History of Buckinghamshire facts for kids
Buckinghamshire is a historic county in England. Its name comes from Old English, meaning 'the district of Bucca's home'. This refers to the town of Buckingham in the north. The county has been around since the 10th century. It was part of the Wessex kingdom. About 200 communities joined together to form it. They helped fund a castle in Buckingham. This castle helped defend against Danish invaders.
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Ancient Life in Buckinghamshire
Some places in Buckinghamshire are much older than the Anglo-Saxon period. For example, Aylesbury dates back to at least 1500 BC. This was found through archaeological digs. The Icknield Way, a path crossing the county, is even older than the Romans. Many places still have ancient British names. These include Penn and Wendover. Others mix British and Anglo-Saxon names, like Brill. You can also find ancient earthworks across the county.
People started settling in the area that is now Milton Keynes around 2000 BCE. They mainly lived near the Ouse and Ouzel rivers. Digs found burial sites from 2000 BCE to 1500 BCE. The oldest signs of people were at Blue Bridge. Here, flint tools from the Middle Stone Age were made. An unusually large round house, 18 meters wide, was found nearby. It dates to about 700 BCE. Other sites in this area show seven more settlements. These were used from 700 BCE until 100 BCE.
Roman Influence in Buckinghamshire
The Roman roads are the biggest sign of Roman times in Buckinghamshire. Watling Street and Akeman Street both cross the county. They run from east to west. Some believe these roads were built on even older paths. The Romans also used the ancient Icknield Way. Watling Street and Akeman Street were key trade routes. They connected London to other parts of Roman Britain. The Icknield Way was used by Romans for defense.
Anglo-Saxon Era and County Names
The Anglo-Saxons greatly shaped Buckinghamshire's history. They gave most places in the county their names. The county's modern layout is much like it was in Anglo-Saxon times. A big battle mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle happened at Chearsley. It was fought between Cerdic of Wessex and the Britons. Chearsley is named after Cerdic.
Three saints from this time were born in Quarrendon. They were Saint Osyth, Saint Edburga, and Saint Edith. Later, a royal palace was built at Brill. The county's wealth was noted in the Domesday Book survey in 1086.
Norman Conquest and Royal Lands
After the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror took many lands for himself. His half-brother, Odo of Bayeux, became a major landowner. Many old hunting grounds became the king's property. These included Bernwood Forest and Whaddon Chase. All wild swans in England also became the king's. The tradition of breeding swans in Buckinghamshire for the king's pleasure inspired the county's coat of arms. The Plantagenet kings also benefited from the county's wealth.
Henry VIII: Aylesbury Becomes County Town
More lands became the king's property during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536. Almost a third of the county became King Henry VIII's personal land. Henry VIII also made Aylesbury the official county town. Before this, Buckingham was the county town. It is said he did this to gain favor with Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire. This was so he could marry Thomas's daughter, Anne. Another of Henry's wives, Catherine Parr, also had influence in the county at Beachampton.
| Towns of the Ancient County |
|---|
| 1. Slough 2. Beaconsfield 3. Great Marlow 4. High Wycombe 5. Chesham 6. Princes Risborough 7. Wendover 8. Aylesbury 9. Winslow 10. Buckingham 11. Fenny Stratford 12. Stony Stratford 13. Newport Pagnell |
Civil War: A Divided County
During the English Civil War (1642–1649), Buckinghamshire mostly supported Parliament. However, some areas supported the King (Royalists). John Hampden, a Parliamentarian leader, was from Buckinghamshire. He was known for his successful battle tactics at Aylesbury in 1642. Some villages in the west, like Brill and Boarstall, saw constant fighting. This was because they were between Parliamentarian Aylesbury and Royalist Oxford. Many of these places were destroyed but later rebuilt. In the north, Stony Stratford was Royalist, and Newport Pagnell was Parliamentarian. The dividing line between them was similar to an old border from 700 years earlier.
Industrial Revolution and Changes
The Industrial Revolution and the railway greatly changed parts of Buckinghamshire. Wolverton in the north became a national center for building railway carriages. In the south, furniture and paper industries grew. In the county's center, the lace industry started and grew fast. It gave jobs to women and children from poorer families. Queen Victoria once said she preferred "Bucks lace" for her pillows. Today, Buckinghamshire still has good rail links to London, Birmingham, and Manchester. Furniture making is still important in parts of south Bucks.
In the early to mid-Victorian era, a major cholera epidemic and farming famine hit the county. Many people left Buckinghamshire for nearby cities or other countries. Some landowners bought the cheaper land left behind. The Rothschilds, an important family, arrived in Bucks then. They built or fixed up many grand houses in the county.
20th Century Urban Growth
In the 20th century, the far north and south of the county saw huge growth. The new town of Milton Keynes was created. Slough also became very urban. This was a natural step from the earlier industrial growth. It also provided many jobs for local people. Both Milton Keynes and Slough are now unitary authorities. This means they are managed separately from Buckinghamshire Council. Milton Keynes is still part of the ceremonial county of Buckinghamshire. However, Slough was moved to Berkshire in 1974.
Today, many see Buckinghamshire as a beautiful, rural place. It's often called leafy Bucks. Much of the area is protected as Green Belt land. This has made parts of the county popular for people who travel to London for work. This has also led to higher living costs for local people. However, some areas in the county still have poverty, especially in the larger towns of Aylesbury and High Wycombe.
See also
- History of Milton Keynes
- History of England
- Buckinghamshire (UK Parliament constituency)
