A long tradition of May Day celebrations and buildings from several centuries shape the historic view of Ickwell. The custom of Ickwell May Day was established by 1563; alongside it are listed houses built at different times and using different materials. The landscape can also be viewed from two perspectives: its geological origins and the low-lying position of the maypole. You can therefore plan culture, architecture and natural history as separate focuses of your stay.

May Day celebrations and procession

The custom of Ickwell May Day was already established by 1563. The Ickwell May Day Festival includes a procession of about 800 metres from the church in Northill to Ickwell Green; it still takes place today. Its starting point, destination and approximate length give the procession a concrete framework and make it a distinct part of the festival programme. For travellers interested in local customs, the longstanding historical connection comes together here with a clearly defined itinerary.

Parking and toilets are available at the May Day Arena during the event; there is also a disabled parking space near the arena. These event arrangements may change. If you plan to attend the festival, check the latest information in advance, especially if these facilities are important to your plans.

Listed houses and local history

The Old Smithy is a Grade II listed building dating from the 19th century, built of brick with coloured limewashed roughcast and a slate roof. 1 Ickwell Green is a Grade II listed timber-framed house dating from the 18th century, with plaster and a thatched roof. The two houses can be distinguished by their age and materials: brick, roughcast and slate at the Old Smithy, and timber framing, plaster and thatch at 1 Ickwell Green.

The building history of other buildings also spans several periods. The Old House on Ickwell Green has medieval origins and was altered in the 16th, 18th and 19th centuries. Ickwell Bury was built by John Harvey in 1683. The comparison shows two different patterns: a sequence of alterations at the Old House and a specific construction year for Ickwell Bury. The former enclosure of Ickwell Pound is now planted with trees and forms part of the Bury estate.

Landscape and circular walk

The Oxford Clay Formation is the underlying geology of Ickwell: a mudstone formation deposited in warm, shallow seas during the Jurassic period, 154 to 164 million years ago. The land at Ickwell Maypole is low-lying, at about 110 feet above sea level. These two details offer different scales for viewing the landscape: geological origins spanning millions of years and the specific elevation of a place by the maypole.

If you would like to explore the surrounding area on foot as well as learn about local history, the Old Warden Circular Walk leads through the countryside around Ickwell Green, Northill and Old Warden. Unlike the festival procession from Northill to Ickwell Green, the walk explores the surrounding area of these three places. Check trail conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Stotfold, Aspley Guise, Ampthill, Stagsden, Caddington, Milton Ernest, Elstow, Sandy

For the broader travel guide: Bedfordshire.