Buckingham
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| Buckingham | |
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| Population | 11,572 |
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| OS grid reference | |
| District | Aylesbury Vale |
| Shire county | Buckinghamshire |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BUCKINGHAM |
| Postcode district | MK18 |
| Dial code | 01280 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Buckinghamshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| UK Parliament | Buckingham |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| List of places: UK • England | |
Buckingham is a town situated in north Buckinghamshire approximately 10 miles from the border with Northamptonshire. The town has a population of 11,572 (2001 census).
Historically Buckingham was the county town of Buckinghamshire, it was declared county town in 888 by Alfred the Great. (Aylesbury took over this role in the 16th century). Buckingham has a variety of restaurants and pubs, typical of a small market town. It has a small number of local shops, both national and independent.
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[edit] Early History
In 7th century AD, Buckingham, literally "meadow of Bucca's people" is said to have been founded by Bucca, the leader of the first German settlers.[1] The first settlement was located around the top of a loop in the River Great Ouse, presently the Hunter Street campus of the University of Buckingham. Between the 7th and 11th Centuries, the town of Buckignham regularly changed hands between the Saxons and the Danes, in particular, in 914 King Edward the Elder and a Saxon army encamped in Buckingham for four weeks forcing local Danish leaders to surrender. Subsequently a fort was constructed at the location of the present Buckingham Parish Church.
The town received its charter in 1554 when Queen Mary created the free borough of Buckingham with boundaries extending from Thornborowe bridge to Dudley bridege and from Chackmore bridge to Padbury Mill bridge. The designated borough included a bailiff, twelve principal burgesses and a steward.[2]
[edit] Education
The town is home to the UK's first and only private university, the University of Buckingham. Unlike other UK universities, most of its students are from overseas.
Buckingham operates the selective/rejective system of state secondary education. The local state secondary schools are the Royal Latin School (a grammar school) and the Buckingham School (a secondary modern). Stowe School, just outside the town, is an independent school. There are three primary schools serving different areas of the town: Buckingham Primary School, Bourton Meadow School and Grenville Combined School.
[edit] Sport
There are two local football teams and a Rugby club. These are Buckingham Athletic F.C. based at Stratford Fields,Buckingham Town F.C. based at Ford Meadow and Buckingham Town Rugby Football club based at Floyd Field, Maids Moreton.
[edit] Saint Romwald
The town is said to be the final resting place of St Romwald a little known Saxon saint and the grandson of Penda King of Mercia; the parish church at Strixton (Northants) is dedicated to him and the small northern town of Romaldkirk is also thought to be named after him. He was apparently born at King's Sutton, Northants, where he died 3 days later. During his short life, he repeatedly professed his Christian faith and asked for baptism. He is also called Rumwald or Rumbold.[3]
[edit] Surroundings
The town is centred on the historic market place and contains many 18th century buildings. There are three main roads crossing Buckingham, namely the A413, the A421 (the southern bypass) and the A422. Leaving Buckingham on the A413 northbound you will pass through the neighbouring village of Maids Moreton. Capability Brown's historic formal garden design at Stowe (on the A422 westbound) is an important attraction in the care of the National Trust.
There is a medieval well on the south side of the dismantled railway which borders the town. The well, which is now dry for much of the year, was positioned to exploit the spring line below the crest of a north facing slope overlooking the town.
[edit] Nearby towns
Nearby towns include Aylesbury, Bicester, Brackley, Milton Keynes, and Towcester.
[edit] Places of interest
- Buckingham Chantry Chapel (owned by the National Trust)
- Stowe
- Stowe School
- There is a Confluence point on the edge of the town (here), at exactly
[edit] Famous Residents
- David Pickering (writer)
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.buckingham.ac.uk/life/buck/bucktown/begin.html
- ^ 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica Buckingham
- ^ Shirley, Rodney. St Rumbold of Buckingham. The University of Buckingham. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.
[edit] See also
- Duke of Buckingham
- List of places in Buckinghamshire
- Buckingham palace, London
- Buckingham gave its name to Buckingham Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
[edit] External links
