6 April 2008
Village History
Posted by Dixon under: History .
Timeline of the village of Harlington
- 1086: Lord Manor of Harlington was established; Nigel D’Albini in the Domesday survey.
- 1300-50: The Church of St Mary was built; it is constructed of Tottenhoe stone, and was likely to be built near an earlier wooden structure. However, the tower wasn’t added until the 15th century.
- 1349: The Black Death had a huge effect on Harlington and slaughtered more than a quarter of the population, even the Vicar!
- 1442-1471: A new vicar was appointed, John Benet.
- 1660: John Bunyan (author of Pilgrim’s Progress) was put on trial before Francis Wingate at Harlington House. As a result he was imprisoned for 12 years at County Gaol in Bedford, for preaching illegally.
- 1828: The Methodist Church was founded.
- 1841: The population of Harlington increased to 521.
- 1851: The village population expanded again to 597.
- 1859: The first ever village school in Harlington was constructed by George Butler (the vicar).
- 1868: The railway station was built, by The Midland Railway Company.
- 1871: On Station Road, the Harlington Arms was built.
- 1873: The village school changed to a boarding school.
- 1898: Finally, the school became a council school.
- 1902: On the corner of Lincoln Way and Barton Road a new cemetery was created.
- 1914-28: 27 Harlington men were lost because of The First World War.
- 1920: A war memorial was dedicated to those who died in the war, by Reverend. Arthur .G. Hodgson.
- 1960: The Harlington Arms was converted into a private house.
- 1999: The bell for The Church of England was repaired.
If you have the time to expand on the history of the village, please get involved.