Newport Pagnell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newport Pagnell |
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 High Street |
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 Newport Pagnell
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| Population | 15,118 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SP873437 |
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| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Newport Pagnell |
| Postcode district | MK16 |
| Dialling code | 01908 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Buckinghamshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Newport Pagnell is a town located in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England. It's a civil parish, which means it has its own local council. The town is officially part of the larger Milton Keynes urban area.
A big motorway, the M1 motorway, separates Newport Pagnell from the rest of Milton Keynes. You might know it for the Newport Pagnell Services, which was one of the first service stations ever opened in the United Kingdom.
Newport Pagnell is also famous for two special things. It's home to the only company in the UK that still makes vellum. Vellum is a special type of paper made from animal skin, used for important documents. The town was also the original home of the super cool sports car maker, Aston Martin.
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History of Newport Pagnell
Newport Pagnell was first mentioned in a very old book called the Domesday Book in 1086. Back then, it was called Neuport, which meant 'New Market Town' in Old English. At this time, the town was controlled by the Normans, who had invaded England.
The 'Pagnell' part of the name was added later. This happened when the land, or manor, was taken over by a family called Pagnell (or Paynel). Newport Pagnell was the main town for a large area called the "Three Hundreds of Newport". This area was almost the same size as the modern City of Milton Keynes.
Tickford Bridge and Rivers
The Tickford Bridge is a very old and important bridge in the town. It was built in 1810 and crosses the River Ouzel. This bridge is special because it's one of the few cast iron bridges in Britain that still carries cars and trucks today.
There's a plaque near the bridge that tells its history. The River Ouzel flows into the larger River Great Ouse nearby. You can also see big sluice gates near the bridge. These gates help control the water flow and stop flooding downstream.
Transport Links in the Past
For a while, from 1817 to 1864, Newport Pagnell was connected to the Grand Junction Canal by the Newport Pagnell Canal. This canal helped move goods.
Later, in 1862, the canal route was sold to a railway company. For 100 years, from 1867 to 1967, Newport Pagnell had its own train station. It was the end of the Wolverton to Newport Pagnell branch line. Today, this old railway path is a walking and cycling route, part of the Milton Keynes redway system.
Old Buildings and Structures
Newport Pagnell has many historic buildings. One important site is a scheduled monument called Civil War defences in Bury Field. This means it's a very important historical place protected by law.
Two buildings are listed at Grade I, which is the highest level of protection for historic buildings. These are Tickford Bridge and the parish church of SS Peter and Paul. There's also one building at Grade II* and 118 at Grade II, showing how many old and interesting buildings are in the town. The Old Town Hall Chambers, which are now apartments, were built as a school in the early 1800s.
Industry and Economy
From 1954 until 2007, Newport Pagnell was the home of the famous sports car maker, Aston Martin. The factory here was old, so a new one was built in Warwickshire. However, there's still a service center in Newport Pagnell where Aston Martin cars are looked after. The old factory site has been turned into new homes, but some original buildings are still there.
Another important business in town is William Cowley. They are the only company left in the UK that makes vellum, a special material used for old books and important documents.
Over the last 50 years, Newport Pagnell has grown a lot. This is because it's close to Milton Keynes, which has also grown quickly. This growth has brought new businesses and many new homes to the area.
Churches in Newport Pagnell
The main church in Newport Pagnell is the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul. Much of this church was built in the 1300s. It is also a Grade 1 listed building, meaning it's very important historically.
Education in Newport Pagnell
Newport Pagnell has several schools for younger students. These include Tickford Park Primary School, Cedars, Green Park Primary School, and Portfields Primary School. There are also three pre-schools: River Meadows, Lovat Hall, and Northern Pastures.
For older students, there's Ousedale School. This school has two campuses, one in Newport Pagnell and another in Olney. Ousedale School is known for being one of the best secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Location and Getting Around
Newport Pagnell is located at the north-eastern edge of the Milton Keynes area. It's easy to reach from the M1 motorway at Junction 14. Roads like the A509 and A422 connect the town to the rest of Milton Keynes. These roads also go northwards, linking Newport Pagnell to towns like Bedford and Kettering.
