Shortstown

Coordinates: 52°07′00″N 0°26′00″W / 52.116667°N 0.433333°W / 52.116667; -0.433333

Shortstown is a village on the outskirts of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.

Before Shortstown was built, a windmill stood on the site from the 13th century to the 16th century, and in the 17th and 18th centuries the area was known as Windmill Hill.

The village was originally built by Short Brothers for its workers, but evolved into a settlement for people working at the RAF Cardington base.

The population of Shortstown is 2,401 (as of 2011) There is a social club, two convenience stores, a food bar, A pharmacy and a school named Shortstown Primary School.

Shortstown started with the establishment of the Airship Works in 1917, when housing for the workforce was built next to the airfield. In 1918 and 1927, sheds (later Grade II* listed buildings) were built for the R100 and R101 airships which then represented the latest passenger flight technology.

Shorts Building and Airship Sheds

The main Shorts Building was built next to what is now the A600 road was a hotel for air passengers, but was never completed because of the demise of the airship as a mode of passenger transport following the loss of the R101 in October 1930. Later the building was used by RAF Cardington for teaching and administration and as an officers' mess.