Saunderton
| Saunderton | |
| Buckinghamshire | |
|---|---|
 SS Mary and Nicholas parish church | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SU8198 |
| Location: | 51°42’0"N, -0°51’0"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | High Wycombe |
| Postcode: | HP14 |
| Dialling code: | 01494 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Buckinghamshire |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Wycombe |
| Website: | Bledlow-cum-Saunderton |
Saunderton is a village and ancient parish in the Desborough Hundred of Buckinghamshire. It lies within the Saunderton Valley in the Chiltern Hills, about three and a half miles north-west of High Wycombe and about four and a half miles south of Princes Risborough. It is on the A4010 road, and is served by Saunderton railway station on the Chiltern Main Line. Since 1934 it has formed part of the civil parish of Bledlow-cum-Saunderton.
History
The toponym "Saunderton" is derived from Old English, but its original meaning is not clear. The Domesday Book of 1086 records it as Santesdune, leading some scholars to believe that the village name derives from "saint's hill".
In the 18th century a workhouse was founded in Saunderton, which in the Victorian era became the main workhouse for the Poor law union of High Wycombe. It became one of the most secure houses in the region and regular absconders from other workhouses were often moved here because of its remote location. Inmates were taken to the workhouse by a constable, but if they wanted to leave they had a long walk ahead of them.
Saunderton Estate is in the village. The building was constructed in 1959 and redeveloped in 1994 with the addition of two wings of two-storey offices.
Parish church
The Church of England parish church of SS Mary Nicholas was built in 1227 and originally dedicated solely to St Mary. But Saunderton had a second parish church, St Nicholas, that fell into decay. In 1452 St Nicholas' church was demolished, and St Mary's was given the double dedication to St Nicholas as well.[1]
In 1886 the church's walls began to lean inwards, so the church was largely dismantled in 1888 and rebuilt over the next three years.[1] Its 12th- or 13th-century font was reused and the 14th-century windows were restored and re-used. It is a Grade-II* listed building.[2]
The church has a small timber-framed bell tower. It has three bells, all of which the bellfounder Alexander Rigby of Stamford, Lincolnshire cast in 1699. For technical reasons they are currently unringable.[3]
SS Mary and Nicholas church is part of the ecclesiastical parish of Bledlow with Saunderton and Horsenden,[4] which in turn is part of the Benefice of Risborough.[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hall, Cynthia. "Saunderton, St Mary & St Nicholas". The Parish of Bledlow with Saunderton and Horsenden. http://www.bledlowparish.org.uk/Saunderton.htm. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ↑ National Heritage List 1332059: Church of St Mary (sic) (Grade II* listing)
- ↑ Davies, Peter (23 December 2006). "Saunderton SS Mary & Nicholas". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Central Council for Church Bell Ringers. http://dove.cccbr.org.uk/detail.php?searchString=Saunderton&Submit=+Go+&DoveID=SAUNDERTON. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ↑ Archbishops' Council. "Bledlow with Saunderton and Horsenden". A Church Near You. Church of England. http://www.achurchnearyou.com/parish/270598/. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ↑ Archbishops' Council. "Benefice of Risborough". A Church Near You. Church of England. http://www.achurchnearyou.com/benefice.php?B=27/420DT. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
Further reading
- Page, W.H., ed (1925). A History of the County of Bedford. Victoria County History. 3. Westminster: Archibald Constable & Co. pp. 92–95. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol3/pp92-95.
- Pevsner, Nikolau (1960). Buckinghamshire. The Buildings of England. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. pp. 231–232. ISBN 0-14-071019-1.
- RCHME, ed (1912). An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Buckinghamshire. 1, South. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. pp. 276–277. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/bucks/vol1/pp276-277.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Saunderton) |