The gold and red quarters derive from the arms of the Beauchamps, Constables of Bedford Castle, the leading family in the County after the Norman Conquest. The Beauchamp of 1215 was one of the promoters of Magna Carta, and their last male was killed at Evesham in 1265. The waves refer to the River Ouse, and the shells are from the arms of the Russells, Dukes of Bedford and commemorate their services to the State, the County and the Council.
The swan's head is a further reference to the Ouse.
The red lion derives from a similar supporter of the Russell arms, and the bull refers to the importance of agriculture in the County.
The motto is taken from the words of the hymn:
"Who would true valour see, let him come hither, One here will constant be, come wind, come weather"
by the famous Bedfordshire man, John Bunyan.

Bedfordshire County, England forms part of the East of England region. It borders Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. The motto is "Constant Be" and the county flower is the Bee Orchid.

Bedfordshire was first recorded in 1011 as Bedanfordscir which means "Beda's ford" (river crossing). Much of it lies within the low-lying valley of the Great Ouse River. It was historically divided int the nine 'hundreds' of Barford, Biggleswade, Clifton, Flitt, Manshead, Redbournestoke, Stodden, Willey, Wixamtree and norough of Bedford. In 1897 Kensworth and part of Cadington were transferred from Hertfordshire to Bedfordshire. Luton was a county brorogh from 1964 to 1974 and it has been a unitary authority since 1997.

Bedfordshire is not a major transport destination. However, it is on many of the main routes that link London to the Midlands and Northern England. Three of Enland's main railways pass through Bedfordshire: The West Coast Main Line, the East Coast Main Line and the Midland Main Line. Bedforshire is linked to the Fenland waterways by the River Great Ouse.

Castles & Abbeys in Bedfordshire

Someries Castle is located near Luton and was built in the 15th century by Sir John Wenlock. Even tho it is referred to as a castle it was actually a fortified manor house.

Near Woburn, the seat of the Duke of Bedford, sits Woburn Abbey. The Abbey was a half-demolished house in 1953.

Luton Hoo is a country house in Bedfordshire on the edge of Luton. "Hoo", a saxon word, means spur of a hill.

Near the town of Dunstable in Befordshire is the 9 1/2 acre Whipsnade Tree Catherdral and garden. The trees are planted in the approximate form of a cathedral.

MAPS & PHOTOS