Edlesborough
| Edlesborough | |
| Buckinghamshire | |
|---|---|
 St Mary the Virgin parish church | |
| Location | |
| Location: | 51°51’55"N, 0°35’14"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 2,754 (2011) |
| Post town: | Dunstable |
| Postcode: | LU6 |
| Dialling code: | 01525 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Buckinghamshire |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Buckingham |
| Website: | Edlesborough Parish Council |
Edlesborough is a village in Buckinghamshire, on the border with Bedfordshire, across which lies the village of Eaton Bray, the two almost running into one another and sharing an ecclesiastical parish, Eaton Bray with Edlesborough, served by St Mary's in Eaton Bray. Dunstable is about three miles to the west.
The name 'Edlesborough' is derived from the Old English Eadwules beorg, meaning "Eadwulf's hill". The Domesday Book of 1086 records it as Eddinberge.
Parish church
The parish of Eaton Bray with Edlesborough is served by the church in the former, though Edlesborough too has a church, now redundant, of the same dedication, St Mary the Virgin. It is built on top of a tumulus or barrow, apparently that after which the village is named.[1]
In 1975 the ecclesiastical parish merged with that of Eaton Bray, St Mary's was declared redundant and since then it has been vested in the Churches Conservation Trust.[2]
The earliest parts of the church date from the 13th century. A chantry was added in 1338 and the tower in 1340. The closeness of these construction dates indicates how rich Edlesborough parish was at the time. Much of the church was altered in the 15th century, including the chantry, which has given the church a very 15th-century character. It has splendid arcades with intricately carved capitals, and a 13th-century font. The scrollwork hinges on the south door, 13th-century work, are much admired.
On 28 March 1824 the tower was struck by lightning, setting it on fire. The lead of the roof melted, and the molten lead set fire to everything it struck. Villagers fought the fire, which burnt for 12 hours until it was extinguished.
Furnishings
The 15th-century rood screen, pulpit with tester and timber roofs are all notable. In the 15th century six misericords were added to the choir stalls. These include carvings of a bat, a dragon and a mermaid. The misericord of the dragon also has some frog carvings for its supporters. There are some notable brasses.[3] A more modern addition is an Arts and Crafts movement two-light stained-glass window on the theme of the Nativity by Margaret E. Aldrich Rope.[4]
About the village
The village was once a centre for the straw plait industry. RAF Edlesborough was a radio station near Dagnall.
The village green has two football pitches, one enclosed tennis court and a cricket square. There is a small playing area for children.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Edlesborough) |
- Edlesborough Church
- Archives of the Incorporated Church Building Society. "Edlesborough, St. Mary the Virgin". churchplansonline.org. http://www.churchplansonline.org/retrieve_results.asp?search_args=x%3DEDLESBOROUGH%2C+St.+Mary+the+Virgin%7c%7c%3DEDLESBOROUGH%7cc%3DBuckinghamshire. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
References
- ↑ Friends of the Church on the Hill
- ↑ St Mary's Church, Edlesborough - Churches Conservation Trust
- ↑ Collins Pocket Guide to English Parish Churches: The South. Ed. John Betjeman (1968)
- ↑ Arthur, Rope. "List of works by Margaret Edith Rope ("Tor")". Margaret Agnes Rope, Margaret Edith Rope: Stained Glass Artists in the Arts & Crafts movement. http://www.arthur.rope.clara.net/torworks.htm#Bucks. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- Gróf, László (1988). Children of Straw -– The story of a Vanished Craft and Industry in Bucks, Herts, Beds and Essex. Southampton: Barracuda Books. ISBN 0-86023-290-5.
- A History of the County of Buckingham, Volume 3 – Victoria County History
- Pevsner, Nikolaus (1960). Buckinghamshire. The Buildings of England. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. pp. 114–115. ISBN 0-14-071019-1.
