In 1961 the parish had a population of 607.[1] In 2007, the population was estimated to be 2,510.[2] By the 2011 census the figure was 1,699.[3]
Mid Bedfordshire District Council moved to a new office building on a part of the former RAF Chicksands sportsfield, adjacent to the A507, having previously been based in offices at Ampthill and Biggleswade. The new office, named Priory House, was officially opened by the Queen on 17 November 2006 accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh.[4] The offices are now home to Central Bedfordshire Council.[5]
History
Chicksands is mentioned in the Domesday Book the entry reads: Chichesana/e: William de Cairon from Bishop of Lincoln; Three freemen and Walter from Azelina, Ralph Tailbois' wife (it is of her dowry). Mill.[6] It means "Cicca's sands", where Cicca is a personal name.[7]
Chicksands Priory, a monastic house built in 1150, is located within the grounds of the Joint Intelligence Training Group.[11] It is open to the public, by appointment only, on the 1st & 3rd Sunday afternoons, April–October.[12]
Chicksands Priory was formerly an extra-parochial tract,[13] from 1858 Chicksands Priory was a civil parish in its own right, it was later renamed to just "Chicksands", on 1 April 1985 the parish was abolished and merged with Campton to form "Campton & Chicksands".[14]