Ampthill

Ampthill or Ammetelle as it is recorded in the Domesday Book, is situated in the centre of the county, nestling on the side of the wooded Greensand Ridge.
Small historic town with picturesque narrow streets lined with fine Georgian and Tudor architecture, and quaint antique shops. A cross marks the location of the town's 15th century castle.

The town became the favourite hunting seat of Henry VIII, and is recorded that Anne Boleyn came with the king to the castle in 1532.

The Methodist church is an imposing building opened in 1884 replacing an earlier church.

A sign in Oliver Street points to the ''Foundry" which was built in 1870 by William Whitehouse making mainly agricultural equipment and was demolished in 1970.

Four main roads meet at the Market Square where some of the shops have bowed front windows and an 18th century arcaded shop. Nearby is the pump, an obelisk of Portland stone a gift by Lord Ossory in 1785. It used to have a water trough with a cup on a chain.

Richard Nicolls was born in 1625 at Great Lodge where his father waskeeper, and entered the royal service at an early age. He went with the royalfamily to the continent and after Charles 's execution befriended his sonJames, Duke of York (later James II). In 1644 he received possession of NieuwAmsterdam in America fromthe Dutch and re-named it New York,where he remained as Governor for a few years. In 1672 he joined James II atthe Battle of Sole Bay where he was hit by a Dutch cannon ball and died shortlyafter. His memorial in the parish church commemorates his career and the cannonball that killed him.