Broughton, Milton Keynes
Encyclopedia
Broughton is a historic village in North Buckinghamshire
that has been a constituent element of Milton Keynes
since the latter's designation in 1967; a civil parish; and modernly a suburb and new district of the 'city'.
and meant village by the brook. In the Domesday Book
, it is listed as owned by a Walter Giffard and the tenant was a Hugh de Bolbec. In the 6th century, its name was spelt Brotone, which is still its customary pronunciation. The original Northampton
to London turnpike
came through the village (to join Watling Street
[now the A5 road] near Woburn
). The current main route, the M1 motorway
, is very near and Junction 14 is barely half a mile away.
The Milton Keynes grid road
, Portway (H5), forms the district's northern boundary and Brickhill Street (V11) provides its western. The section of the old turnpike, once the A50
, is now part of the A5130
. The original route through centre of the old village, named 'London Road', was bypassed in the early 1970s, the newer route runs between it and the another MK district, Brook Furlong, and provides the eastern boundary. Finally, Chaffron Way (H7), provides the southern boundary: in mid 2009 this was extended to meet the A5130 and was opened to traffic in March 2010.
The district can be split into at least three areas. The original Broughton village forms part of a conservation area
at the northern end, bounded by the brook and the A5130. Broughton Atterbury is an area of new build housing, predominantly between the Eastern side of the brook and the V11 grid road: this area has recently been completed and is awaiting final road surfacing. Broughton Gate is a new area, part of the Milton Keynes Eastern Expansion area
and covers the area to the west of the brook. The iconic cable-stayed bridge
is one of two main road crossing across Broughton Brook, the third and newest is the newly completed H7 extension between Broughton and the neighboring district of Kingston.
in nearby Middleton. In addition, Broughton Manor Preparatory school is also situated near to the old village.
Broughton is within easy walking distance of the Milton Keynes park and ride
service to Central Milton Keynes
. The Kingston Shopping Centre, which includes one of the UK's largest Tesco stores, a McDonald's and a Dominos Pizza outlet, is nearby.
A site for a community playing fields has been also been identified between the old village and the primary school. The Broughton Brook linear park
stretches the length of the brook as it travels through the area. This provides recreation space for residents. In the North end of Broughton, there is considerable open space and a conservation area. Although the population of this area has grown considerably, this open space is underused and provides a quiet retreat.
's camera cars, some residents claimed that Google's streetview photographs of the village would encourage burglary.
, a Doom, St Helena and St Eligius, and St George slaying the Dragon.
The Rectors of St Lawrence are recorded from the end of 1261 to date, many may be interned within the grounds of St Lawrence.
will run through Broughton Brook
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
that has been a constituent element of Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
since the latter's designation in 1967; a civil parish; and modernly a suburb and new district of the 'city'.
History and Location
The name is Old EnglishOld English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
and meant village by the brook. In the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
, it is listed as owned by a Walter Giffard and the tenant was a Hugh de Bolbec. In the 6th century, its name was spelt Brotone, which is still its customary pronunciation. The original Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
to London turnpike
Turnpike trust
Turnpike trusts in the United Kingdom were bodies set up by individual Acts of Parliament, with powers to collect road tolls for maintaining the principal highways in Britain from the 17th but especially during the 18th and 19th centuries...
came through the village (to join Watling Street
Watling Street
Watling Street is the name given to an ancient trackway in England and Wales that was first used by the Britons mainly between the modern cities of Canterbury and St Albans. The Romans later paved the route, part of which is identified on the Antonine Itinerary as Iter III: "Item a Londinio ad...
[now the A5 road] near Woburn
Woburn, Bedfordshire
Woburn is a small Saxon village and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England. It is situated about southeast of the centre of Milton Keynes, and about south of junction 13 of the M1 motorway and is a popular tourist attraction.-History:...
). The current main route, the M1 motorway
M1 motorway
The M1 is a north–south motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where it joins the A1 near Aberford. While the M1 is considered to be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the United Kingdom, the first road to be built to motorway standard in the country was the...
, is very near and Junction 14 is barely half a mile away.
The Milton Keynes grid road
Milton Keynes grid road system
The Milton Keynes grid road system is a network of national speed limit, fully landscaped routes that form the top layer of the street hierarchy for both for private and public transport in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
, Portway (H5), forms the district's northern boundary and Brickhill Street (V11) provides its western. The section of the old turnpike, once the A50
A50 road
The A50 is a major trunk road in England. It runs from Warrington to Leicester; however, it was once a much longer route.-Current route:...
