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Glass Splashbacks | Kitchen Splashbacks | Bathroom Splashbacks | Glass Balustrades | Shefford, Bedfordshire

Based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, Splashbacks of Distinction have a real passion for toughened glass in and around the home. We have transformed many properties, both commercial and domestic with our glass splashbacks, for kitchens, bathrooms and living rooms. Our toughened glass balustrades, glass shelving and splashbacks with high resolution images have really caught the imagination of people who demand beauty and functionality in their homes and offices.

Based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, Splashbacks of Distinction have a real passion for toughened glass in and around the home. We have transformed many properties, both commercial and domestic with our glass splashbacks, for kitchens, bathrooms and living rooms. Our toughened glass balustrades, glass shelving and splashbacks with high resolution images have really caught the imagination of people who demand beauty and functionality in their homes and offices.

Roman remains in Shefford

Roman remains were discovered in Shefford in the early 19th century. Two sites that were discovered in Shefford may either be Iron Age or Roman. One of these is a cropmark south-east of Shefford itself. It is in the shape of a trapezoid, with a smaller enclosure attached and a separate oval enclosure lying to the south-west of it. The other is a cropmark south of Beal's Wood which is rectangular and marked by double ditches to the north and west.

In 1826 an early Roman burial ground was discovered whilst workmen were excavating gravel south of Shefford. It is believed to be that of a small cemetery, belonging to a wealthy family and surrounded by sandstone. However, the artefacts discovered in this site have led archaeologists to conclude that it may well have been a single, powerful Romanised Briton and not a Roman family. Goods included a good number of pottery and glass vessels, funnels, coins, an ivory musical instrument and an iron lamp stand. A Saxon burial site lay nearby, and was identified by a pair of sixth century brooches.

Near the burial were the remains of a building, thought to be a temple but it was more likely to have been an underground heating system for a Roman villa. A number of small archaeological excavations since the 1990s have found evidence for occupation from the Iron Age through to the 3rd or 4th century AD. Two large buildings have been found, one of which had aisles, painted wall plaster and mosaics.

Roman artefacts were discovered in Shefford in around 1836. A local man found silver and copper coins whilst ploughing only three of which were identifiable and belonged to the British usurper Allectus, dated 293-296 and the Emperor Constans, from 337-340. Two pottery vessels were also discovered, a vessel for wine or oil. These finds show that Shefford was indeed a Roman settlement.

The Shoemaker Poet of Shefford

The labouring-class poet Robert Bloomfield, also known as the shoemaker poet, died in Shefford after his publishers sadly went bankrupt and Bloomfield was forced to move from London into a cottage rented to him by a friend. In Shefford one of his daughters died in 1814 and his wife apparently lost her mind with grief, being deemed to be insane some time later. In order to support himself, the celebrated Shefford poet tried to carry on a business as a bookseller, sadly this never worked out for him. As the years rolled by, he was reduced to making Aeolian harps which he sold among his friends. With failing eyesight, his own reason threatened by depression, he died in great poverty in Shefford in 1823. He was buried at Campton, this was the burial ground for most Shefford residents.

The Aeolian Harp made in Shefford

The Aeolian harp made by Bloomfield at his Shefford home was also referred to as a wind harp. This is a rather strange looking musical instrument that is played by the wind. The device was named after Aeolus, the ancient Greek god of the wind, the traditional Aeolian harp is essentially a wooden box including a sounding board, with strings stretched lengthwise across two bridges. It is often placed in a slightly opened window where the wind can blow across the strings to produce sounds. The strings can be made of different materials, or thicknesses and all be tuned to the same pitch, or identical strings can be tuned to different pitches. Besides being the only string instrument played solely by the wind, the Aeolian harp is also the only string instrument that plays only harmonic frequencies. They produce an eerie, almost ghostly sound, which some people find soothing and calming.

Orphaned boys find Shefford refuge

Between 1868 and 1974 Shefford was the site of St Francis Boys Orphanage, that was situated on High Street next to the Roman Catholic Church dedicated to St Francis of Assisi. The church remains in use as a place of worship. The orphanage buildings have now been turned into modern flats.

