Eastcotts
| Eastcotts | |
|---|---|
 Eastcotts parish within Bedford |
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 Eastcotts
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| Eastcotts shown within Bedfordshire | |
| Population | 3,239 (2011 Census including Harrowden and Shortstown) |
| OS grid reference | TL083344 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BEDFORD |
| Postcode district | MK42 |
| Police | Bedfordshire |
| Fire | Bedfordshire and Luton |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
Eastcotts is a civil parish in the county of Bedfordshire.
The boundaries of Eastcotts are approximately Exeter Wood to the east, Bedfordshire Greensand Ridge to the south and Shocott Spring to the west. There are two woodlands; Shocott Spring and Exeter Wood, two villages; Shortstown and Cotton End and two hamlets; Harrowden and Herrings Green. And some landmarks such as the Cardington Sheds.
Eastcotts Castle a small motte castle constructed of timber was built during the 11th or 12th centuries. Located on the Bedfordshire Greensand Ridge, it overlooked the parish to the north.
In 1831 Eastcotts was described as a chapelry in the parish of Cardington, in the hundred of Wixamtree, 3½ miles south-east of Bedford.
In 1915 Short Brothers bought land in the parish to build airships for the Admiralty and constructed a 700-foot-long (210 m) airship hangar to build the two R31 class airships. They also built a housing estate for workers which they named Shortstown. The site was nationalized in 1919 and became known as the Royal Airship Works. The shed was extended in 1926 and its roof was raised to accommodate the R101. A second shed was moved here from RNAS Pulham, Norfolk,in 1928, but after the crash of the R101 in 1930, all work stopped in Britain on airships and the site became a storage station. It became known as RAF Cardington in 1936 and started building barrage balloons and became the No 1 RAF Balloon Training Unit. The site has since been used for a variety of other purposes by a number of organizations including the Royal Aircraft Establishment, the Building Research Establishment, the Meteorological Research Unit, Airship Industries and Hybrid Air Vehicles. The sheds are both listed buildings, but Hangar Number 1 is at risk, needing complete repair and refurbishment.
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