De Parys | |
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Gilbert Hitchcock House, part of the Bedford Health Village in De Parys |
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De Parys shown within Bedfordshire | |
Population | 5,369 7,209 (2011 Census. Ward) |
OS grid reference | TL055507 |
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | BEDFORD |
Postcode district | MK40, MK41 |
Dialling code | 01234 |
Police | Bedfordshire |
Fire | Bedfordshire and Luton |
Ambulance | East of England |
EU Parliament | East of England |
UK Parliament | |
De Parys is an electoral ward and area within the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.
The boundaries of De Parys are approximately Bedford Park and Stancliffe Road to the north, the Bedford campus of the University of Bedfordshire to the east, Goldington Road to the south, with De Parys Avenue to the west.
The Devon Park and Saints neighbourhoods are within De Parys ward, as is the Bedford campus of the University of Bedfordshire. De Parys is the smallest ward (in terms of population) in Bedford.
Bedford's workhouse was established in the area in the 18th Century. The west and central parts of De Parys were urbanised by the end of the 19th Century. It was during this time that Bedford School located to the area, and Bedford Park was established.
The Bedford Training College for Teachers (later, Bedford College of Education) was established on Polhill Avenue in 1882. The eastern part of De Parys was developed later, in the 1960s. It was at this time that the old workhouse building became part of Bedford Hospital. In 1976 Bedford College of Education merged with other colleges to form Bedford College of Higher Education. This in turn became De Montfort University in 1994.
In 2006 the Bedford arm of De Montfort University and the University of Luton formed the University of Bedfordshire. The Bedford Campus has seen significant investment since then, including new student accommodation, a new library and new theatre. There has now been a college of Higher Education on Polhill Avenue in the De Parys area for over 125 years.