Ickwell: A Quintessential English Village

Looking for the quintessential English village? Perhaps with a cricket pitch, local pub and quaint traditions? You may even want to see thatched cottages and beautiful gardens with roses and honeysuckles climbing the walls.

Well, in Ickwell, we really do have the place for you. It’s truly idyllic.

Ickwell is a small village in central Bedfordshire. It’s around six and a half miles from the county town of Bedford, and so it has the benefit of being situated in a rural location, while being close to the convenience and amenities of an historic place.

It really is picture-perfect, and those who have visited Ickwell have commented that it is the type of village scene that would typically feature on the front of old-fashioned chocolate boxes.

Beautiful ancient trees stand proud in a parkland-like setting, and there’s even a Maypole with its red and white twist reaching for the sky.

Old English Maypole dancing is of course a fantastic tradition, but unique to Ickwell is the further tradition of Maypole dancing involving past pupils (Old Scholars) of the local village school. On May Day each year generations of the same family take part in this wonderfully-traditional event.

Ickwell is a village that Satchells sales director, Alan Hilditch knows very well. Alan grew up not far from Ickwell and fondly remembers the village and traditions from his youth. He recalls seeing the maypole in use and watching on as the Morris Men danced around with their sticks raised. A particularly fond memory is of his mum cycling through the village with him and his younger brother Derek on the way to the playgroup that she ran.

Alan also recalls that there is a rather regal oak tree at the cricket pitch, and it is said that if you hit the cricket ball over the old oak tree, it’s an automatic six runs for the batsman! The tree lies within the boundary rope, another quaint fixture of this delightful village.

If you fancy a tipple in Ickwell, then there’s the cricket pavilion for a swift half or two, or just a few minutes down the road in Northill is the family run and recently refurbished whitewashed Crown pub for refreshments in beautiful surroundings.

Full of character and tradition, Ickwell, with its period properties, certainly isn’t stuck in the past. While its period homes are to die for and the thatched cottages that line the roads are so picturesque, it’s a thriving village that is proving rather popular.

This is mainly because of its setting, its traditions and the fact that actually, it’s in a great spot for commuting or for getting the train from Bedford into London.

With more people than ever wanting to lay their roots away from the centre of towns and cities, Ickwell is rather perfect. So, if you’re passing by, stop and drink in the atmosphere of a traditional English village - and if it’s cricket season, don’t stand too close to the old oak tree!

If you have a property to sell in Ickwell, we have interested parties waiting. Call Satchells on 01462 410394 or email us at salesadmincentre@satchells.co.uk