Riseberge (11thC); Magna Risberge (13thC.); Earls Rysebergh (14thC); Princes Risburgh (15thC).
Map of Princes Risborough 1897
The Parish of Princes Risborough lies on the Western side of the County of Bucks It contains 3,936¼-acres, the greater part, viz. 2,620-acres, being Arable Land. There are 1,276¼-acres laid down in Permanent Pasture & 40-acres of Wood. The subsoil is Chalk, but the surface Soil is variable; on the Hills, it is generally Light & Chalky & in the Lowlands either Loam or strong Clay. The Parish lies on the North-Western Slope of the Chiltern Hills, rising to over 770-ft above the Ordnance Datum.
The occupation of the people was almost entirely Agricultural. There was Gomme’s Iron-Foundry is to be found tucked away behind the Cottages in Foundry Lane, at the Hamlet of Looseley Row & Sequin & Bead-work were done by women at Lacey Green. Watercress Beds existed near the Town of Princes Risborough, where there are several Springs. Princes Risborough is a small Market Town, lying 8¾-miles South of Aylesbury on the High Road from Aylesbury to Wycombe. The Road from Wycombe to Thame Branches off to the North-West at the Northern end of the Town & the Upper Icknield Way also crosses the Parish. The Wycombe Branch of the Great Western Railway runs to the West of the Town, the Station being about ¾-mile away. In 1906 the GWR opened a Branch Line to Aylesbury in conjunction with the GWR & this Line passes through Princes Risborough Station.
The Centre of the Town is at the Junction of the 3-main Streets, where the Square, Red-Brick Market-House stands, with open Arcades & a covered Walk on its Lower Storey & a Wooden Cupola containing a Bell rising from its low Slate Roof. There are a good many 18thC Red-Brick Fronts & near the Market-House a Gabled half-Timber House with Herringbone Brick Filling & a fine Central Chimney Stack. The Church is at the North-West Corner of the Town, standing in a Large Churchyard & to the East of it is the Manor-House, with remains of 2-sides of a Deep Moat in its Grounds.
Situated in the North West of the Town (in a Lane beside the Church), it was for many years the Property of the Family of Penton of Hampshire. The remains of the Mansion are near the Churchyard.
In Elizabeth’s Grant to Thomas Crompton, a Mansion-House called ‘Broke House‘ is specially mentioned & appears in the majority of the Deeds relating to the Manor. The latter indeed is sometimes called Brooke, the description in 1813 being the ‘Manor of Risborough or Princes Risborough or Brooke or Abbot’s Risborough commonly called the Abbots ‘hold.’ By Walter Giffard’s Grant, the Wood was Held by the Abbey in Frankalmoign & the Bishop of Oxford Held the Manor in the Reign of Edward VI on the same Tenure but also paid Rent for it.
The Manor-House is a handsome Red-brick Building with Pilasters & Mouldings in cut & rubbed Brick. It appears to date from the beginning of the 18thC, but its Staircase & the Panelling of the Drawing-Room are some 50-yrs earlier & may have been removed from an older Building on the same Site. They fit so well into their present position that it seems as if the House must have been Built with a view to receiving them. The Staircase is of Oak with a heavy moulded Hand-rail & a Balustrade of Scrollwork & large square Newels with Ball Finials & moulded Pendants. The Drawing-room Panelling is in 2-Ranges with tall arched Upper Panels, with small moulded Key Blocks. Above is a Frieze & an elaborate Cornice of many moulded Members. The Mantel is part of the general design & is enriched with a small Tuscan Order, a central Oval Panel & flat baluster Pilasters below the Mantel-shelf. At the Window recesses are Pilasters reaching from Floor to Ceiling, the proportions, workmanship & Design being extremely good & though comparatively plain, the Room is a charming example of its date. The Entrance Hall is also Panelled, but not so elaborately & is probably of the same date as the House. The windows throughout are Sashed & have heavy glazing bars.
Henry VIII made a Grant to the Inhabitants of Princes Risborough in 1523 of a Weekly Market & 2-yearly Fairs. The Market was held on Wednesdays & the Fairs for 3-Days at the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin & on St George’s Day. The Market Day in 1792 had been changed to Saturday & again in 1888 to Thursday. In 1792 there was only 1–Fair held, on 6th May. A 2nd Fair has since been revived & is now held on 21st October.
