40-717: The River Misbourne rises in a field on the outskirts of Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire , passing through Little Missenden , Old Amersham , Chalfont St Giles , Chalfont St Peter and under the Chiltern railway line and the M25 motorway to its confluence with the River Colne just north of where the Colne is crossed by Western Avenue , the A40 road . It falls by around 94 m (310 ft) in
80-406: A ring of six bells. John Rufford of Toddington, Bedfordshire cast the third bell in about 1380. The successor of John Danyell of London cast the fourth bell in about 1470. Joseph Carter of Reading, Berkshire cast the fifth bell in 1603. Ellis II and Henry III Knight of Reading cast the tenor bell in 1663. John Warner & Sons of Cripplegate , London cast the second bell in 1881. That made
120-410: A "timber framed 2 storey C16 with modern cement infill". Missenden House, a red and grey brick building, has been Grade II listed since 1958 as Missenden House, Trout Hollow and East Wing. The listing indicates that it was completed in 1729, with an east wing added in the 19th century. Little Missenden Abbey is a Tudor Revival mansion, Grade II listed since 1987, as a "country house on the site of
160-626: A London Zone. The village is overlooked by the medieval Church of England parish church, the Church of St Peter and St Paul , whereas the High Street itself is home to the Catholic Church of The Immaculate Heart of Mary, one of the largest Catholic churches in the Chiltern District. The position of the parish church away from the town centre suggests an earlier settlement around the church with
200-400: A fire that occurred in 1985. A history of the community, published in 1908, offers this description of it in that era: The village consists of a few small houses of the 18th century, of brick and rough-cast, and some cottages. Of late a number of week-end cottages have been erected in the parish. The manor house has some remains of 17th-century work, but was modernized in the early part of
240-415: A hypothetical Anglo-Saxon personal name Myrsa , which they also supposed to be found in the name of Mursley . Eilert Ekwall suggested that the name Missenden came from a lost Old English word related to English moss , and to Danish mysse and Swedish missne (which denote plants of the genus Calla , such as water arum). Recent researchers have tentatively preferred Ekwall's guess, in which case
280-506: A hypothetical Anglo-Saxon personal name Myrsa , which they also supposed to be found in the name of Mursley . Eilert Ekwall suggested that it came from a lost Old English word related to English moss , and to Danish mysse and Swedish missne (which denote plants of the genus Calla , such as water arum). Recent researchers have tentatively preferred Ekwall's guess, in which case the name Misbourne would once have meant something like 'river where water-plants/marsh-plants grow'. In 1906
320-613: A large Saint Christopher in the customary position opposite the south door. Also 13th-century are the paintings of the Martyrdom of St Catherine , Passion of Christ , Crucifixion of Christ , and Archangel Gabriel . There are also 14th-century paintings of the Nativity of Christ and Christ in Majesty , and a 15th-century painting of the Seven deadly sins . The wall paintings were whitewashed in
360-610: A major route between the Midlands and London. Several coaching inns , particularly the Red Lion (now an estate agency) and The George (with new owners), provided rest and refreshment for travellers and their horses. The first railway line in the area was, however, routed alongside the Grand Union Canal to the east. Once the coaches stopped running Great Missenden declined in importance and prosperity, becoming an agricultural town. Following
400-525: A medieval Augustinian Abbey ... founded in 1133". The listing indicates that the abbey was modified into a mansion ca.1600, when it was owned by the Fleetwood family. Additional modifications were made when subsequent owners acquired the property in 1787 (James Oldham) and in 1815 (John Ayton). In the 21st century, the mansion was being used as a conference and training facility, and as a wedding venue, after an extensive renovation completed in 1988, necessitated by
440-654: A move of the village's heart to its present location in the early Middle Ages . In the twelfth century Great Missenden was granted a charter allowing it to hold an annual Fair in August. Missenden Abbey , founded in 1133 as an Augustinian monastery, was ruined following the Dissolution of the Monasteries , and the remains were incorporated into a Georgian mansion which is now a conference centre. Gipsy House in Great Missenden
