Facts and places of interest in Flitwick
Interesting Facts about Flitwick
- Flitwick moor claims to be the first place in the world to bottle tonic water.
- Flitwick is famous for its manor, which is now an exclusive hotel, said to be haunted.
Places of Interest in and around Flitwick
Market
There is an open-air market every Friday selling local produce, which is set up on the car park of the village hall.
Sports Centre There is a sports centre in Flitwick with a 25m swimming pool with kids pool attached. Lessons for children are very popular. The centre also has a gym, squash courts and gymnasium.
Flitwick Wood
Flitwick Wood is an ancient woodland which offers enjoyable walks with beautiful scenery. At the right time of year you will see the bluebells.
Flitwick Moor
Flitwick Moor is a nature reserve which is well known for it's flora and fauna and for the birds and wildelife.
Flitwick Moor is the largest valley mire in Bedfordshire and was formed in ancient times.
Houghton House
The ancient monument known as Houghton House lies to south on the hill towards Amptill and overlooks the Marston Vale. The house was built in 1615-1621 on Crown land and is though to have been built by John Thorpe. It has been suggested that Houghton House is the ‘House Beautiful' referred to in John Bunyan's ‘Pilgrim's Progress'.
Ampthill's Almshouses
Ampthill's Almshouses can be found in Church Square and some date back to the 15 th Century.
Wrest Park, Silsoe
Wrest Park was the home of the De Grey family from the 13 th Century until 1917. The old manor house was demolished and the one that now stands of the site was designed by Thomas, Earl de Grey, in 1834 in the French chateaux style; it is the third house to be built on the site.
The gardens amount to 90 acres and were inspired by the gardens of Versailles in France and are formal in style with wooded walks and canals centred around the pavilion designed by Thomas Archer in 1710.
Later additions to the gardens include the Bath House and the Chinese Pavilion. The Orangery, Italian garden and Parterre were added in the 19 th century.
The house was used in the early 19th century as a residence for the US Ambassador, but it is now used by the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering and is run by English Heritage.
Nearby at Flitton is the Grey Mausoleum, the family's burial place.
Regular events such as historical re-enactments take place in the grounds.
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