Shortstown
| Shortstown | |
|---|---|
 Shortstown
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| Shortstown shown within Bedfordshire | |
| Area | 0.732 km2 (0.283 sq mi) |
| Population | 2,631 |
| • Density | 3,594/km2 (9,310/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TL072594 |
| Civil parish | |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BEDFORD |
| Postcode district | MK42 |
| Dialling code | 01234 |
| Police | Bedfordshire |
| Fire | Bedfordshire and Luton |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | eastcottsparishcouncil |
Shortstown is a large village located at the north of the Eastcotts parish on the outskirts of Bedford.
Before Shortstown was built, a windmill stood on the site from the 13th century to the 16th century, and from the 17th to 18th century the area was known as Windmill Hill.
The village was originally built by Short Brothers for its workers, but evolved into a settlement for people working at the RAF Cardington base.
The population of Shortstown is 2,401 (as of 2011) There is a social club, two convenience stores, a food bar, A pharmacy and a school named Shortstown Primary School.
Shortstown started with the establishment of the Airship Works in 1917, when housing for the workforce was built next to the airfield. In 1918 and 1927, sheds (later Grade II* listed buildings) were built for the R100 and R101 airships which then represented the latest passenger flight technology.
South of Shortstown there is a woodland created by the Forest of Marston Vale called Shocott Spring.
Transport in Shortstown provides links between the town and other parts of England. Road access to the village is provided by the A600 road.
The main Shorts Building was built next to what is now the A600 road was a hotel for air passengers, but was never completed because of the demise of the airship as a mode of passenger transport following the loss of the R101 in October 1930. Later the building was used by RAF Cardington for teaching and administration and as an officers' mess. The building was refurbished in 2011 and a new site called New Cardington was also built.
Shortstown is built on Tinkers Hill, Harrowden. Shortstown may stand on the site of an ancient sacred shrine.
Early in 1916 the Admiralty was seeking sites for an airship works for Messrs. Short Brothers and after a two-month search the Naval Director of Air Services reported in March 1916 that a site had been selected at Cardington because it was well served by roads and railways, and was in easy reach of London by steam train therefore, easy for the Admiralty to maintain close liaison with the factory and there was a broad, flat valley running east-west without any obstructions, thus providing a sufficient manoeuvring area to handle rigid airships.
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Wikipedia