Flackwell Heath

Flackwell Heath
Flackwell Heath sign depicting the old village school
Population	5,900
OS grid reference	SU893899
Civil parish	Chepping Wycombe
District	Wycombe
Shire county	Buckinghamshire
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	HIGH WYCOMBE
Postcode district	HP10
Dialling code	01628
Police	Thames Valley
Fire	Buckinghamshire
Ambulance	South Central
UK Parliament	Beaconsfield

Flackwell Heath is a village in the civil parish of Chepping Wycombe on the outskirts of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire England. It is at an elevation of about 150m as it sits on the top of one of the Chiltern Hills. It has a population of around 6000.

History

The name 'Flackwell' is of dubious origin but may describe the source of a stream which once started in this area. The heath was once covered with cherry orchards, "a place of annual resort and festivity during the cherry season" with many cherry pickers travelling from London for the annual event. This is now commemorated in the name of a pub, the Carrington school emblem and in road names. The area covered by Flackwell Heath was once four villages; Flackwell Heath, North-End Woods, Heath End and Sedgemoor. However, housing developments, particularly post-1945, meant the four eventually formed one large village: Flackwell Heath. Today, the road names Northern Woods, Sedgemoor Road, Sedgemoor Lane and Heath End Road are still found in the village, perhaps suggesting that the "original Flackwell Heath" could be defined as being between Green Dragon Lane and Treadaway Road, encompassing Churchill Close, Chapman Lane, Chiltern View, Straight Bit, Links Road, Links Approach, The Fairway, Greenlands, Highlands, Jennings Field, Strathcona Close, Norlands Drive and The Common. However, this is simply estimation.

The original villagers were in the main farm workers, but some bargemen and mill workers also lived in the village. In the late 19th century, industrial mill workers became more commonplace in the village, and the first furniture makers and workers began to settle too, with Flackwell Heath's close proximity to High Wycombe - well known for the Chair and Furniture industry.

Amenities

The village has several shops, the Budgens supermarket being the largest of these. Flackwell Heath has many other shops including takeaway establishments. There are two Indian takeaways, Frackle Fryers, a fish and chips shop, and a Chinese takeaway. There are various convenience stores including Unit 4 and Fair Price Food And News, both of which stock newspapers, magazines and a selection of drinks and snacks. The village is also home to Express Videos, a DVD rental store.

Although Flackwell Heath previously had six public houses in the village, The Magpie has recently been demolished and The Green Man temporarily closed. The other four pubs are called The Cherry Tree, The Green Dragon, The Three Horseshoes and The Stag, and are found all in the space of just over a mile.

A golf course dating from the 1920s is located on the village outskirts. There is also a football club, who play at Wilkes Park. Other features of the village include a water tower, war memorial and recreation ground.

As of 28 July 2005 there was a new landmark in the village, a wind turbine situated in the playing field of Carrington Junior School. The turbine generates around a third of the school's energy.

Community

There is a Methodist Church and the recently extended Christ Church, which includes stained glass designed by Patrick Reyntiens. A community centre is situated in the village centre, and has notably been made use of for the Scout's 2006 Christmas Pantomime, "Treasure Island", the 2007 pantomime, "Robin Hood", "Cinderella" in 2008 and most recently, "Dick Whittington" in 2009. The Scout Pantomimes were "enjoyed by all". The Community Centre is also home to an 'indoor boot sale' has been held every Sunday during Winter for the past few years, attracting many to the village. It is also used as a polling station for general elections.

There is an annual firework display on the weekend nearest the 5th of November in the Carrington School Playing field, next to the 1st Flackwell Heath Scout's HQ (it was previously held on the recreation ground), which features two firework displays and several food and drink stores. A village Fête is held every year on the recreation ground has recently been revived as the 'Cherry Fayre'. Every year, this celebration has a different theme - one such theme being Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

There is a large wood (Fennels Wood), which runs alongside a large part of Flackwell Heath and consists mainly of Beech trees. It also has an area where people ride their bicycles, this is locally known as 'The Dells'. The wood hit the news in September 2006, as it was briefly closed off, due to a suspicious find relating to the transatlantic aircraft terrorist plot.

House prices are relatively high in Flackwell Heath due its closeness both to London and pleasant rural areas.

Education

There are three primary schools in the village, Juniper Hill, Carrington Junior School and Carrington Infant School. Flackwell Heath is also home to the Wycombe campus of Amersham & Wycombe College, based in Spring Lane in the buildings of the former secondary school. The village is also in the catchment area of several Grammar Schools, such as John Hampden Grammar School for boys and Wycombe High School for girls, which are both situated 3 miles from the centre of the village.

Transportation

The M40 from junction 3 to 4 runs through the middle of Fennels Wood. Flackwell Heath was once served by the High Wycombe to Bourne End railway line, via Loudwater railway station at the bottom of Treadaway Hill. The line and station was closed in 1970.

Carousel Buses operate a council contracted bus service from Flackwell Heath to the nearest town of High Wycombe. This service was launched in 2008 when a petition for its introduction received over 1,000 signatures following the withdrawal of a commercially operated Arriva Shires & Essex route.

External links

• Flackwell Heath
• Juniper Hill School
• Carrington Junior School
• Carrington Infant School
• 1st Flackwell Heath Scout Group