The Town obtained a Charter from Queen Elizabeth in 1598, Granting to the Inhabitants Immunity from serving on Juries & paying Tolls. The Ancient Earthwork called Grim’s Dyke enters the Parish on the North-Eastern Border by Lilly-bottom Farm & reaches to Lacey Green. To the West of the Churchyard of Princes Risborough, there is a Site of about an Acre surrounded by a Moat that popular tradition asserts to be the Site of the Black Prince’s Palace. The Civil Parish of Princes Risborough contains the Hamlets of Longwick, Lacey Green, Looseley Row & Speen.
Manors: Before the Norman Conquest, Princes Risborough belonged to King Harold. There was attached to the Manor in his time a Burgess of Oxford, who remained there after the Norman Conquest & a Salt-Worker of Droitwich paid an unspecified number of Loads of Salt to the Lord of the Manor in 1086.
William the Conqueror kept the greater part of Harold’s Lands & so Princes Risborough became part of the Ancient Demesne of the Crown. Half of this Part of Risborough seems, however, to have been Granted to Ansculf de Pinchengi very shortly after the Settlement of the Normans, but was Exchanged for part of Ellesborough with Ralph Talgebosch or Taillebois, by the King’s Command. Soon afterwards Risborough again changed hands & was held by the 2nd Earl Walter Giffard, who made various Grants from these Lands to the Abbey of Notley. From 1162 to 1180 Princes Risborough is said to belong to the Honour of Giffard, but on the death of the Earl in 1164 it Reverted to the Crown & does not appear to have been included in the Grant of his Honour made by Richard I to William Marshal & Gilbert de Clare, the Heirs of the Giffards. Before 1165 the Manor was Granted to Richard die Humeto, the Constable of Normandy & from this time was reckoned among the ‘Lands of the Normans.‘ The original Grant was probably made by Walter Giffard, but in 1173/74, after his death, Henry II gave a New Charter to the Constable. This Grant was renewed on Richard’s death to his son & successor, William de Humeto. The latter does not appear, however, to have Held the Manor, which went to his younger brother Engelard, but by what Charter or right he Held it is doubtful. Engelard’s son, named William de Similly, succeeded him & Held the Manor till his death, c.1205, when it Escheated to the King. While in the Royal hands, various Grants of Land in Risborough were made, but only of a temporary nature & by 1224 William de Similly’s son, another William, was in Seisin of the Manor. The Heirs of Earl Giffard now made a determined attempt to recover Princes Risborough, claiming that it was part of the Honour to which they had succeeded. Moreover, they denied that William de Similly could claim from the Grant to the Constable of Normandy, as that Grant had been made to Richard de Humeto & his Heirs & William was not his Heir. No result came of their Suit since it was decided that the question must stand over till the King was of Age. A 2nd Suit was subsequently brought by Gilbert, Earl of Gloucester, against William de Similly, but the result is not recorded. The Latter, however, remained in peaceful Seisin of the Manor till his death before 1242. The Land then Escheated to the King, the Heir being a Minor & the Rights of Wardship were Granted to Drogo de Trubleville.
The Heir of William de Similly is never mentioned again & presumably died before coming of age, for in 1243 Henry III Granted the Manor of Princes Risborough to Richard, Earl of Cornwall & King of the Romans. Richard was succeeded by his son Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, who held the Manor till his death in 1300, when it again came into the King’s hands, Edward I being the next Heir. The King Held it in Demesne in 1302/3, but immediately afterwards he Granted it to Queen Margaret for Life, in exchange for certain Castles & Lands with which he had Dowered her. Margaret, the Countess of Cornwall, however, Held a 3rd as part of her Widow’s Dower during her Life. The Reversion was Granted in 1309 to Piers Gaveston & his wife Margaret, one of the Heiresses of the Clares & also one of the Descendants of the Giffards, but this Grant was surrendered in the same year. Queen Margaret lived till 1316, and from the time of her death till 1327 the Manor of Princes Risborough was Held by the King. At the latter date, Edward III Granted it to Queen Isabella in reward for her Services with regard to the Treaty with France & the Suppression of the Despensers’ Rebellion. In 1330 John de Eltham, Earl of Cornwall & Brother of the King, obtained a Grant of the Manor of Risborough, but after his death in 1337 Queen Isabella again Held the Manor. The Reversion was Granted to Henry de Ferrers, who obtained Possession after the death of Isabella & died Seised in 1344.
His son was a Minor & the Custody of the Manor was Granted to the Black Prince, from whom it took its present name of Princes Risborough. The Prince Held the Manor till his death when it passed to Richard his Son & Heir. The Latter, while still Prince, Granted the Manor for life to Lewis de Clifford. He confirmed the Grant on his Accession to the Throne & Lewis Held it for his Life. Under Henry IV the Manor came into the hands of the Crown & was again Granted to the Prince of Wales. Henry VI succeeded to the Manor, which formed part of the Dower of his Queen, Margaret of Anjou.
