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General
There does not appear to be any reference to Ravensden in the Domesday Book of 1086. Later the whole parish was owned by the barony of Bedford so it is likely that in 1086 it was included in the fief of Hugh de Beauchamp. The origin of the name is uncertain but it could mean ‘Raven valley’ or perhaps, ‘Hraefn’s valley’ from the Old English hraefn and denu (meaning valley).
Newnham Priory was founded in the parish in 1247 and was occupied by Austin canons from Bedford. After the Dissolution the estate of Newnham Priory was called Ravensden Manor. It seems to have been built on land bestowed by Nicolas de Ravensden who was clerk to the prior. Initially the land was seized by Henry VIII then was granted to John Gostwick in 1540.
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Blacksmith’s Arms
A young couple were locking up the Blacksmith’s Arms one night recently when they heard the sound of banging doors. They searched the building but there was no sign of anyone. An investigation by APIS on 18th June 2004 revealed sudden temperature drops and two of the team experienced a feeling of being pushed in the stomach.
The pub dates back many centuries and used to be part of the Ravensden Estate owned by the Wyles family.
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The Old White Lion
When Ray Close and Helen Britton purchased the Old White Lion it took a while between the purchase of the property and their actually taking up residence. Before moving in Helen picked a single pink rose which was the only one in bloom and left it in the house. A few months later Helen was interviewing a candidate for a job when they suddenly said that they could see the spirit of a woman who said she lived with Helen. The interviewee then went on to describe the cottage and even mentioned a picture that the previous owners had left behind, a copy of a late 1800s original showing the landlord, George Peacock, and his daughter Ada. Helen was also told that the spirit wanted to give her a pink rose from the cottage garden. Coincidentally the rose bush in the garden blooms with but a single pink flower on May 22nd, the birthday of Elizabeth Peacock, George’s wife.
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Thurleigh Road
On the road to Thurleigh from Ravensden, along Gray’s Hill, a ghostly coach, pulled by four ghostly horses, has been seen. The coach is said to drive from Wood End to Thrayles End Farm where the moat of an old manor is said to still exist.
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