Roman remains were discovered in Shefford in the early nineteenth century.

The labouring-class poet Robert Bloomfield (the shoemaker poet) died in Shefford after his publishers 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 became insane.
In order to support himself he tried to carry on business as a bookseller but failed, and in his later years 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 the town in 1823.
 He was buried at Campton, as was usual for those dying in Shefford.

Between 1868 and 1974 Shefford was the site of St Francis' Boy's Home (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, which are seen on the right of the picture, have been turned into flats.
The orphanage buildings are the most imposing in the town 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 the period from 1962 to 1969.

During World War II an entire Jewish children's community came into being in Shefford as 500 pupils from Judith Grunfeld's school were billeted in and around the town.
The school was moved in 1939 and remained in Shefford until 1945.
This was part of "Operation Pied Piper" where schools were moved in anticipation of wartime bombing.
A book was written about this time, titled "Shefford: The Story of a Jewish School Community in Evacuation, 1939-1945", telling the story of the evacuated school.
Roman remains were discovered in Shefford in the early nineteenth century.
The labouring-class poet Robert Bloomfield (the shoemaker poet) died in Shefford after his publishers 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 became insane. In order to support himself he tried to carry on business as a bookseller but failed, and in his later years 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 the town in 1823.  He was buried at Campton, as was usual for those dying in Shefford.
Between 1868 and 1974 Shefford was the site of St Francis' Boy's Home (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, which are seen on the right of the picture, have been turned into flats. The orphanage buildings are the most imposing in the town 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 the period from 1962 to 1969.
During World War II an entire Jewish children's community came into being in Shefford as 500 pupils from Judith Grunfeld's school were billeted in and around the town. The school was moved in 1939 and remained in Shefford until 1945. This was part of "Operation Pied Piper" where schools were moved in anticipation of wartime bombing. A book was written about this time, titled "Shefford: The Story of a Jewish School Community in Evacuation, 1939-1945", telling the story of the evacuated school.
Shefford, Bedfordshire