Hambleden
Coordinates: 51°34′19″N 0°52′04″W / 51.571879°N 0.867897°W
| Hambleden | |
 Hambleden
Hambleden shown within Buckinghamshire |
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| Population | 1,413 [1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | SU784865 |
| Civil parish | Hambleden |
| District | Wycombe |
| Shire county | Buckinghamshire |
| Region | South East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Henley-on-Thames |
| Postcode district | RG9 |
| Dialling code | 01491 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Buckinghamshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Wycombe |
| List of places: UK • England • Buckinghamshire | |
Hambleden is a small village and civil parish within Wycombe district in the south of Buckinghamshire, England. It is about four miles west of Marlow, and about three miles north east of Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire.
The civil parish also includes the villages of Fingest and Frieth, and the hamlets of Colstrope, Mill End, Moor End, Parmoor, Pheasant's Hill and Skirmett.
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[edit] History
The village name is Anglo Saxon in origin, and means 'crooked or undulating valley'. It was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Hanbledene, though previously in 1015 it was known as Hamelan dene. St Thomas Cantilupe, the Lord Chancellor and Bishop of Hereford, was born in Hambleden in 1218. In 1315 a Royal charter was granted to hold a market in the village, and a fair on St Bartholomew's Day (August 24) every year. The charter was reconfirmed in 1321, though appears to have not lasted much longer than this.
The village was a base for USA soldiers during the build up to D-Day in 1944. http://www.life.com/gallery/61121/before-and-after-d-day-in-color#index/5 an image of the village in that year.
[edit] Village and church
The brick and flint cottages in the centre of the village conform to a similar design and have dormer windows topped with red tiles. St Mary's church dates from the 14th century and includes a conspicuous memorial to Cope D'Oyley (who died in 1633) and his family. The tower contains eight bells and the ceiling is quite intricately decorated in parts. The post office in the village serves also as the local shop and cafe.
[edit] Manor house
The Jacobean style manor house was built in 1603 of flint and stone. Charles I stayed there overnight in 1646 while fleeing from Oxford. Another notable building is the Old Rectory built in 1794.
[edit] Yewden villa excavation
A contested theory has been put forward that a military brothel might have formed part of the Yeweden villa site. [2]
[edit] Notable residents
Hambleden was the home village of William Henry Smith, founder (in 1821) of the book chain W H Smith, he died in 1891 and is buried in the new cemetery. Lord Cardigan, famous for his role in leading the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade, was born in the Manor House. The sea chest that he took to the Crimea can be seen in the church. Phil Vickery, Rugby Union London Wasps player and England 2003 World Cup Winner, lives in Hambleden[3]
[edit] Film location
The attractive village has often been used as a location for films, such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Dance with a Stranger and the opening scenes of the recent remake of The Avengers starring Ralph Fiennes and also some scenes in 101 Dalmatians. Hambleden was also used in the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers to depict Easy Company's training in England. Also, the Tim Burton film Sleepy Hollow, starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci, included a month-long location shoot at Lime Tree Valley, in Hambleden. The shops in the centre routinely put out facades that are more in keeping with a traditional country village and in some cases bear no resemblance to the business now being conducted within. In 1979 Hambleden church was the set for a programme featuring Harry Seacombe called Cross on the Donkey's Back ..It was an Easter programme by Thames Television and also featured a group of school children from Hambleden C of E School. The 2010 film Nanny McPhee Returns, also used parts of the village in some of their scenes.
[edit] Nearby places
1 mile to the south of the village at Mill End are Hambleden Mill and Hambleden Lock on the River Thames, which feature in Jerome K. Jerome's novel Three Men In A Boat.
[edit] References
- ^ Neighbourhood Statistics 2001 Census
- ^ BBC Baby deaths link to Roman 'brothel' in Buckinghamshire 25 June 2010
- ^ Index
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hambleden |
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