Downley

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Downley is a village in Buckinghamshire, England. It is the principal centre of population of the 4,768 (as at 2001) residents of Downley Parish Council^[1] and is located high in the Chiltern Hills, overlooking the town of High Wycombe. Today it is almost indistinguishable from the urban sprawl of the latter town.

Downley has three pubs, several newsagents, some take aways and two schools based on one site. It has two WI meetings, various football teams, a chapel, a church and a guide and scout hut.

The central part of the parish is the common, this extends over approximately 56 acres

Downley was extensively built up in the 1950s-60s and is still in constant flux now, with the parish boundary being extended. Downley these days seems to be a village of two hals, the end towards the common being the more expensive and older and the houses closer to High Wycombe are cheaper and very much little estates all over the country. Downley has been a home to many different people including the writer Ivor Novello.

The Village Hall built circa 1920 is still very much in use and the old School, built in the 1870s is also still in use. There were also 2 chairmaking factories in the village. Mines and West (two local families) closed down in the late 1980s/ early1990s

The name Downley is a corruption of Anglo-Saxon words dun (meaning wood) and lea (meaning clearing). Other translations have erroneously translated the names as grass or field on the hill, which is the middle English translation and as Downley was a settlement from the Anglo-Saxon period the Anglo-Saxon translation is more appropriate. Downley was originally a subsidiary parish of West Wycombe. Parts of Downley were originally owned by the Dashwoods of West Wycombe and the common remains in their ownership today.

Downley was once three hamlets. Downley, being the largest with Littleworth and Plummer's Green on its south side. Both of these have now been incorporated into Downley as a whole, but you can still see the names such as Littleworth Road and Plomer Hill. Plomer hill being a miss spelling of Plummer.

One of the few Chiltern commons that has remained open in the area, rather than become wooded. The common is believed to be once part of an Anglo-Saxon tithing, or group of ten dwellings. The oldest house in the village, Blacksmiths Cottage is situated on the top end of the common,dates from the 12th/13th century.

Something else that makes this common unique is the way it has been changed by its industrial past. The biggest change in its landscape is the excavation of clay, chalk and flint from all over the common, this has left behind pits, called dells, some very large and deep.

Some of the more covered dells still contain pieces of brick work, pottery and bottles dating back to the 1920s or earlier. The reason the clay was extracted is slightly vague but is most likely for making bricks and tiles. There was a kiln on Downley common from the mid 17th-18th century. Small pits that are round, usually made on a boundary are Saw Pits. These are identifiable as the the spoil heap is on the downward slope.

Also noticeable, mainly in the woods are ancient parish boundaries. These once separated the land between Hughenden and West Wycombe parishes.

During World War II, the common was used by the army to test and repair Churchill tanks, you can still see the tracks on the common today. Downley common was used as a golf course for a short while, hence the name of Golf Link Cottages and the Bricklayers arms once being called the Golf Links.

During the 1910s American Showman Buffalo Bill landed his plane on the common.

At the top of the common next to the cricket pavilion there is a small but distinct Blacksmiths Forge. This was still in use up until the very early 1990s. Downley is also home to the rare starfruit flower which has been known to grow on Mannings Pond. Downley is lucky in being home to a large selection of wild growing fruits and herbs, such as apples, pears, sloes and horseradish.

The oldest pub in Downley is The Le De (not Lady) Spencers Arms at the very top of the common. It's known to the locals as the Lee Dee, The Shed or the Top Pub. The building dates from the 17th century and was once a bakery. It is believed to be a watering hole from drovers who passed through from Wales on their way to London.

People used to gain water from deep wells and pumps, Downley was luckier than its neighbour Naphill in having more access to fresh water.

Downley also boasts being part of a reputed ley line.

Downley has a few interesting road names, such as "Bug Alley" which is now Moor Lane, Coffin Lane which is at the end of Moor Lane and leads to Hughenden Church. Kiln Pond Lane, where apparently a horse and cart reputedly ran into the Kiln Pond.

Downley traditions include the unique bonfire night (always held strictly on the 5th November)torch parade, where literally hundreds of people march up the common with tin can torches and throw then into the bonfire. Also there are two Village fetes, one being Downley day and the other being the Jolities which is the older. Downley also claims a strong sporting heritage. With well established cricket and football teams who use the cricket pitch and newly gained space next to Mannings field.

West Wycombe estate still leaves its mark on Downley life, there is a large, regular shoot, mostly held on Saturdays during hunting season. This is managed by Cookshall Farm, which is in the parish at the very top end.

Downley was once home to several farms, the largest of these stopped working in the 1990s but can be plainly seen from commonside with its huge barns and unusual listed farm house. There is also a local dairy, run by the Emery family.