Wing, Buckinghamshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wing |
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 All Saints' Parish Church, Wing |
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 Flag |
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 Wing
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| Population | 2,745 (2011, including Ascott) |
| OS grid reference | SP882229 |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LEIGHTON BUZZARD |
| Postcode district | LU7 |
| Dialling code | 01296 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Buckinghamshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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| Website | Wing Parish Council |
Wing is a village and civil parish in east Buckinghamshire, England. It used to be called Wyng a long time ago. The village is located on the main A418 road. This road connects Aylesbury and Leighton Buzzard. Wing is about 8 miles (13 km) north-east of Aylesbury. It is also about 3 miles (5 km) west of Leighton Buzzard. Milton Keynes is about 12 miles (19 km) south of Wing.
Contents
Discovering Wing's Past
The village of Wing has a very long and interesting history. It was even mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. This was a big survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror. In that book, Wing was called Witehunge.
What Does the Name "Wing" Mean?
The name "Wing" comes from old English words. Around the years 966–975, it was called Weowungum. This name might mean a few things:
- "Wiwa's sons or people."
- "The people who lived at, or were devoted to, a heathen temple."
The names of nearby places like Wingrave and Wingbury also come from the same old words.
Wing's Ancient Religious Site
Some people believe that the remains of an old temple might be under the Anglo-Saxon Church of England parish church of All Saints. In 2000, a TV show called Meet the Ancestors visited Wing. They even recreated the face of an Anglo-Saxon girl found buried in the old churchyard.
Wing claims to have the oldest religious site in the country that has been used continuously. There is proof that people have used this site for religious purposes for over 1300 years. The All Saints' parish church was built by the Anglo-Saxons. This makes it one of the oldest churches in England.
An old path, part of the Icknield Way, used to go through Wing. This path connected Oxford with Cambridge long ago. It was used a lot in the Middle Ages, which helped the village grow. Today, with modern roads, it is not used as much.
The Church and Abbey
As early as the 600s, there was an abbey near Wing in a place called Ascott. A member of the House of Wessex royal family built it. They gave it to a group of Benedictine nuns in Angers.
The Anglo-Saxon church in Wing, dedicated to All Saints, was also built around this time. It was built for St Birinus. However, during big renovations in the 1400s, evidence was found. This evidence suggested that a Roman structure stood on this site even before the church.
It was unusual for a church and an abbey from this time to be built separately. Usually, they were part of the same group of buildings. One idea is that the church was built on a religious site that was already there. The village's name and the old finds seem to support this idea. The church has many beautiful monuments. These include a very pure Renaissance monument from the mid-1500s. It is for Sir Robert Dormer.
Wing's Norman Castle Remains
About 900 meters north-northeast of All Saints’ Church, you can find the remains of a Norman castle. This castle was a motte-and-bailey castle. It was built in the late 1000s or early 1100s. It sits on top of Castle Hill. The castle likely had an inner area and possibly an outer area to the east. However, roads and houses now cover these parts. The remaining mound is about 16 feet (5 meters) high. It covers an area of about 120 feet (36 meters).
Pedal Car Racing in Wing
Wing also has a fun Pedal Car Racing team. They are called the Wing Racers. This team is made up of local people and their friends. They compete in races like the Shenington 24hr.
Village Life and Amenities
Wing has many useful places for its residents.
Schools in Wing
The village has two schools for children and teenagers.
- Overstone Combined School is a primary school. It is for children aged 3 to 11.
- Cottesloe School is a secondary school. It teaches students aged 11 to 18.
Local Businesses and Services
Wing also has two public houses, which are like local pubs. There is a social club for people to meet. For food, you can find an Indian restaurant and a Chinese takeaway. The Chinese takeaway also serves fish and chips. The village has a Post Office on the High Street. There is also a police station.
Ascott House and the Rothschild Family
Ascott House is a large and famous home. It belongs to the Rothschild family. This house is located within the Wing parish. The village hall in Wing was built in 1905. It cost £2000 at the time. It was built in the style of the Rothschild family homes. It is one of the most important buildings in the village. Lord Rothschild himself officially opened it.
Wing During World War 2
During World War 2, an RAF air base was built near Wing. It was called RAF Wing. The base was finished in 1941. Its main job was to train crews for Wellington bomber planes. Because the base was so close, people in the village often saw and heard planes flying overhead.
The village hall became a popular spot for aircrew and other base workers. They would have weekly dances there. The village pubs were also popular places to visit. After the war ended, RAF Wing became a place where many thousands of soldiers returned from Europe. The base closed in April 1956.
The Airport That Never Was
In 1971, a group called the Roskill Commission looked for a place to build a new big airport for London. They thought the old RAF Wing site was the best choice. This proposed airport was often called Cublington Airport.
However, many people strongly opposed this plan. They were worried about the environment and the noise the airport would make. Because of this opposition, the plans changed. They first considered a coastal site. Eventually, the airport plans were completely cancelled.
To celebrate this victory, Buckinghamshire County Council planted a small forest. It has over 400 trees on a 3-acre site. This site would have been in the middle of the airport. As of 2023, no airports in the UK have more than two active paved runways.
Getting Around Wing
Wing has good transport links for a village.
Train Travel
Wing is about three miles (5 km) from Leighton Buzzard railway station. From here, you can catch trains run by West Midlands Trains and Southern. These trains travel on the West Coast Main Line. You can go to places like Birmingham New Street, Milton Keynes Central, and London Euston.
Bus Services
Buses also serve Wing. Arriva Shires & Essex runs services between Aylesbury and Milton Keynes. Z&S International operates buses between Leighton Buzzard and Aylesbury.
Motorway Access
The M1 motorway is about 13 miles (21 km) to the east of Wing. It is on the other side of Dunstable.
