Deanshanger

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Coordinates: 52°02′50″N 0°53′34″W / 52.0473°N 0.8928°W / 52.0473; -0.8928
Deanshanger
Deanshanger

 Deanshanger shown within Northamptonshire
Population 3,877 [1]
OS grid reference SP7639
    - London  55miles 
District South Northamptonshire
Shire county Northamptonshire
Region East Midlands
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Milton Keynes
Postcode district MK19
Dialling code 01908
Police Northamptonshire
Fire Northamptonshire
Ambulance East Midlands
EU Parliament East Midlands
UK Parliament Current: Northampton South; from next General election: South Northamptonshire
List of places
UK
England
Northamptonshire

Deanshanger, pronounced deans-hanger, is a village and civil parish in South Northamptonshire, west-northwest of Milton Keynes. In 2007 it was joined with the civil parish of Wicken to form Deanshanger ward, returning two councillors.

History

Deanshanger used to be called Daneshanger, "Hanger" being an old English word, meaning a clearing in the woods - hence Daneshanger was a clearing in the woods where the Danes lived.[2]

The original population centre of the parish was the hamlet of Passenham. However, from the late 18th century the coming of the Grand Union Canal to the east made Deanshanger an agricultural industrial centre causing it to grow quickly. This growth accelerated with the building of the London and Birmingham Railway in the first half of the 19th century which passed through the nearby villages of Wolverton, Bletchley and Roade.

After a fall out with Henry II in 1170 AD, Thomas Becket is said to have sought refuge in the Gilbertine Monastery in Deanshanger (or Dinneshangra as it was then known). Although disguised as a peasant, he was nevertheless recognised by a farm labourer known only as Wayne.[citation needed] At the time the only water supply in the village was foul and brackish, and having heard of the miracle that Becket was said to have performed at nearby Northampton, the farm labourer pleaded with Becket to repeat the performance. Becket is said to have looked towards Heaven, struck the ground with his staff, and immediately a fresh spring appeared. This is one of 703 miracles that is said to have led to his canonisation.[3]

In 2010 a sixteen-year-old boy was stabbed outside Kingsbrook Secondary school in Deanshanger and later died of his injuries.[4] Adil Basharat was attacked by a group of four men and the four were arrested. They were tried in July 2011[5] Adam Moore, 20, of Bridge Road, Cosgrove, denied murder at Northampton Crown Court but was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment and must serve a minimum of 16 years before he could be considered for parole. Moore was also found guilty of violent disorder and not guilty of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm. Jake Batten, 22, of Mallings Road and Freedy Wilson, 20, of Glebe Road, both in Deanshanger and Daniel Anderson, 20, of Horsefair Green, Stony Stratford, were acquitted of murder and manslaughter but found guilty of violent disorder and each jailed for three years.[6]

The school, a sports college merged with former Roade school in September 2011.[7] The merged school was renamed Elizabeth Woodville School. Woodville was born in Grafton Regis which is halfway between the two schools and was Queen consort of King Edward IV.[8]

Demography

At the time of the 2001 census, Deanshanger parish had a population of 2,900 citizens[9] and in 2010 was estimated to be 3,877.[1]

Industry

From the 1820s, the main industry in the village was an iron foundry and later an iron oxide works (making pigment for paint).[10] This gave some of the surrounding area a red colouration from the oxide dust. However, in 1999, the works closed and was demolished. By 2008, most of the works land has been replaced by the construction of several new housing estates. Extensive remedial work was needed to reverse the harmful effects of the previous industrial use of the site there are still signs of the red stained oxide all around the village. Some land has designated for light industrial use.

Amenities

The village has village hall and community centre (extended in 2008) to provide a venue for events and facilities for community groups, a doctor's surgery and a library. Other amenities include a primary school,[11] a secondary school, Kingsbrook School became Elizabeth Woodville School in 2011 when it merged[7] with Roade Sports College[12] and is now split over two sites. The Deanshanger grounds include the site of a Roman villa.[13] The merged school has been renamed Elizabeth Woodville School. Woodville was born in Grafton Regis which is halfway between the two schools and was Queen consort of King Edward IV.

