Hambleden
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hambleden | |
  Hambleden shown within Buckinghamshire |
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| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| Parish | Hambleden |
| District | Wycombe |
| Shire county | Buckinghamshire |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Henley-on-Thames |
| Postcode district | RG9 |
| Dialling code | 01491 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Buckinghamshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Wycombe |
| List of places: UK • England • Buckinghamshire | |
Hambleden is a small village in the south of Buckinghamshire, England. It is about four miles west of Marlow, about three miles north east of Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire.
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[edit] History
The village name is Anglo Saxon in origin, and means 'crooked or undulating valley'. It was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Hanbledene, though previously 1015 it was known as Hamelan dene. St Thomas Cantilupe, the Lord Chancellor and Bishop of Hereford, was born in Hembleden in 1218. In 1315 a Royal charter was granted to hold a market in the village, and a fair on St Bartholomew's Day (August 24) every year. The charter was reconfirmed in 1321, though appears to have not lasted much longer than this.
[edit] Village and church
The brick and flint cottages in the centre of the village conform to a similar design and have dormer windows topped with red tiles. St Mary's church dates from the 14th century and includes a conspicuous memorial to Cope D'Oyley (who died in 1633) and his family.
[edit] Manor house
The Jacobean style manor house was built in 1603 of flint and stone. Charles I stayed there overnight in 1646 while fleeing from Oxford. Another notable building is the Old Rectory built in 1794.
[edit] Notable residents
Hambleden was the home village of William Henry Smith, founder (in 1821) of the book chain W H Smith, he died in 1891 and is buried in the new cemetery. Lord Cardigan, famous for his role in leading the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade, was born in the Manor House. The sea chest that he took to the Crimea can be seen in the church. Phil Vickery, Rugby Union London Wasps player and England 2003 World Cup Winner, lives in Hambleden [1]
[edit] Film location
The attractive village has often been used as a film location, such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Dance with a Stranger and the opening scenes of the recent remake of The Avengers starring Ralph Fiennes. The shops in the centre routinely put out facades that are more in keeping with a traditional country village and in some cases bear no resemblance to the business now being conducted within.
[edit] Nearby places
1 mile to the south at Mill End are Hambleden Mill and Hambleden Lock on the River Thames, which feature in the novel Three Men In A Boat.
