Biggleswade Transport Interchange public art

We have installed public art at Biggleswade Transport Interchange, which reflects local history. It’s called the Biggleswade Needle, but what does it represent?

Timeline text and image themes

12,000 – 10,000 BC - Stone Arrow Heads

Stone arrow heads from Palaeolithic period

Gold coin of Coenwulf

805-810AD - A unique gold coin of Coenwulf, Anglo-Saxon King of Mercia, East Anglia and Kent, discovered on Biggleswade Common.

Saxon times

Danes were defeated in a major conflict at Tempsford. A Saxon who lived by a ford who gave his name to the settlement and later to the Hundred of Biggleswade – Biceil – Anglo Saxon personal name; Waed – Saxon for ford. In 1066, the Saxon Archbishop of Canterbury held the manor of Biggleswade from the King.

Biggleswade 1227 Market Charter

Biggleswade is granted a market by King John (1199 – 1216). This was confirmed in 1227 by Henry III. Monday was market day. In 1724 Daniel Defoe wrote about Biggleswade ‘Good inns, pleasant place on Ivel, one of greatest barley markets in England but droves of cattle in winter made road repair difficult’.

"Great Fire" 1785 destroyed Biggleswade

The "Great Fire" in 1785 destroyed much of Biggleswade. A previous fire in 1604 also destroyed a great number of dwellings.

1850 Great Northern Railway

Great Northern Railway opened, and Biggleswade is the first town in Bedfordshire to have a mainline station. The competition from the railway caused the decline of the canal and coaching trades, but the railway gave a huge local boost to market gardening. Trucks of fresh vegetables arrived quickly at the London markets and returned with soot and horse manure to enrich the soil. In the 20th century this area became renowned for Brussels sprouts.

Biggleswade Market Garden 

A wide range of vegetables was traditionally grown in Biggleswade and surrounding areas, including carrots, onions, potatoes, parsnips, turnips, radishes, peas, beans, cabbage, and cucumbers. This now included marrows, beetroot, leeks, asparagus, spinach, lettuce, rhubarb, cauliflower, savoys, red cabbage for pickling, and brussels sprouts, as well as vegetables for seed. In addition, the sandy soils encouraged growers to specialise in early potatoes, carrots, and salad crops.

The Market Garden is used as a repetitive theme throughout the timeline of the Biggleswade Needle's images.

Ivel agricultural tractor

Prototype Ivel Agricultural Motor (first successful lightweight internal combustion engine farm tractor) designed and built by Dan Albone at his Ivel Works, Shortmead Street. The tractor went into production 1903 and was exported worldwide. A heritage plaque commemorating Dan is on a wall opposite the site of his works.

Biggleswade Green Wheel

2015 was the official opening and launch at Jordan’s Mill of the Biggleswade Green Wheel, a 7-mile circuit for walkers and cyclists passing through areas of landscape, heritage, and wildlife interest. We developed the project together with the Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity.

About the artist: Tim Ward – Circling the Square

Artist Tim Ward graduated from Goldsmiths’ College, London, in 1980 with a degree in Fine Art. Since then, Tim has worked extensively designing, managing and implementing public art projects and creative programmes within regeneration schemes.

Tim likes to explore the combination of various materials, including steelwork, photographic plates, glass, stone, mosaic and lighting, in producing his artwork. He believes art within public spaces should encourage and stimulate interaction with the world around us and evoke a sense of pride and wonder for the unique quality of the places we live, visit and work.

Tim founded Circling the Square in 2022 and leads the design and implementation of public art, street furniture and environmental projects. Previous work in Central Bedfordshire includes The Human Sundial at Stotfold and carved seats at Cranfield.

Tim is an elected member of the Art Workers Guild.