Afterwards, however, it seems to have been held by his son Edward, Prince of Wales. It remained in the hands of the Crown apparently till Edward VI Granted the Manor to Princess Elizabeth for life. James I Granted it to Anne of Denmark as part of her Dower & on her death to Sir Henry Hobart to the use of Prince Charles.
Gules 3-Leopards Azure with Golden
Crowns
In 1628 Charles I Conveyed the Manor to the City of London in part payment of the large Debts of the King. The Fee-Farm Rent from the Manor was Granted in 1671 to Lord Hawley in Trust for the King’s Heirs & Successors until it was Sold. This Sale took place in the same year to Sir Peter Lely, the Painter.
The Royal Arms of the Stuarts,
France & England Quartered with
Scotland & Ireland, with the
difference of a Label Argent.
Under the Commonwealth, the Manor of Princes Risborough, distinguished at this time as the King’s Manor, came into the hands of Ralph Adeane. He Held it in 1653 & 1655 & after the Restoration Thomas Adeane, a Minor, was Lord of the Manor as Heir of Ralph. In 1684, however, Edward Bigland & George Pelham appear to have been in Seisin. In 1702 & in 1729 Henry Penton Held this Manor. In 1766 it was Sold by the Penton Family to John Grubbe of Horsenden. In the same year he, together with his next brother Samuel, Sold it to Edward, the 3rd brother. Edward’s grandson John Held the Manor in 1813, but in 1841 it was Advertised for Sale by Auction. It was, however, Purchased Privately by the Duke of Buckingham & Chandos on the day previous to the Sale. The Duke’s Lands were Sold very shortly after the Purchase of this Manor, which, in 1862, was in the hands of Mr James Cuddon At c.1958 Mr Humphrey Brill, of Aston Clinton, claimed to be Lord of the Manor of Princes Risborough.
This Manor in Princes Risborough was Held by William de Similly by the Service due from 1-Knight’s Fee & the same Service was performed by the Earls of Cornwall. In later Grants the Service is not defined. The Lords of the Manor under the Commonwealth paid a Fee-Farm Rent, which in 1671 was given as £82-4s-7½d. It is interesting to note that this Rent had hardly varied from the yearly value of the Manor 300-yrs before. In 1303 it was £82-9s-3d & in 1337 £84 & 1381 £90.
Earl Walter Giffard & Countess Ermengarde Granted a Wood called Lullested in Princes Risborough to the Abbey of Notley, on its Foundation. This Grant was confirmed by Henry II & John & by Edward III.
In 1291 the Temporalities of the Abbey in Princes Risborough were Lands & Meadows worth 12s-9d a year. The Abbey probably obtained further Grants of Land in the Parish, since at the Dissolution it Held the Manor & Rectory of Princes Risborough, valued at £40 a year. Henry VIII Granted this Manor, known as the Abbots Manor, to the Dean & Chapter of Oxford, but they forfeited it not long afterwards. Edward VI on his Accession to the Throne gave it to Robert King, Bishop of Oxford, but Elizabeth recovered the Manor from the Bishop in 1589. In the same year, she had already Granted it to Thomas Crompton, Robert Wrighte & Gilley Merick. Crompton Sold it to John Jackman, who Held it at his death in 1622 when it passed to his son. The latter Sold it in 1624 to Joan Chibnall & Vincent Barry, who was the Steward of the King’s Manor. During the Civil War, this Manor presumably came into the hands of Ralph Adeane, who certainly had the Rectory. In a Suit as to the Customs of the Manor in 1675, the King’s Manor & the Abbot’s Manor are both mentioned; the Former is said to belong to the Ancient Demense of the Crown, & not the latter, but both seem to be Held by Thomas Adeane & from this time continued to be Held together.
Culverton is 1st mentioned in 1247. Stephen son of Hugh of Culverton then Held 1-Hide of Land of Philip son of Oliver. He had formerly paid the yearly Rent of 1-Mark, but it was changed by Agreement to the Payment of a Clove Gilly-Flower yearly. In 1317 Hugh of Culverton made an Exchange of Land in Princes Risborough with John de Foxle & his wife Constance. Hugh by this Settlement was to Hold his Land & Tenements for life, with remainder to John & Constance & the Heirs of John. The other piece of Land which changed hands was to be Held by John & Constance & the Heirs of John. These arrangements suggest that Constance was possibly the Heiress of Hugh de Culverton. John de Foxle died, in 1324/25, Seised Jointly with his wife of Land at Culverton. Constance then Held them alone & presumably was succeeded by Thomas de Foxle.
