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BIDDENHAM, a parish in the hundred of WILLEY, county of BEDFORD, 2¾ miles (W. by N.) from Bedford, containing 393 inhabitants. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese of Lincoln, rated in the king's books at £8, endowed with £400 private benefaction, and £600 royal bounty, and in the patronage of Viscount Hampden. The church is dedicated to St. James.
[A Topographical Dictionary of England - Samuel Lewis - 1831]
The 1851 Census Index for Biddenham can be found in the 1851 Index to Census of Bedfordshire, Volume 1, Book 3 available from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.
The church of St. James is an edifice of stone, in the Norman and Perpendicular styles, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, south porch and an embattled central tower with small spire, containing a clock and 6 bells, re-cast and re-hung in 1895 ; cleaned in 1894, and in a fair state of preservation, is a piece of tapestry, bearing date 1549 : there are two hagioscopes and piscinae : inserted in the north wall of the chancel is a quaint monument of alabaster and marble to the Boteler family dated 1621: there are several mural tablets and some curious brasses. The register dates from the year 1663.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
The parish record transcripts for St James are available on microfiche for the period 1663-1812 from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.
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[Last updated 5 May 2003 Martin Edwards]