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#1732848901047480-483: A porous substrate. This state is only quasi-stable since in periods of low rainfall the water table drops below the level of the impermeable layer. If groundworks are then carried out which damage this layer, the river can sink into the porous substrate and disappear. The Misbourne has had intermittently reduced or stopped-flow due to abstraction for domestic supply from the aquifers feeding it. This has caused its course to be neglected to lead to partial obstruction. When
520-611: A recurring nightmare. At the 2001 UK census, the Great Missenden electoral ward had a population of 2,192. The ethnicity was 98.1% white, 0.7% mixed race, 0.5% Asian, 0.5% black and 0.2% other. The place of birth of residents was 90.6% United Kingdom, 1.5% Republic of Ireland, 2.8% other Western European countries, and 5.1% elsewhere. Religion was recorded as 77.7% Christian, 0% Buddhist, 0.2% Hindu, 0.1% Sikh, 0% Jewish, and 0.1% Muslim. 14.2% were recorded as having no religion, 0.3% had an alternative religion and 7.4% did not state their religion. The economic activity of residents aged 16–74
560-487: A ring of five until 1948, when Mears and Stainbank of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry cast the present treble bell. The village has been used in many films and television programmes over the years, particularly as one of the more frequent ITV Midsomer Murders filming locations. "Missenden Murders" was considered as a possible title for the series. The Red Lion pub has appeared in three episodes. A house in
600-400: Is 10th-century Saxon , built about AD 975. Its plain chancel arch is also Saxon and its imposts are re-used Roman bricks . The aisles , with their Norman arcades , were added in the 12th century: the south first, and the north slightly later. The Aylesbury-style font is also 12th century. The chancel is now Early English, having been rebuilt in the 13th century. The north chapel
640-575: Is an affluent village and civil parish in the Misbourne Valley in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire , England, situated between the towns of Amersham and Wendover . It adjoins the village of Little Kingshill , and is a mile from Little Missenden and the village of Prestwood . The narrow and historic High Street is bypassed by the main A413 London to Aylesbury Road. It is located in
680-647: Is first attested in the Domesday Book as Missedene , with other early attestations including the spellings Messedena and Musindone . The -den element probably comes from Old English denu , meaning "valley", but the etymology of the first element is uncertain. It is thought to occur in the name of the River Misbourne , which rises in Great Missenden, and also in the Hertfordshire place-name Miswell . Frank Stenton and Allen Mawer guessed that it came from
720-536: Is within the Chesham and Amersham parliamentary constituency, represented since 2020 by Sarah Green , (Liberal Democrat). [REDACTED] Media related to Great Missenden at Wikimedia Commons Little Missenden Little Missenden is a village and civil parish on the River Misbourne in Buckinghamshire , England. It is in the Chiltern Hills , about 3 miles (5 km) southeast of Great Missenden and 3 miles (5 km) west of Amersham . The village lies on
760-709: The Great Western Railway (GWR) constructed the Chalfont Viaduct to carry trains between London and High Wycombe across the river. In the mid-1980s, when the M25 was being constructed, the Misbourne was diverted under the motorway via underground concrete culverts . The route of the motorway was then aligned to pass through the arches of the Chalfont Viaduct. The river flows over a bed of impermeable material on top of
800-463: The River Misbourne in the Misbourne valley. The parish includes the villages of Holmer Green , Hyde Heath and Little Kingshill , and the hamlets of Beamond End , Brays Green, Mop End and Spurlands End . The 2011 Census recorded the population of the ward of Little Missenden, which includes Hyde Heath and Little Kingshill, as 2,234, albeit those other two villages in the ward are each larger than Little Missenden itself. The population of
840-700: The manor of Holmer, whence the hamlet of Holmer Green arose. The manor of Mantle was half a hide and was held by the Mantle family.. Another half-hide in Little Missenden had been held by Wulfwig , Bishop of Dorchester , but by 1086 was held by Hugh de Bolebec. By the early 14th century a fourth manor, Beamond, had emerged, probably from part of the Mortains' manor. It was held by the Augustinian Bicester priory until 1536, when it surrendered its estates to