, is now part of the A5130
A5130 road
The A5130 is a road in the United Kingdom. It starts on a roundabout with the A509 near Junction 14 of the M1 motorway and proceeds south round the eastern edge of the original Milton Keynes designated area. After crossing the A421 the 5130 continues past the village of Wavendon. It then crosses...
. The original route through centre of the old village, named 'London Road', was bypassed in the early 1970s, the newer route runs between it and the another MK district, Brook Furlong, and provides the eastern boundary. Finally, Chaffron Way (H7), provides the southern boundary: in mid 2009 this was extended to meet the A5130 and was opened to traffic in March 2010.
The district can be split into at least three areas. The original Broughton village forms part of a conservation area
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
at the northern end, bounded by the brook and the A5130. Broughton Atterbury is an area of new build housing, predominantly between the Eastern side of the brook and the V11 grid road: this area has recently been completed and is awaiting final road surfacing. Broughton Gate is a new area, part of the Milton Keynes Eastern Expansion area
Expansion plans for Milton Keynes
In January 2004, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott announced the United Kingdom government's Expansion plans for Milton KeynesHe proposed that the population of Milton Keynes should double in the subsequent 20 years...
and covers the area to the west of the brook. The iconic cable-stayed bridge
Cable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
is one of two main road crossing across Broughton Brook, the third and newest is the newly completed H7 extension between Broughton and the neighboring district of Kingston.
Facilities
The facilities in the area include a "Hungry Horse" chain public house, and a range of small shops, hair dressers and convenience stores. Broughton Fields primary school serves the area, whilst secondary education is provided by Oakgrove SchoolOakgrove School
Oakgrove School is a specialist Humanities College in the Middleton district of south-east Milton Keynes.Oakgrove School opened in September 2005 with slightly more than 300 students, and currently has over 1000 students on roll in Years 7-12 due to the opening of the £15 million Sixth Form Centre...
in nearby Middleton. In addition, Broughton Manor Preparatory school is also situated near to the old village.
Broughton is within easy walking distance of the Milton Keynes park and ride
Park and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
service to Central Milton Keynes
Central Milton Keynes
Central Milton Keynes is the central business district of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England and a civil parish in its own right.The district is approximately 2.5 km long by 1 km wide and occupies some of the highest land in Milton Keynes...
. The Kingston Shopping Centre, which includes one of the UK's largest Tesco stores, a McDonald's and a Dominos Pizza outlet, is nearby.
A site for a community playing fields has been also been identified between the old village and the primary school. The Broughton Brook linear park
Linear park
A linear park is a park that is much longer than wide. It is often formed as a part of a rails-to-trails conversion of railroad beds to rail trail recreational use...
stretches the length of the brook as it travels through the area. This provides recreation space for residents. In the North end of Broughton, there is considerable open space and a conservation area. Although the population of this area has grown considerably, this open space is underused and provides a quiet retreat.
Google controversy
After a standoff between a number of residents and one of Google Street ViewGoogle Street View
Google Street View is a technology featured in Google Maps and Google Earth that provides panoramic views from various positions along many streets in the world...
's camera cars, some residents claimed that Google's streetview photographs of the village would encourage burglary.
Civil parish
Broughton has a joint parish council with Milton Keynes, known as Broughton and Milton Keynes Parish Council.St Lawrence 14th Century Church
St Lawrence's Church in Broughton is 14th-century church with a 15th-century tower. A series of wall paintings covering large parts of the north and south walls, discovered during an 1849 restoration, are the chief interest of the church. The paintings include a 14th-century PietàPietà
The Pietà is a subject in Christian art depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus, most often found in sculpture. As such, it is a particular form of the Lamentation of Christ, a scene from the Passion of Christ found in cycles of the Life of Christ...
, a Doom, St Helena and St Eligius, and St George slaying the Dragon.
The Rectors of St Lawrence are recorded from the end of 1261 to date, many may be interned within the grounds of St Lawrence.
Canal development
The planned new waterway (Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway) between Milton Keynes and BedfordBedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
will run through Broughton Brook
External links
- The website of the joint Broughton and Milton Keynes civil parish council.
- VisitChurches.org entry for St Lawrences.
- 'Parishes : Broughton' - Victoria History of the Counties of England, A History of the County of Buckingham: Volume 4 (1927), pp. 303–308.