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BOLNHURST, a parish in the hundred of STODDEN, county of BEDFORD, 7 miles (N. by E.) from Bedford, containing 264 inhabitants. The living is a rectoy, in the archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese of Lincoln, rated in the king's books at £9, and in the patronage of William Guppy, Esq. The church is dedicated to St. Dunstan. A free school, founded by the Rev. Baker, in 1791, has an endowment of £12, per annum, for which about twelve children are instructed gratuitously.
[A Topographical Dictionary of England - Samuel Lewis - 1831]
The 1851 Census Index for Bolnhurst can be found in the 1851 Index to Census of Bedfordshire, Volume 1, Book 1 available from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.
The church of St. Dunstan is a building of stone in the Early Decorated and Perpendicular styles, consisting of chancel, nave, porch, vestry and a tower containing 4 bells, the 2nd and 3rd are each dated 1587 and the tenor 1618, with an inscription. The late Mrs. Wade-Gery, to whose memory the stained east window was inserted, was interred in the vestry: the church contains monuments and stained windows to the Francklin and the Harvey families: in the nave is a marble tablet to the Francklin family, dated 1707: a beautiful carved screen divides the nave and chancel, and on one of the walls is a fresco of St. Christopher bearing the infant Christ: the chancel was completely restored and the roof re-covered with oak and lead in 1884; the walls and porch were also repaired. The register dates from the year 1685.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
The parish record transcripts for St Dunstan are available on microfiche for the period 1685-1812 from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.
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[Last updated 5 May 2003 Martin Edwards]