There is a parish church (Holy Trinity, Church of England) and a Methodist chapel, a post office, two pubs and two members' clubs (sports and social, Conservative club[14]), a pharmacy, a hairdresser, a pizza and kebab takeaway, a Chinese and fish and chips takeaway, a mobile takeaway, and other village stores and newsagent's shops including a greengrocers. On the edge of the village on the A422, is a golf and country club, a hotel, a Thai restaurant and a petrol and service station.[15]

For children, there is a pre-school playgroup, youth club, and junior football club[16]

The village's annual event is a revival of the historic Feast[17] held on a Saturday afternoon and evening in October each year. This includes a fun fair, stalls and firework show.

There is an active village heritage society that organises the Feast, the planting of spring flowers on the roads into the village in autumn, cleaning of the stream (King's Brook) in spring and carol singing in December.

The parish council office is the former primary school and redundant Baptist Chapel building renovated inn 2008-09.[18]

Transport

The local bus service runs hourly (between 07:00 and 18:00 Monday to Friday, 08:00 and 18:00 Saturday, no Sunday or Public Holiday services) Bus route 14[19] travels between Deanshanger, Stony Stratford, Old Stratford, Kiln Farm and Milton Keynes town centre and rail station. Certain timetabled buses on this route also travel to Wicken.

The nearest railway station is Wolverton for services to London Euston railway station, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Birmingham and north. Milton Keynes railway station (on the same line) is the nearest station to give access to fast trains to London (40 minutes), intercity and cross-country services. There are several private hire taxi services.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 SNC (2010). South Northamptonshire Council Year Book 2010-2011. Towcester NN12 7FA. p. 39. 
  2. ↑ "Bill Foddy's memories". Deanshanger.com. 2012-01-13. Retrieved 2012-02-11. 
  3. ↑ David Saint. Most wanted man's miracle. Northampton Chronicle & Echo. 29 December 2008. Retrieved 8 November 2009
  4. ↑ "Boy injured in Deanshanger group attack dies". Bbc.co.uk. 2010-11-21. Retrieved 2012-02-11. 
  5. ↑ "School stabbing of Adil Basharat 'mistaken identity'". Bbc.co.uk. 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2012-02-11. 
  6. ↑ "BBC News 8 August 2011". Bbc.co.uk. 2011-08-08. Retrieved 2012-02-11. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Northampton Chronicle & Echo, 13 June 2011
  8. ↑ "Elizabeth Woodville School at the northamptonshire County Council website". Northamptonshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 2012-02-11. 
  9. ↑ Office for National Statistics: Deanshanger CP: Parish headcounts. Retrieved 8 November 2009
  10. ↑ "Deanshanger community memory project". Clutch.open.ac.uk. Retrieved 2012-02-11. 
  11. ↑ "Deanshanger Primary School". Deanshanger.ik.org. Retrieved 2012-02-11. 
  12. ↑ "Roade School Sports College". Roadeschool.northants.sch.uk. Retrieved 2012-02-11. 
  13. ↑ "historical and archaeology review of Deanshanger and Passenham". Le.ac.uk. Retrieved 2012-02-11. 
  14. ↑ "Deanshanger and District". Deanshanger.com. Retrieved 2012-02-11. 
  15. ↑ "2001 sales promotion to highlight the taxes on petrol". Channel4.com. Retrieved 2012-02-11. 
  16. ↑ "Deanshanger Colts". Deanshanger Colts. 2011-12-19. Retrieved 2012-02-11. 
  17. ↑ 2008 Feast report Buckingham News
  18. ↑ "Deanshanger Parish Council office address". Deanshanger.parishcouncil.net. Retrieved 2012-02-11. 
  19. ↑ Milton Keynes Council (2011-10-17). "Bus route 89 information". Miltonkeynes.gov.uk. Retrieved 2012-02-11. 

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