Hughenden Valley
Encyclopedia
Hughenden Valley is an extensive village
and civil parish within Wycombe district in Buckinghamshire
, England
, just to the north of High Wycombe
. It is almost 8,000 acres (32 km²) in size, divided mainly between arable
and wooded land.
Hughenden parish was first mentioned in the Domesday Book
of 1086 and was called Huchedene, or Hugh's Valley in modern English. There are some however that argue the original name refers to the Anglo Saxon
man's name Huhha rather than the French
Hugh. At the time of the Domesday Book, the village was in the extensive estates of Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, who was the half brother of William the Conqueror.
There were many ancient manors within the parish border, and in addition to Odo, King Henry I of England
, King Henry VIII of England
, and Simon de Montfort
have all at one time owned property in the parish.
Benjamin Disraeli
(later Earl of Beaconsfield) lived at Hughenden Manor
, a Georgian
mansion, altered by the Disraelis when they purchased it in 1848. The manor sits on the brow of the hill to the west of the main road that links Hughenden to High Wycombe. The Earl, who died in 1881 was buried in a vault beneath the church, accessed from the churchyard. The church contains a memorial to the Earl erected by Queen Victoria
: the only instance a reigning monarch has ever erected a memorial to a subject. The Manor House was given to the National Trust
in 1947, and the trust also own woodland around here as well.
In the 18th century the parish church was one of few in the whole of England where marriages could take place without either the bride or groom residing in the parish. Hughenden became infamous locally as a place of clandestine marriages, and is referred to extensively as such in local records.
, and there is a village hall here too where groups such as karate, cubs, brownies, beavers, old people's groups, art club and toddler groups meet.
Also in the village is the Broomwade sports club.It includes a bowls green three tennis courts a senior football pitch/cricket green.
school and so has links with the local church.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish within Wycombe district in Buckinghamshire
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....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, just to the north of High Wycombe
High Wycombe
High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
. It is almost 8,000 acres (32 km²) in size, divided mainly between arable
Arable land
In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...
and wooded land.
Hughenden parish was first mentioned 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...
of 1086 and was called Huchedene, or Hugh's Valley in modern English. There are some however that argue the original name refers to the Anglo Saxon
Old 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...
man's name Huhha rather than the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
Hugh. At the time of the Domesday Book, the village was in the extensive estates of Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, who was the half brother of William the Conqueror.
There were many ancient manors within the parish border, and in addition to Odo, King Henry I of England
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
, King Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
, and Simon de Montfort
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, 1st Earl of Chester , sometimes referred to as Simon V de Montfort to distinguish him from other Simon de Montforts, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman. He led the barons' rebellion against King Henry III of England during the Second Barons' War of 1263-4, and...
have all at one time owned property in the parish.
Benjamin Disraeli
Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield
Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, KG, PC, FRS, was a British Prime Minister, parliamentarian, Conservative statesman and literary figure. Starting from comparatively humble origins, he served in government for three decades, twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom...
(later Earl of Beaconsfield) lived at Hughenden Manor
Hughenden Manor
Hughenden Manor is a red brick Victorian mansion, located in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England. In the 19th century, it was the country house of the Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli...
, a Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
mansion, altered by the Disraelis when they purchased it in 1848. The manor sits on the brow of the hill to the west of the main road that links Hughenden to High Wycombe. The Earl, who died in 1881 was buried in a vault beneath the church, accessed from the churchyard. The church contains a memorial to the Earl erected by Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
: the only instance a reigning monarch has ever erected a memorial to a subject. The Manor House was given to the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
in 1947, and the trust also own woodland around here as well.
In the 18th century the parish church was one of few in the whole of England where marriages could take place without either the bride or groom residing in the parish. Hughenden became infamous locally as a place of clandestine marriages, and is referred to extensively as such in local records.
Sport and recreation
Hughenden has a King George's Field in memorial to King George VGeorge V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
, and there is a village hall here too where groups such as karate, cubs, brownies, beavers, old people's groups, art club and toddler groups meet.
Also in the village is the Broomwade sports club.It includes a bowls green three tennis courts a senior football pitch/cricket green.
Events
- Hughenden Village Day (every two or three years)
- Christmas Dinner Dance
- Burns Night at Hughenden Primary School
- Bonfire Night at Hughenden Primary School (though this has now stopped)
Amenities and businesses
- A pub called The Harrow at the north end of the village.
- Deeter Electronics Ltd, which produces specialist electronics, on the site of the former petrol station and BMW garage.
- A Builder's Yard near the south end of the village.
- A Doctors Surgery in a new building on the corner of the junction going to Great KingshillGreat KingshillGreat Kingshill and Little Kingshill are small villages in the parishes of Hughenden and Little Missenden respectively in Buckinghamshire, England. They are located in the Chiltern Hills, about five miles west of Amersham and two and a half miles south of Great Missenden.The village name...
. - A Village Hall.
- A community-run shop adjacent to the Village Hall, which opened in May 2009.
- There used to be a Post office, but this has now closed and become a private house.
Schools
The village proper has one school – Hughenden Primary School which recently moved from being just a first school, (years reception to 2), but is now taking years reception to year 6. Children can also go to Great Kingshill Combined School which is a Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
school and so has links with the local church.
Hamlets
Hamlets in Hughenden parish include:- Great KingshillGreat KingshillGreat Kingshill and Little Kingshill are small villages in the parishes of Hughenden and Little Missenden respectively in Buckinghamshire, England. They are located in the Chiltern Hills, about five miles west of Amersham and two and a half miles south of Great Missenden.The village name...
- NaphillNaphillNaphill is a village in the parish of Hughenden Valley, in Buckinghamshire, England. It is north-west of Hughenden, on the ridge of one of the Chiltern Hills, and is adjacent to the village of Walter's Ash.The origin of its name is obscure...
- Walters AshWalters AshWalters Ash is a village in the parish of Bradenham, in Buckinghamshire, England. It is located in the Chiltern Hills, to the west of the main village, adjacent to Naphill. Between 1983 and 1985 there was a peace camp outside the RAF station which dominates the village...
- Widmer EndWidmer EndWidmer End is a hamlet in the parish of Hughenden, in Buckinghamshire, England.The Village of Widmer End is situated about three miles north of High Wycombe town centre...
- Four Ashes
- Cryers HillCryers HillCryers Hill is a hamlet in the parish of Hughenden and in Buckinghamshire, England. It was formerly known as Ravensmere ....