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#1732848901047880-465: The 16th century in the English Reformation . In 1931 they were rediscovered and Prof. EW Tristram was called in to uncover and restore them. One painting eluded Tristram: A Doom painting in the customary position over the chancel arch at the east end of the nave. In 2017 traces of a 14th-century Doom were finally discovered, over the chancel arch, hidden behind old plaster. The west tower has
920-813: The 19th century and later. The house called 'Little Missenden Abbey,' the residence of Mr. E. Callard, possibly incorporates the remains of an old house. The Church of England parish church of St John the Baptist is a flint building with limestone dressings. It has been Grade I listed since 1958. The listing includes this information: C10 or C11 Anglo-Saxon core, C12 arcades, early English chancel, early C14 north chapel, C15 timber framed porch and west tower. Exterior of south aisle brick, C18. Flint with limestone dressings, some roughcast. Old tile roofs, aisles lead roofed. Modern vestry to north in C18 style, roughcast, hipped tiled roof ... Other sources provide more specifics. The nave
960-512: The Crown in the Dissolution of the Monasteries . Its name survives in Beamond End. The current Little Missenden Manor house originated in the 16th century as a late medieval timber-framed hall house . In the 17th century it was extended in red brick, and retains gables and a staircase from that period. The house was refaced in the 18th century. The Manor House has been Grade II listed since 1958 as
1000-516: The Dead , that "I lived in Great Missenden in those days and commuted to Marylebone station". The village is home to the private Gateway School, Great Missenden Combined School and The Misbourne secondary school . Many children attend the local grammar schools in nearby Amersham, Chesham, Little Chalfont and High Wycombe, as well as leading local preparatory schools such as Chesham Prep, which consistently makes The Tatler list of Best Prep Schools in
1040-445: The UK. Given its quaint and historic high street, the village has been used extensively as a filming location for TV drama Midsomer Murders . During 1980, Hammer Film Productions filmed a small series of horror films for television, many of them filmed in and around Great Missenden. Of note is the episode " Rude Awakening " starring Denholm Elliott who plays an Estate Agent trapped in
1080-585: The arrival of the Metropolitan Railway , (later the London Underground 's Metropolitan line ) in 1892. Great Missenden became a village where writers, entertainers and even Prime Ministers resided. Great Missenden railway station is now on the Chiltern Railways line and offers fast connecting services running into London Marylebone ; it is the first station on the line that does not fall into
1120-589: The centre of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . The source of the Misbourne is to be found just north of the village, although the upper reach of the river runs only in winter and the perennial head is in Little Missenden . The village is now best known as home to the late Roald Dahl , the world-famous adult and children's author. The name Missenden is first attested in the Domesday Book as Missedene , with other early attestations including
1160-494: The course of its 27 km (17 miles) length. The name Misbourne is first attested, in the form Misseburne , in 1407. The -bourne element is agreed to derive from Old English burna ('stream, river'), but the etymology of the first element is uncertain. It is thought to occur in the names of both Great and Little Missenden , and also in the Tring place-name Miswell . Frank Stenton and Allen Mawer guessed that it came from
1200-461: The entire parish was estimated as 6,490 in 2017, reflecting the inclusion of the much larger Holmer Green within the parish. The main London – Aylesbury road used to run through the centre of Little Missenden and past the two pubs – The Red Lion and The Crown. Early in the 19th century a new by-pass road was built to the north and this now forms part of the modern A413 road . The name Missenden
