Totternhoe


Totternhoe is a village and civil parish in the Manshead hundred of the county of Bedfordshire, England.

Overview

Totternhoe is an ancient village in southern Bedfordshire, near Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard. Totternhoe Knolls has been a fort for many peoples including Romans and Normans. Totternhoe Castle, of motte-and-bailey design, was built during the Norman period, probably during the years of the Anarchy, only the mound survives. Behind the knoll is a large chalk quarry producing Totternhoe Stone and modern lime kilns.
The parish church of Saint Giles dates from the 13th century.
The village has about 300 homes housing about 1,000 people.
There are several farms and a small lower school, Totternhoe Church of England Academy.
The village has two public houses, The Old Farm Inn in Church End and The Cross Keys in Middle End. Another pub in Church End, The Bell, was converted into a private home in about 1992.

Geography

The village is long and thin and is separated into three parts:
The civil parish includes the foot of Dunstable Downs, including the London Gliding Club.

History

dates to the fourth century.
The Domesday Book of 1086 recorded the village as Totene Hou, meaning "look out house" and "spur", presumably describing forts on the Knoll.
The 1881 Census recorded Totternhoe's population as about 700, of whom 54% were female.
Totternhoe's common lands were not enclosed until 1892.

Sport and leisure

Totternhoe has a Non-League football team Totternhoe F.C. who play at Church End recreation ground.

Notable buildings and sites

Travelling west from Dunstable one may find the following buildings.
The village shares boundaries with the following parishes: