Oakley Village
In the 1930s the village was quite small. It had been part of the Duke of Bedford's estate, which had been sold in 1919 and private houses were built. A walk around the village will reveal the Dukes crest ( a crown) and the letters DB on houses built by the estate. By then bus and train services to Bedford and London were good and private transport was increasing. Then the population of the village was very mixed and five farms were still employing workers who lived in tied cottages, mostly in the estate cottage which had been sold together with the farms.

The parish church of St Mary dates from the 12th century and a strong Methodist sector built their own chapel in 1849. This was replaced in 1974 by a more modern building. Both churches have always been happy to join together in united services and in all village events.

During the 15 years after the Second World War private houses were built in the village and council houses at the bottom of Station Road. The village was slowly changing its image but there was still only the odd street lamp and while most houses had piped water the old stand pipes remained, remnants of which can still be seen in the high street.

It was in the late 1960s that the village took on a new look. A local farmer abd a builder, was given the go-ahead to develop the land in the middle (the existing village was built around his farm). The sewer came first, a real boon since cesspits were not efficient. Lincroft Middle School was built, then the houses arrived, Church Lane, Ruffs Furze, Dewlands and Lincroft in that order.

The village currently has one sub-post-office cum newsagent and very small general store although it's a constant surprise as to just how much can be squeezed in to such a small space. There is one hairdresser (the general store has now closed) and one pub, the Bedford Arms. Next to the Bedford Arms is what looks like a broken down double garage, It is infact the old village smithy.
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This page last updated on the 20th of August 2007
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