LEIGHTON BUZZARD, or BEAUCLESERT, a market-town of the hundred of Manshead, in the county of Bedford, forty-one miles from London. It is situated on a branch of the river Ouse, and has a good market-place, with a cross in the centre. The only trade is some lace-making, and some plaiting of straw. There is a good market, which is held on Tuesday. The population of the town amounted in 1801 to 1963, in 1811 to 2114, in 1821
to 2749, and in 1831 to 3330, but the whole parish at the last census contained 5149 inhabitants.