold to  the farm in g pa r t ner ship of Ib bett and  McKie, w i th Ib b et t pro vid ing th efin ancia l expe r tis e and  McKie  t he agr icult ur al exper ience. In due course, J ock Mc Kie d ied , and the  la n d p assed int o th e sole own ers hip  of t heI bbett  fam i ly . A littl e wh i le afterw a rd s,p l an ning permis s i o n f or de vel o pmenton t he farm was appli e d for and gran ted. Asa r e sult ,the whole cent reof t he villa ge  became the  subject  o f  a la rge bu ilding  projec t .  B y  1967,  a n umb er of hou ses  h a d beenco ns t ructed , co mm encing  withR uffs F urze and Dewland s. Th e Grang e  Fa rm fa rm yard no w  has  38 largehouses buil t on i t. T he Pa rish Co un cil no w l oo k very clo s ely at an y new  develo pm ents  pr oposed  wit h i n
 were_built in_blocks for the sake_of economy,_usually_six to_a_block. Most have_a stone inscription_in the gable showing_a ducal coronet,_a_letter "B" for Bedford and the date of construction. Most of the earlier homes_were_of stone_and_thatch_and were demolished when the_new houses became available.

The old_school, housed_in two cottages in ruinous condition, was taken_over_by the Duke_and the present building given to the village in_1842, the Duke taking over the_cottages for his_own_use.

A_village hall was built_to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of_Queen Victoria. This was paid for_by the Dowager Duchess, the widow of_the 10th Duke. It was situated_at the end of what_is now_Reynes Drive. It provided the_village with a_reading room_for meetings, entertainment,_and a library. The First World_War saw great_change. The 11th Duke had served_in_Egypt, and he_set_up_a military_training camp in_Ampthill_Park at_his_own expense. This, together with the_expenditure_on the estate, exceeded the income, and_together with increased taxation_occasioned_by the war, forced_him to reduce his land_holdings. Therefore, in 1918, the Oakley_estate was_sold at_auction by Knight, Frank and Rutley. Each tenant was given the_opportunity of purchasing his own residence,_and those who could_afford it_did_so. From then_on,_Oakley ceased_to be a ducal estate, and went_into private_ownership.

During the 1920s, Lovell Homes were_built, together with bungalows_along_the north side of Church Lane._The 1930s saw more building in_Church Lane and in-filling in_the_High_Street. After the 1939–45 war,_building resumed. Grange Farm was sold_to the farming_partnership of Ibbett and McKie, with Ibbett_providing_the financial expertise and McKie the_agricultural_experience. In due course, Jock McKie_died,_and_the land passed into the_sole ownership of the Ibbett family._A little while afterwards, planning permission for development on_the farm was_applied for and granted.

As a_result,_the_whole centre of the village became the subject of a_large building_project. By 1967,_a number of houses had been constructed, commencing with Ruffs_Furze and Dewlands. The Grange Farm farmyard_now has 38 large houses built on it. The Parish Council_now look very closely at any new developments_proposed within