The orphanage buildings are the most imposing in Shefford and date from the 1880s. Many files regarding the home can be found at the Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service at Borough Hall in Bedford. There are Home Office and Department for Education Inspection Reports available that cover this period in Shefford from 1962 to 1969.

World War Two in Shefford

During World War II an entire Jewish children's community came into being in Shefford as evacuees desperate to escape the horror of the Nazi regime in Europe, were billeted in and around the town as part of Operation Pied Piper.

In September 1939, as part of the government organised evacuation of children from London, a party of 500 Jewish children and staff from the Jewish Secondary School in Amhurst Park London were evacuated to Shefford. Many of these children were refugees who had recently arrived in Britain from Germany and Austria and did not speak any English. Also many of these refugee children had been forced to travel without their parents.

Although most of the children were billeted in Shefford others stayed in Campton, Clifton, Meppershall and Stotfold.

At first, the relationship between the two communities was tense. The people who provided foster homes for the children had no experience of the Jewish community and its laws and customs, in particular, Jewish dietary practices. So there was some disappointment when food which had been prepared as a welcome was left untouched by the children. Many viewed this as ungrateful, but this was never the case.

However over time the Shefford locals became familiar with the Jewish traditions and relationships between the Shefford towns folk and the evacuees improved. In fact, as time went by, the Shefford foster-parents came to consider the children as their own and respected them for remaining loyal to their own religious traditions in a strange environment. As the foster-parents became more familiar with Jewish traditions they were able to encourage their evacuees to observe them. Also the people from Shefford developed a warm relationship with the teachers and rabbis at the school.

The children stayed in Shefford until the end of the war, returning to London in August 1945.

Glass splash backs in Shefford

Splashbacks of Distinction can manufacture, supply and fit bespoke toughened glass shower screens and enclosures for you Shefford home. If you're fed up with a tatty looking shower curtain or an inadequate shop bought glass shower screen, why not allow us to offer you a bespoke solution.

Splashbacks of Distinction have been fitting glass splashbacks, shower screens and enclosures for a number of years and our prices cannot be beaten.

Splashbacks of Distinction are available to visit your Shefford, home to measure up and fit a quality glass splashback or one of our other toughened glass products. Glass is such a clean and modern medium for your home and you'd be surprised just how much glass can transform your home.

Splashbacks of Distinction supply the following splashback products in Shefford, Bedfordshire

• Glass kitchen splashbacks
• Glass kitchen splashback samples
• Glass kitchen splashbacks in many different colours
• Printed glass splashbacks
• Colour matched splashbacks
• Painted splashbacks

Splashbacks of Distinction also supply the following glass products in Shefford, Bedfordshire

• Stainless steel and glass Balustrades
• Glass shelves
• Coloured mirrors
• Toughened mirrors
• Decorative glass
• Glass hardware
• Glass worktops
• Glass shower cubicle
• Garden glass balustrades
• Glass staircases
• Glass table tops
• Satin glass
• Toughened glass
• Laminated glass
• Opaque glass

Splashbacks of Distinction also supply the following glass related services in Shefford, Bedfordshire

• Glass cut to size
• Mirrors cut to size while you wait
• Glass processing
• Glass supply and installation
• Supply only splashbacks
• A glass express service
• Template and fit

Only the finest quality from Splashbacks of Distinction

Splashbacks of Distinction ensure that only the finest quality toughened glass is used in all our products. We guarantee all of our work and are fully insured. We employ only trained and certified engineers. Splashbacks of Distinction never leave your property without ensuring you are totally satisfied with your beautiful new glass splashback, baluster, shelving or shower enclosure.

Further Information

If you would like to know more or are interested in a quote we would be happy to help. Phone us on 01920 830 084, email us at enquiries@splashbacksofdistinction.co.uk or fill in our enquiry form and we will be in touch as soon as possible.

Areas covered in Bedfordshire:

• Ampthill, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
• Bedford, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
• Biggleswade, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
• Dunstable, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
• Flitwick, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
• Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
• Kempston, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
• Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
• Luton, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
• Potton, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
• Sandy, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
• Stotfold, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops