Ampthill Past Memories

From grand houses and forgotten buildings, to the lives of ordinary residents whose stories might otherwise be lost to time, Ampthill Past Memories is about bringing history back to life—through research, recollection, and the voices of those who remember. Today, we’re peeling back the layers of time, traveling all the way back to 1742 . We’re uncovering how a private family home evolved into a pu...

Sheila was born in Glasgow and moved to Ampthill in 1959 when she was 13. They moved into a house on Woburn Street which went with the job her father had been offered with AER refrigeration engineering company. Sheila details how hard it was for her and her mother to settle into Ampthill initially and describes how things eventually improved. Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series by Sandra Re...

This episode of Ampthill Past Memories explores the history of almshouses and workhouses in Ampthill, two institutions that played a vital role in caring for the town’s poorest and most vulnerable residents. From early charitable almshouses founded through generous bequests to the more complex and often harsher realities of the workhouse system, their stories reveal how attitudes to poverty, welfa...

This special edition of the Ampthill Past Memories podcast marks the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day. On Friday 15 August 2025, the people of Ampthill gathered in the town square, joined by the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, Camilla King, the town mayor, Councillor Steve Addy, and fellow ward and town councillors, to honour those who served, sacrificed, and endured during the Second Worl...

This special edition podcast focuses on a house that no longer stands, but once dominated Dunstable Street. Known variously as St. George's, Redborne House, Russell House, and Cleveland, it was a building with many lives, from the home of Ampthill's first millionaire to a wartime hospital, a children's nursery, and even a school annex. Its story mirrors the changing face of Ampthill it...

WARNING - This podcast discusses violence and war that some listeners may find distressing. This special edition podcast features the voice of Paul Roberts, who recorded stories about his friend Bert Harris. Bert fought in WW2, and became a Japanese prisoner of war. Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society. Long-standing residents of Ampthill a...

Alan Bush was born in Ampthill. Hear the fourth part of his story here, read by his son Paul. Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society. Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a f...

Alan Bush was born in Ampthill. Hear the third part of his story here, read by his son Paul. Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society. Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a fa...

This special edition podcast, the last of the series - links the sculpture "If The Oaks Could Speak" that has been entered into the Ampthill Eco-Sculpt competition 2025 - focuses on the oak trees in Ampthill Great Park. Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society. Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampt...

This special edition podcast - links the sculpture "If The Oaks Could Speak" that has been entered into the Ampthill Eco-Sculpt competition 2025 - focuses on Ampthill during WW1 and WW2. John Hele talks about the training camps and prisoner of war camps Ampthill hosted in the 20th century. Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society. Long-standing...

This special edition podcast - links the sculpture "If The Oaks Could Speak" that has been entered into the Ampthill Eco-Sculpt competition 2025 - focuses on Ampthill House. Sir Anthony Wingfield kept a menagerie there in the early 20th century. Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society. Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recor...

This special edition podcast - linked to the sculpture "If The Oaks Could Speak" that has been entered into the Ampthill Eco-Sculpt competition 2025 - focuses on how the masquerade came to Ampthill in 1979 . Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society. Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past gi...

This special edition podcast - linked the sculpture "If The Oaks Could Speak" that has been entered into the Ampthill Eco-Sculpt competition 2025 - focuses on Richard Nicolls. He led a mission to seize New Netherland (which later became New York) in 1664. Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society. Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around,...

This special edition podcast - linked the sculpture "If The Oaks Could Speak" that has been entered into the Ampthill Eco-Sculpt competition 2025 - focuses on Katherine of Aragon. She ended up in exile in Ampthill following her divorce from Henry VIII in 1533. Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society. Long-standing residents of Ampthill and aro...

George Maxted was born in Edgware in 1938, moving to Ampthill in 1972. Hear his story here. Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society. Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a fab...

Mavis Knight was born in Ampthill 1935. Hear her story here. Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society. Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a fabulous picture of how Ampthill u...

Marion McClurg, interviewed by Mariella Cook for the Ampthill Past Memories Project, recounts her life in Ampthill since her birth in 1941. Marion's father, an engineer from Dublin, met her mother, Hilda White, at a dance in Bedford. Marion attended St. Claire's Catholic School and later Russell School, where she was a first student. She worked at various jobs, including at the Trade Prote...

John Everitt sings 'I'm In The Mood For Love'. Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society. Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a fabulous picture of how Ampthill use...

John Everitt was born in Ampthill 1941. Hear his story here. Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society. Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a fabulous picture of how Ampthill u...

Mark Smith was born in Ampthill 1962. Hear his story here. Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society. Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a fabulous picture of how Ampthill use...

Alan Bush was born in Ampthill. Hear the second part of his story here, read by his son Paul. Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society. Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a f...

Alan Bush was born in Ampthill. Hear his story here, read by his son Paul. Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society. Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a fabulous picture of...

University of Bedfordshire student Joel Atkinson does a deep-dive into how the Ampthill Past Memories project began, and the impact it has had. Featuring the voices of Mariella Cook, Sandra Read, Terry Lee & Leona Fensome. Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society. Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories...

Sandra Read interviews Ian Thompson, born in Ampthill 1936, for the Ampthill Past Memories Project. Ian recounts his birth on July 24, 1936, in Ampthill, his family background, and early life. He describes his father's football exploits, his own youth football, and his RAF service from 1952 to 1958, including postings to various locations and his eventual discharge. Ian details his marriage in...

Duncan Everitt was born in 1961, and has lived in Ampthill all his life. Hear his story here. Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society. Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a f...