Winslow, Buckinghamshire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Winslow | |
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| Population | 4,519 (2001 Census) |
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| OS grid reference | |
| Parish | Winslow |
| District | Aylesbury Vale |
| Shire county | Buckinghamshire |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Buckingham |
| Postcode district | MK18 |
| Dial code | 01296 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Buckinghamshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| UK Parliament | Buckingham |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| List of places: UK • England | |
Winslow is a small market town in north Buckinghamshire, in the centre of the Vale of Aylesbury. It has a population of about 5,000.
The town was first recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 795 as Wineshlauu, which translated into modern English means Wine's Mound. In the Domesday Book of 1086 it was recorded as Weneslai.
One of the finest buildings in Buckinghamshire is situated in this small town. Winslow Hall, which sits on the main road leading into the town from Aylesbury, is thought to have been designed by Sir Christopher Wren circa 1700, in his latter days twenty-five years after he designed St Paul's Cathedral in London. The building, while smaller than some other local mansions, is magnificently designed nonetheless.
Today the town has grown to house the expanding population, but the small town hasn't lost any of its quaint rural charm. The 11th century parish church in High Street is dedicated to St Laurence.
The town formerly had a railway station on the "Varsity Line" (Oxford/Cambridge), with a spur to Aylesbury. The trackbed remains in place and, if reopened, would facilitate more sustainable commuting to Milton Keynes, Aylesbury and Oxford.
The Whaddon Chase foxhounds have traditionally met in the Town Square at Winslow every Boxing Day since time immemorial. Over a thousand people attend to support this traditional British occasion, and view the horses decorated with tinsel, foxhounds eating mince pies, and generally enjoy the festive spirit and join in the fun. The Brass Band from the nearby village of Great Horwood playing Christmas carols are always in attendance. On Boxing Day 2003 due to an unprecedented number of supporters the traditional meet was held in front of Winslow Hall. See Fox Hunting.
Winslow United F.C. is based here.
