Bedfordshire 
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RIDGMONT, a parish in the hundred of REDBORNESTOKE, County of BEDFORD, 3¼ miles (N. E.) from Woburn, containing 810 inhabitants. The living is a discharged vicarage, with Segenhoe, in the archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese of Lincoln, rated in the king's books at £9, endowed with £200 private benefaction, £400 royal bounty, and £1,200 parliamentary grant, and is held by sequestration. The church, dedicated to All Saints, has lately received an addition of ninety-one free sittings, the Incorporated Society for the enlargement of churches and chapels having granted £100 towards defraying the expense. The church at Segenhoe has been long since demolished. There is a place of worship for Baptists.
[A Topographical Dictionary of England - Samuel Lewis - 1831]
The 1851 Census Index for Ridgmont can be found in the 1851 Index to Census of Bedfordshire, Volume 5, Book 1 available from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.
Church of England
The church of All Saints, erected and consecrated in 1854-5, is an elegant edifice of stone, with dressings of Bath stone, in the Decorated style, from designs by the late Sir George Gilbert SScott R.A. and consists of chancel, nave of four bays, aisles and a fine western tower with spire containing one bell: the stained east and west windows were the gift of Lady Charles Bentinck: the alabaster font was presented by the Rev. Henry Joshua Lomax M.A. vicar 1892-6, in memory of his daughter, Annie Ruth, who died Jan. 29th, 1893 ; the lych gate was also presented by him : there are sittings for 396 persons, all free. The register dates from the year 1539.
The ancient church at Segenhoe is now used as a mortuary chapel, the old churchyard being maintained as a burial ground.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
Non-conformist
There is a Wesleyan chapel, and a Baptist chapel, with minister's residence attached, built in 1811.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
Church of England
The parish record transcripts for All Saints are available on microfiche for the period 1539-1812 from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.
A wood carving and carpentry class for agricultural labourers is carried on here under the superintendence of Miss Crouch, of Segenhoe Manor, in connection with the County Council Technical Education Scheme. The County Council Farm School, established in Jan. 1896, for instructing 20 boys in agricultural work, comprises a farm of 273 acres, with house and buildings, given by the Duke of Bedford. The charities amount to about £65 yearly, for the repairs of the church, the maintenance of the National school and the relief of the poor. Segenhoe Manor, formerly the property of the Maqueens, now belongs to the Duke of Bedford, and for the last 60 years has been occupied as a farm by the Crouch family. The Duke of Bedford is lord of the manor and principal landowner. The soil is part sand and part clay; the subsoil, sand and clay. The chief crops are wheat, barley and beans. The area is 2,308 acres ; rateable value, £2,911 ; the population in 1891 was 658.
[Extracts from Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
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[Last updated 16 March 2003 Martin Edwards]