Deanshanger
| Deanshanger | |
| Northamptonshire | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SP7639 |
| Location: | 52°2’50"N, -0°53’34"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 3,877 |
| Post town: | Milton Keynes |
| Postcode: | MK19 |
| Dialling code: | 01908 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | West Northamptonshire |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
South Northamptonshire |
Deanshanger, pronounced deans-hanger, is a village and parish in Northamptonshire, close to the border with Buckinghamshire.
History
Deanshanger used to be called Daneshanger, "Shanger" being an old English word, meaning a clearing in the woods - hence Daneshanger was a clearing in the woods where the Danes lived.[1]
The original population centre of the parish was the hamlet of Passenham. However, from the late 18th century the coming of the Grand Union Canal to the east made Deanshanger an agricultural industrial centre causing it to grow quickly. This growth accelerated with the building of the London and Birmingham Railway in the first half of the 19th century which passed through the nearby villages of Wolverton, Bletchley and Roade.
After a fall out with Henry II in AD 1170, Thomas Becket is said to have sought refuge in the Gilbertine Monastery in Deanshanger (or Dinneshangra as it was then known). Although disguised as a peasant, he was nevertheless recognised by a farm labourer. At the time the only water supply in the village was foul and brackish, and having heard of the miracle that Becket was said to have performed at nearby Northampton, the farm labourer pleaded with Becket to repeat the performance. Becket is said to have looked towards Heaven, struck the ground with his staff, and immediately a fresh spring appeared. This is one of 703 miracles that is said to have led to his canonisation.[2]
The school, a sports college, merged with former Roade school in September 2011.[3] The merged school was renamed Elizabeth Woodville School. Woodville was born in Grafton Regis which is halfway between the two schools and was Queen consort of King Edward IV.[4]
Industry
From the 1820s, the main industry in the village was an iron foundry and later an iron oxide works (making pigment for paint).[5] This gave some of the surrounding area a red colouration from the oxide dust. However, in 1999, the works closed and was demolished. By 2008, most of the works land has been replaced by the construction of several new housing estates. Extensive remedial work was needed to reverse the harmful effects of the previous industrial use of the site there are still signs of the red stained oxide all around the village. Some land has designated for light industrial use.
Amenities
The village has village hall and community centre (extended in 2008) to provide a venue for events and facilities for community groups, a doctor's surgery and a library. Other amenities include a primary school,[6] a secondary school, Kingsbrook School became Elizabeth Woodville School in 2011 when it merged[3] with Roade Sports College[7] and is now split over two sites. The Deanshanger grounds include the site of a Roman villa.[8] The merged school has been renamed Elizabeth Woodville School. Woodville was born in Grafton Regis which is halfway between the two schools and was Queen consort of King Edward IV.
There is a parish church (Holy Trinity, Church of England) and a Methodist chapel, a post office, a pub and two members' clubs (sports and social, Conservative club[9]), a pharmacy, a hairdresser, a pizza takeaway, a Chinese and fish and chips takeaway, a mobile takeaway, and other village stores and newsagent's shops including a greengrocers. In December 2015, The Co-operative Food opened a store on the High Street, where The Fox & Hounds Public House was situated, previously planned to be a Morrisons. The store has an in store bakery, fresh meat, produce, frozen foods and groceries as well as beers, wines, spirits, cash machine and a Costa Coffee machine. On the edge of the village on the A422 road, is a golf and country club, a hotel, a Thai restaurant and a petrol and service station.[10]
The village is home to Deanshanger Athletic Football Club, founded in 1946. The club consists of two men's teams (First and Reserves) who play in the North Bucks & District Football League, and an under 18's team, competing in the Milton Keynes Youth Football League.[11]
For children, there is a pre-school playgroup, youth club, and junior football club.[12]
The village's annual event is a revival of the historic Feast[13] held on a Saturday afternoon and evening in October each year. This includes a fun fair, stalls and firework show.
There is an active village heritage society that organises the Feast, the planting of spring flowers on the roads into the village in autumn, cleaning of the stream (King's Brook) in spring and carol singing in December.
The parish council office is the former primary school and redundant Baptist Chapel building renovated inn 2008-09.[14]
Transport
The local bus service runs hourly (between 07:00 and 18:00 Monday to Friday, 08:00 and 18:00 Saturday, no Sunday or Public Holiday services) Bus route 14[15] travels between Deanshanger, Stony Stratford, Old Stratford, Kiln Farm and Milton Keynes town centre and rail station. Certain timetabled buses on this route also travel to Wicken.
The nearest railway station is Wolverton for services to London Euston railway station, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Birmingham and north. Milton Keynes railway station (on the same line) is the nearest station to give access to fast trains to London (40 minutes), intercity and cross-country services. There are several private hire taxi services.
References
- ↑ "Bill Foddy's memories". Deanshanger.com. 2012-01-13. http://www.deanshanger.com/WFoddy.html. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
- ↑ David Saint. Most wanted man's miracle. Northampton Chronicle & Echo. 29 December 2008. Retrieved 8 November 2009
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Northampton Chronicle & Echo, 13 June 2011
- ↑ "Elizabeth Woodville School at the Northamptonshire County Council website". Northamptonshire.gov.uk. http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/en/councilservices/EducationandLearning/schoolsdir/Pages/schoolsdirectory.aspx?SchoolDetail=9284033%7cSecondary. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
- ↑ "Deanshanger community memory project". Clutch.open.ac.uk. http://clutch.open.ac.uk/schools/deanshanger99/pages/intro.html. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
- ↑ "Deanshanger Primary School". Deanshanger.ik.org. http://www.deanshanger.ik.org/. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
- ↑ "Roade School Sports College". Roadeschool.northants.sch.uk. http://www.roadeschool.northants.sch.uk. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
- ↑ "historical and archaeology review of Deanshanger and Passenham". Le.ac.uk. http://www.le.ac.uk/elh/whittlewood/deanshanger.htm. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
- ↑ "Deanshanger and District". Deanshanger.com. http://www.deanshanger.com/conclub.html. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
- ↑ "2001 sales promotion to highlight the taxes on petrol". Channel4.com. http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/news-story.jsp?news_id=2379&ref=archive#article. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
- ↑ "Deanshanger Athletic". Deanshanger Athletic. 2015-01-14. http://www.deanshangerathletic.co.uk/. Retrieved 2015-01-14.
- ↑ "Deanshanger Colts". Deanshanger Colts. 2011-12-19. http://www.deanshangercolts.co.uk/. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
- ↑ 2008 Feast report Buckingham News
- ↑ "Deanshanger Parish Council office address". Deanshanger.parishcouncil.net. http://www.deanshanger.parishcouncil.net/contact.php. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
- ↑ Milton Keynes Council (2011-10-17). "Bus route 89 information". Miltonkeynes.gov.uk. http://www.miltonkeynes.gov.uk/transport. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Deanshanger) |