Area Guide: The Bedfordshire village of Caddington
The Chequers pub, with All Saints Church in the background (credit: Danny Loo) - Credit: Archant
Caddington is a large village situated between Dunstable and Luton and north of Markyate.
Some of the shops on Manor Road, Caddington (credit: Danny Loo) - Credit: Archant
It has a busy parade of shops, including a Post Office, sandwich shop, estate agents, hairdressers and supermarket, plus two pubs, several churches and a public hall.
Caddington has an annual village show every September featuring local produce, a craft fair and dog show. Whipsnade Zoo is very close by, as is the excellent Stockwood Discovery Centre.
There is a strong sense of community within the village, with many regular events designed to bring people together.
These include monthly WI meetings and bingo sessions, a fortnightly luncheon club and a weekly men’s group.
The Cricketers, Manor Road, Caddington (credit: Danny Loo) - Credit: Archant
There is also a gardening club, a baby and toddler group and a book, video and jigsaw exchange.
Properties currently on the market in Caddington include a four-bed detached house for £695,000 and a one-bed flat for £175,000.
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History
Some of Caddington's period properties (credit: Danny Loo) - Credit: Archant
Caddington has its very own brick the Caddington Blue (an engineering brick) – although some are a bit sketchy as to the credibility of this.
Caddington was once the centre of a thriving brick industry and the Luton Grey, which was found commonly in Caddington, was referred to in a special book about the history of bricks, produced in the ’70s by Bedfordshire County Council in conjunction with the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments.
The Luton Grey was a brick produced from flinty brick earths excavated from around the Kensworth/Caddington/Stopsley area.
The Chequers, Luton Road, Caddington (credit: Danny Loo) - Credit: Archant
Transport and rail links
There are many bus services from Caddington, whose nearest train station is Luton. Luton Airport is on your doorstep as are the M1, M25 and A1(M) for easy access to main routes by car.
Schools
All Saints Church, Caddington (credit: Danny Loo) - Credit: Archant
Primary-aged children are served by Caddington Village School, which was rated ‘good’ by Oftsed at its last inspection.
Secondary options include the Stockwood Park Academy (‘good’) and Manshead C of E Academy (‘inadequate’).
Churches
Caddington has a number of pretty historic churches, notably the Anglican All Saints Church in the middle of the village, St Thomas Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Manor Road and Caddington Baptist Church on Luton Road.
Food and drink
Places to eat and drink in Caddington include The Cricketers and The Chequers pubs, which are located on either side of the village green, and the bar at Caddington Sports and Social Club on Manor Road.
There’s also a popular Indian restaurant, Spice of Caddington, which draws diners from nearby villages, plus pizza, fish and chips and Chinese takeaways.
Sport and leisure
Caddington has its own non-league football team, Caddington FC, and a thriving cricket club comprising adult teams and a youth development section. There’s also Chequers FC, who compete in the Leighton and District Sunday Football League and the village’s newest football club, AFC Chequers Caddington, who play in the South Beds and District Sunday football league.
Caddington Sports and Social Club is the base for many local teams, including football, cricket, darts and pool.
Caddington Golf Club is currently closed for redevelopment, and will reopen as a huge 27-hole complex.