The old Newport Pagnell-Northampton road (B526) goes through the town center. It connects to villages north of the town and offers another way to get to Northampton.
Redway System
Newport Pagnell is now better connected to the Milton Keynes redway system. This is a network of paths for walking and cycling. In 2021, Tongwell Lane was turned into a redway. Now, the town has three connections to the redway network, making it easier to cycle or walk into other parts of Milton Keynes.
New Developments
There are plans for new communities and homes near Newport Pagnell. In 2021, proposals were made for "Milton Keynes East" to the south of the town. This area could have about 5,000 new homes, two primary schools, and a secondary school. It will also have new roads connecting it to Newport Pagnell and Central Milton Keynes. Construction started in 2023, with some road closures to build a new "Eastern Relief Road" and a bridge over the M1.
Another big development called Tickford Fields is happening to the east of the town. This project will build over 900 homes, along with a primary school, shops, sports fields, and play areas. These homes are designed to be energy-efficient and good for the environment.
Trains and Buses
The closest train station for passengers is Wolverton railway station, about 3.5 miles away. For longer train journeys, you can go to Milton Keynes Central, which is about 4 miles away.
Buses are a good way to get around. Bus 21 connects Newport Pagnell to Olney and Lavendon to the north, and Central Milton Keynes to the south-west. Buses 1 and 2/2A also run frequently, connecting the town to other parts of Milton Keynes. There's also an on-demand bus service called "MK Connect" that covers the whole Milton Keynes area.
Local Government
Newport Pagnell has two levels of local government. The first is the Newport Pagnell Town Council, which looks after local town matters. Their offices are at 80 High Street. The second is the Milton Keynes City Council, which handles bigger decisions for the whole city.
Newport Pagnell used to be part of a larger district. But in 1985, the civil parish of Newport Pagnell was created again, and its council became the Newport Pagnell Town Council.
Population Growth
Even though Newport Pagnell wasn't originally part of the new city of Milton Keynes when it was planned in 1967, it has grown a lot, just like Milton Keynes. The two areas now meet at the M1 motorway.
In 1971, Newport Pagnell had about 6,000 people. By 2001, its population had grown to 15,020. In 2011, it was 15,118. This shows how the town has expanded over the years.
Sports and Fun Activities
Newport Pagnell has its own Non-League football team called Newport Pagnell Town F.C., nicknamed the Swans. They play at The Pavilion on Willen Road. If you like martial arts, there's a Taekwon-Do club called Kicks Taekwon-Do Academy. The town also has a swimming pool.
Newport Pagnell Lawn Bowls
People have been playing bowls in Newport Pagnell for over 400 years! The Newport Pagnell Bowling Club started in 1905. After World War I, the club bought some land called "The Bully" in Castle Meadow, and they still play there today.
Famous People from Newport Pagnell
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Many interesting people have connections to Newport Pagnell:
- Lawrence Humphrey (1527–1590), a famous English theologian.
- William Bull (1738–1814), a minister who started a school in Newport Pagnell to train preachers.
- George Walters (1829–1872), who won the Victoria Cross for bravery in battle.
- Charles Sanford Terry (1864–1936), a historian and expert on the composer J. S. Bach.
- Nigel Benson (born 1955), an author, illustrator, and artist.
- Letitia Dean (born 1967), an actress known for her role in EastEnders; she went to school in the town.
- Kelly George (born 1970), an actor from the children's TV show Grange Hill; he lived and went to school here.
- Gordon Moakes (born 1976), the bassist for the band Bloc Party; he was educated in Newport Pagnell.
- Tom Austin (born 2000), known as Niko B, a popular YouTuber and rapper who lives in the town.
Sports Stars
- David Oldfield (born 1968), a footballer with many club appearances.
- Steve Brooker (born 1981), another footballer.
- James Nash (born 1985), a racing car driver who lives in Newport Pagnell.
- Leah Williamson (born 1997), a footballer who plays for Arsenal W.F.C. and is the captain of the England women's team.
See also
In Spanish: Newport Pagnell para niños
