The Village is situated in the Chilterns, around 650-ft (200M) above Sea Level, in Rolling Hills of Farmland, Beech Woods & Footpaths. The Civil Parish included the Hamlets of Cadmore End, Ditchfield, Moor Common & Moor End & had a Population of 3,583 at the 2001 Census.
Lane End was Historically on the Borders of the Parishes of Great Marlow, Hambleden, Fingest & West Wycombe, with a small part (Ackhampstead) belonging to the Parish of Lewknor in Oxfordshire until 1895. In 1867 the Ecclesiastical Parish of Lane End was formed from the neighbouring Parishes. The Village continued to be divided between the 4-neighbouring Civil Parishes until 1934, when the parts within Great Marlow, Hambleden & West Wycombe Civil Parishes were transferred to Fingest (renamed Fingest & Lane End in 1937). In the 1980s the Parish of Fingest & Lane End was abolished, and the Civil Parish of Lane End was formed. In addition to working the Land to provide wheat & barley to the Breweries in Marlow & Henley, the Inhabitants traditionally manufactured Chairs at Smith’s Chair Factory or worked in Hobbs a Local Iron Foundry. According t o Local Legend, the Village is haunted by the Ghost of a Girl in a Red Dress, who died 2-weeks before her Wedding Day in 1766.
The whole Ecclesiastical Parish of Great Marlow, to which Ackhampstead in Lewknor-up-Hill, Oxon., was added by Local Government Board Order in 1885, was divided for Civil Purposes into 2-Parishes by a further Local Government Board Order which came into Operation 1st October 1896. One of these, comprising the area of the Urban District, was known as Marlow (Urban) and the other consisted of the remainder of the Old Civil Parish, including Bovingdon Green, Harleyford, Lane End, etc, called Great Marlow. By another Order which came into Operation at the same date part of the former Civil Parish of Great Marlow, now called Marlow Urban, was constituted an Urban District by the name of Great Marlow. This was altered to that of Marlow by Order of the County Council 11th February 1897. Under the Local Government Act of 1894 a Council of 9-Members Governs the Urban District & the Regulation of Great Marlow Parish affairs is vested in a Parish Council consisting likewise of 9-Members.
The Area of the Urban District is 968-acres, of which 28-acres are covered with Water, 105 are Arable Land & 431 Grass. Great Marlow Parish comprises 5,706-acres of Land, 26 of Land covered by Water & has 2,505-acres under the Plough, 1,612 laid down in Permanent Grass & 846 covered by Woods & Plantations. The Soil in general consists of Flint, Chalk, Gravel & Loam with a varied Subsoil.
The Land, which is throughout well Wooded, falls from a height of 600-ft in the extreme North-west at Lane End to under 100-ft. above the Ordnance Datum (Newlyn) in the South, where the River Thames marks the Southern Boundary.
The New Church was Built in 1866 just before they moved to Wycombe.
E & R Meakes Ltd have been Steel & Metal Workers in Lane End, for Generations. Originally Farriers, the Company has evolved over the years to become Steel Stockholders & Fabricators.
1891 Census- George Joseph Meekes, Blacksmith & Publican, 66-Lane End.
The Principal Road North of Marlow leads to Oxford & rises continuously to Lane End, on the Parish Boundary. About 1-mile North of the Town it passes Seymour Court, a square-built Modern House & the Seat of Mr Thomas Owen Wethered (1832-1921, Brewer & MP). He later enlarged the house, which was on a low Hill. The Old House was practically Destroyed in the Civil War & portions of the Garden Wall were all that was left of it at the end of the 18thC. The Tradition that this House was the Birthplace of Lady Jane Seymour, Queen of Henry VIII, seems to have no Foundation in fact; the Seymours who lived here before that date appear to have been an entirely distinct Family. To the West of Seymour Court is Copy Green Farm.
A mile beyond ‘Seymour Court‘ a Lane leads West off the High Road to Widmere Farm House, belonging to Sir William Clayton & occupied by David White & Sons. The situation is a remarkably fine one, with beautiful views of the quiet Countryside with its Woods & Valleys. Most of the Farmhouse is modern, but the Chapel of the Hospitaliers still exists. It adjoins the East end of the Farmhouse, of which it now forms a part. It is a Rectangular Building consisting of Chapel with Undercroft dating probably from the early-13thC & appears to have been attached to a large Building of that Period. Windows were inserted in the South wall in the 14thC & about 1600 the Chapel was divided into 2-Floors & converted into a Dwelling-house. The Building, which is Roofed with Tiles, is of Flint & Stone & the North & East Walls are coated with Roughcast. The Undercroft, lighted by holes in the South Wall, is vaulted in 2-Aisles of 4-Bays each & has a central row of Circular Columns with plain Capitals & Bases & Semicircular Wall Shafts with grooved Capitals & High Square Plinths. The Arches are Segmental with chamfered edges, and the Vault, probably of Totternhoe Stone, is now thickly coated with Whitewash. The Chapel has a large early-14thC window on the East, now blocked, above which is a Vesica-Piscis light. In the South Wall are 3-14thC windows, the Westernmost entirely Blocked, while the other 2 have been Blocked in the Upper parts, their Sills cut away & Modern Doorways inserted. Each of these was of 2-trefoiled lights with tracery above under a 2-centred Head. The Tracery of the Easternmost has been Destroyed. In the North Wall are 2-Blocked 13thC Lancets and a modern window, and at the South-west is a 17thC Dormer. A Blocked Doorway and parts of windows built into the Walls of an Outhouse on the West are probably re-used 15thC work. The Undercroft, which is said to be connected with ‘Seymour Court‘ by an Under-ground Passage, was used as a Dairy.
Seymour Court Traditionally the Birthplace of Jane Seymour, Henry VIII’s Queen. The Ancient Manor House suffered much in the Civil War & was Demolished. Some Garden Walls Remain. Old Hall, Garners, Kill-House & Malting House was Willed in September 1600.
This Historic Farmyard Chapel, allegedly dating back to the Knights Hospitallers of the 13thC, captures Piper’s love of Old Buildings & the sense of ‘pleasing Decay’ and the layers of History that permeate the Building.
According to the stone tablet set in the gable end this attractive Flint & Brick Building was once the Wesleyan Day School – now a Photographic Studio
The 1st Anglican Church in Lane End was Built in 1830 because the Revd Henry Colborne Ridley, Rector of Hambleden, felt obliged to Visit the people of Lane End as they lacked Pastoral care. He wrote to the Bishop of Lincoln, expressing his wish for a Church to be Built in the Village at the expense of himself and some of his friends. Many influential people contributed toward the cost. The major benefactor, John Meggot-Elwes of Bolter End gave £2,500 towards the Church & also commissioned the Building of the School, the School House & the Vicarage. The Church was Built on Land given by the Lord of the Manor, Sir William Clayton & was consecrated by the Bishop of Lincoln on 15th July 1832. The Living was to be in the Gift of the Rector of Hambleden. Unusually , this Church faced North as did the Headstones of the early Graves. There was a Bell Turret with 1-Bell, the Choir sat in a Gallery and a Harmonium was installed in 1856.
The Old Church fell into disrepair & a New Church, this time facing East, was Built & Consecrated on Lammas Day, 1st August 1878. The Architect was John Oldrid Scott, son of Sir Gilbert Scott. Notable features of the Church include the Nave Roof, whose Timbers came from the former Bisham Abbey, Demolished just before this Church was Built, as well as the Good Shepherd Window, Pulpit & Altar Rails which were retained from the Original Building.
Aston Rowant & Chilterns Spring Line Villages 