Clophill (“tree-stump hill”) is first recorded in the doomsday book, although its origins are far earlier, with the first recorded settlement, a wattle and daub hut, excavated in 1973 and dated around 500 BC! The first historical event of any significance is the establishment of Cainhoe Castle, the earthworks of which are still clearly visible a mile to the south of the village. This was built in the early Norman period after Nigel d’Albini had been granted the Barony of Cainhoe following the Norman Conquest.
The Old Parish Church, whose ruins still stand in isolation above the village, dates from the 15th century and probably marks the location of the first settlement. The move down to lower ground, away from the site of the church, is attributed to the Black Death of 1349, which also spelt the end of any settlement at Cainhoe. The plague may though have simply speeded up a process that was already happening. What is clear is that by the late 16th early 17th century there was a strong community by the River Flit, in what is now the eastern part of the village, centred on the path up to the church.
The economy at this time was of course dominated by agriculture, but the village also had its quarries and a significant tile and brick making industry (hence Kiln Lane). The 18th century saw the village start to develop into what we know today, with the Bedford to London road an important coaching route, which both pubs on the Green were established to exploit. Other village landmarks dating from this period include Clophill House, the watermill and several of the older houses on the High Street including numbers 19, 33, 35 and Ivy House.
The first national census of 1801 shows the population at 701, but by 1871 this had grown to 1,220, explained in part by the boom in market gardening enjoyed during this century. Straw plaiting for the Luton hat industry was also a significant industry, especially for the women of the village. By the 1800’s there was development north of the High Street on Back Street, Mill Lane and the Slade. The residents finally tired of the walk up to the old church and St Mary’s Church was built through public subscription in 1848. The Lock and Pound were also built on the village green, as was the first school in 1871, the original bell tower of which can still be seen outside the current school.
The start of the 20th century saw Clophill as a thriving village, with the 6 pubs meaning the pound was still used to lock up the occasional drunk on a Saturday night! The village’s big event was the “Statty fair” which was held twice a year in the fields then behind the Green Man and it attracted crowds of people from all the surrounding villages. A walk along the High Street at this time would have provided you with all the services you would need, with among other things the bakehouse just before the Green Man and a bicycle shop on the other side in what is the hairdressers today. Opposite the Green Man was the smithy at no 4 and no 7 was a drapers shop with The Masters House a shoe shop. Further up no 35 was a fish and chip shop before it became the village butchers and Wootton House was the original post office before it moved across the road to the shop at no 53 and then on to the Green a couple of years ago.
A pre-war problem that sounds very familiar today, was the through traffic caused by the A6 running round the Green and across the old bridge. This was resolved in 1938 with the construction of the Clophill bypass, though at the expense of the Wesleyan Chapel and the original Diggins’ Garage. Post war developments have seen Clophill continue to grow, sometimes at the expense of its past, but it remains today a village full of history, with over 20 listed buildings and fully deserving of its status as a conservation area.