1240-585: The name Missenden would once have meant something like "valley where water-plants/marsh-plants grow". The Domesday Book of 1086 records Missedene without distinguishing the two villages, but three manors of Little Missenden are identifiable as having existed by the reign of King Edward the Confessor (1042–66). William the Conqueror granted one hide of land around what is now Town Farm to his half-brother Robert, Count of Mortain . After Domesday it evolved as
River Misbourne - Misplaced Pages Continue
1280-457: The name of Mursley . Eilert Ekwall suggested that the name Missenden came from a lost Old English word related to English moss , and to Danish mysse and Swedish missne (which denote plants of the genus Calla , such as water arum). Recent researchers have tentatively preferred Ekwall's guess, in which case the name Missenden would once have meant something like "valley where water-plants/marsh-plants grow". Great Missenden lay on
1320-473: The spellings Messedena and Musindone . The -den element probably comes from Old English denu , meaning "valley", but the etymology of the first element is uncertain. It is thought to occur in the name of the River Misbourne , which rises in Great Missenden, and also in the Hertfordshire place-name Miswell . Frank Stenton and Allen Mawer guessed that it came from a hypothetical Anglo-Saxon personal name Myrsa , which they also supposed to be found in
1360-574: The village was used for long shots of the home of Barnes Wallis in The Dam Busters (his real house was in Effingham, Surrey ). Little Missenden became the village of Blandley in the 1963 film Nurse on Wheels by Gerald Thomas and Peter Rodgers . Little Missenden hosts comedy and arts festivals. The children of Little Missenden primary school performed the premiere of John Tavener 's Celtic Requiem in 1970 and continue to perform annually at
1400-501: The ward had a relatively high proportion of workers in agriculture and real estate. There were a relatively low proportion in public administration, transport and communications. Of the ward's residents aged 16–74, 35.8% had a higher education qualification or the equivalent, compared with 19.9% nationwide. There are two tiers of local government covering Great Missenden, at parish and unitary authority level: Great Missenden Parish Council and Buckinghamshire Council . Great Missenden
1440-620: The water company undertook remedial measures to restore the flow, there were episodes of flooding in both Chalfont St Peter and Chalfont St Giles. Subsequent work has restored the integrity of the course. The upper part of the river was dry for over 3 years starting in November 2003 but re-appeared in February 2007 following several months of above-average rainfall which raised the water table. [REDACTED] Media related to River Misbourne at Wikimedia Commons Great Missenden Great Missenden
1480-517: The writer of famous works such as Treasure Island and the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde , stayed a night at The Red Lion, now 62 High Street, in Great Missenden in October 1874, which he wrote in an essay called "An Autumn Effect". The espionage novelist David Cornwell, who wrote as John le Carré , noted in a posthumously published introduction to a 2021 reissue of his first novel, Call for
1520-617: Was 35.7% in full-time employment, 11.3% in part-time employment, 14.9% self-employed, 1.9% unemployed, 1.9% students with jobs, 3.8% students without jobs, 19% retired, 8% looking after home or family, 2% permanently sick or disabled and 1.6% economically inactive for other reasons. The industry of employment of residents was 13.3% retail, 11.6% manufacturing, 5.5% construction, 24.1% real estate, 9.7% health and social work, 8.8% education, 4.7% transport and communications, 3.6% public administration, 4.2% hotels and restaurants, 4.3% finance, 1.9% agriculture and 8.3% other. Compared with national figures,
1560-418: Was added early in the 14th century. The west tower and timber-framed south porch are 15th-century. The exterior of the south aisle was rebuilt in brick in the 18th century. On the north side of the church is a modern vestry designed in 18th-century style by Quinlan Terry . The church is a Grade I listed building . Inside the nave are several Mediæval wall paintings . Most are 13th-century, including
1600-473: Was the home of author Roald Dahl from 1954 until his death in 1990, and still remains in the family, and many local scenes and characters are reflected in his work. Dahl is buried at St. Peter and St. Paul's Church and children still leave toys and flowers at his grave. In June 2005 the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre opened in Great Missenden to honour the work of Dahl. Robert Louis Stevenson ,
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