Dunstable Yesteryear - How Bison Hill gained its name.
A herd of American bison was once a familiar sight for motorists and cyclists travelling along the steep road from Whipsnade towards Eaton Bray and Totternhoe.
The animals roamed a large paddock at Whipsnade Zoo, on top of the hills overlooking the plain towards Dagnall and Leighton Buzzard. They were readily visible to passers-by and became such a notable feature of the local landscape that this section of the road became known as Bison Hill. The name has stuck even though a herd is no longer kept there.
The bison are called buffaloes in the USA where they were once a common sight on the western plains and were hunted by Native Americans for their meat and skins.
Visible in the distance of the photo is the white face of a small quarry where, it is said, locals once obtained buckets of chalk to improve the growth of vegetables in their gardens. The cliff face is overgrown today.
Yesteryear is compiled by John Buckledee, chairman of Dunstable and District Local History Society.