LEIGHTON

See also:

• BUZZARD

BUZZARD  , a market town in the southern parliamentary division of Bedfordshire, England, 40 M . N.W. of London by the London & North-Western railway . Pop. of urban district (1901) 6331 . It lies in the flat valley of the Ouzel, a tributary of the Ouse, sheltered to east and west by low hills . The river here forms the county boundary with Buckinghamshire . The Grand Junction canal follows its course, and gives the town extensive water-communications . The church of All Saints is cruciform, with central tower and spire . It is mainly Early English, and a fine example of the style; but some of the windows including the nave clerestory, and the beautiful carved wooden roof, are Perpendicular . The west door has good early iron-work; and on one of the tower-arch pillars are some remarkable early carvings of jocular character, one of which represents a man assaulted by a woman with a ladle . The market cross is of the 14th century, much restored, having an open arcade supporting a pinnacle, with flying buttresses . The statues in its niches are modern, but the originals are placed on the exterior of the town hall . Leighton has a considerable agricultural trade, and some industry in straw-plaiting .

Across the Ouzel in Buckinghamshire, where Leighton railway station is situated, is the urban district of Linslade (pop . 2157) .