Silsoe, Bedfordshire

Description
Silsoe, a village and a parish in Beds. The village stands 3 1/2 miles ESE of Ampthill, and 2 from Flitwick station on the M.R., was once a market-town, and has a post, money order, and telegraph office, under Ampthill, a hotel, and a fair on 13 May for cattle. The parish comprises 2158 acres; population, 589. There is a parish council consisting of six members. The manor, with Wrest Park, belongs to Earl Cowper. The mansion is a fine and spacious edifice in the Italian style, surrounded by extensive pleasure grounds, which were originally laid out by " Capability " Brown, under the Duke of Kent The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Ely; gross value, £250 with residence. Patron, Earl Cowper, K.G. The church, which was rebuilt in 1831, and enlarged and improved in 1884, is a building constructed of local red sandstone, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, and an embattled tower.