Edgcott

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Edgcott
Buckinghamshire
Edgcott(AndrewSmith)Mar2006.jpg
Edgcott
Location
Grid reference: SP6722
Location: 51°53’46"N, 1°1’1"W
Data
Population: 256  (2011[1])
Post town: Aylesbury
Postcode: HP18
Dialling code: 01296
Local Government
Council: Buckinghamshire
Parliamentary
constituency:
Buckingham

Edgcott is a village and parish in the Buckingham Hundred of Buckinghamshire, about eight miles east of Bicester in neighbouring Oxfordshire.

The village name is derived from the Old English for "oak cottage". In the Domesday Book of 1086 it is recorded as Achecote, "æcen" (from which the word "acorn" is derived) being the Old English word for oak.

The village also has the HM Prison Grendon located nearby.[2]

History

In 1807 Edgcott was described as:
The property is divided among a few. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Oxford.The church is old but good. There is an Independent chapel.[3]

The manor of Edgcott was once owned by the physician and poet Sir Samuel Garth.

St Michael's Church

The Church dates back to the 12th century, with many rebuilding and restorations occurring through the years. Main restorations took place in 1604 and 1875. The building was added to gradually; in the 12th century the nave and chancel were built, and then in the 15th century the west steeple was constructed. The vestry was added in the 1875 restorations. [4]

St Michael's is a listed building under the Planning Act of 1990 due to its architectural and historic features.[5]

Parish Council

There is an active parish council in Edgcott, meeting every six weeks in the evening. Meetings are held in the village hall, with the current chairman being Peter Harper. They contribute to decisions ranging from planning permission to extend a property, to fundraising for the local community.[6]

HM Prison Grendon

This institution was opened in 1962 but was originally an experimental psychiatric prison, which dealt with prisoners with antisocial personality disorders.

It changed to operate as a normal prison since opening, with it being able to accommodate 238 inmates in Category B security conditions, however it still offers therapeutic care to offenders. Inmates must be over 21 years of age to be eligible of residence in the prison, as well as other requirements such as committing to be drug-free and work to change their ways. The governor as of 2016 is Jamie Bennett.[7]

References

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