In the next Century Richard de la Hay Held the Manor of Culverton, which in 1443 was settled intact on Matthew de la Hay & his wife Anne. It was Sold in 1516/17 by Thomas a Botre & his wife Joan to Robert Bonner. It had apparently been the Inheritance of Joan. In 1633/34 the Manor of Culverton alias Frogmore House passed from Charles Alden & his wife Alice to Ralph Baldwin; 5-yrs later the Latter Conveyed it to Francis Steevens. John de Foxle Held his Land in Culverton of the King in Chief, of the Manor of Princes Risborough. He did Suit of Court at Risborough every 3-weeks & paid a yearly rent of 33s-9d.
In 1316/17 the King Granted him & his Heirs the Right of Free Warren in all his Demesne lands in Princes Risborough & Saunderton.
Edward, the Black Prince, became the Owner of the Manor in 1343, which was located on the Site formerly known as Court Close, later The Mount. The Site of a Rectangular Enclosure with a Moated Annexe, now largely Destroyed by a Car Park. Excavated in 1955 when various remains were uncovered, including Wall Footings, Pottery, decorated Paving Tiles & a Coin of Edward I, Minted in 1280/81. The evidence suggested that the Site had been occupied from 13th to 18thC. This is thought to be the Site of the Manor of Edward the Black Prince. A Stud is Documented here from as early as 11thC & may have occupied the Annexe attached to the Embanked Enclosure. The only upstanding remains of the Enclosure survive as an Earthen Bank dividing a Path from the Churchyard.
The Park: The Manor of Princes Risborough in 1086 was Assessed at 30-Hides, & of these 20 were then contained in the Demesne of the King. This suggests that even in the 11thC the Nucleus of a Park already existed & a few years later the Wood of Earl Walter Giffard is mentioned in the Foundation Charter of Notley Abbey. The Park was mentioned in the Inquisition taken at the death of Richard Earl of Cornwall & the Abbot of Notley had various Rights in it, to maintain which he was continually making complaints to the King. Edward II & probably his Predecessors used the Park of Risborough as a Stud-Farm. The Buildings in the Manor were Repaired in 1318 so that the Horses of the King’s Stud could be properly kept there & a special Inclosure was made in which the Horses might be Exercised. Orders were given that the Keeper of the Stud should have whatever was required for the Horses. The Colts are particularly specified in some of the Orders & in the Appointment of William de Framesworth as Keeper of the Stud, it is specially mentioned that he was to have the Custody of the Colts as well as of the Horses already broken in. The Deer in the Park was also mentioned in 1337 when Orders were given that 32 should be taken from the Parks of Risborough & Cippenham (nr Slough) & sent to Westminster for the Funeral Expenses of John Earl of Cornwall, the King’s brother. The Park was, however, always Granted with the Manor until Henry VIII Granted an Inclosure, called Risborough Park, to Sir Edward Don. The Dons had already Held the Parkership of Risborough; Edward IV had Granted it to Sir John Don, who retained his Office after the Accession of Henry VII. In 1520 the Office of Parker was Granted to Sir Edward himself & to Sir John Daunce in Survivorship. Sir Edward’s daughter & Heiress Anne married George Cotton of Whittington, Glos & she Held the Park for her life.
Chief or with a Demi Lion Sable
The Reversion, to Fall in after her death, was Sold in 1562 by Edward Daunce to Sir William Dormer. Robert Lord Dormer, the son of Sir William, died Seised of the Risborough Park in 1617, his Heir being his grandson Robert, whose Estates were Sequestered during the Civil War. In 1561 George Gosnald, of Colston Basset, Notts., obtained the Estate of Lord Dormer in Princes Risborough on a Lease, paying £230 a year. Lord Dormer was said to have Held it at a yearly rental of £100. This Estate was not definitely called the Park of Princes Risborough, but it seems probable that it may be identified with it. No mention of the Park is made after the Restoration & it seems to have been recovered by the Lords of the Manor. When Ralph Adeane Held the Property in 1653 there were 800-acres of Wood & 60 of Furze & Heath attached to the Manor, the total acreage of Land of all kinds being 1,360-acres & Rents being paid further to the value of £15 a year. The Abbot’s Manor was not included in this.
One of 3-Mill Sites in Princes Risborough, in Picts Lane, also Longwick & the Park Watermill off Summerleys Road dates from the 17thC. It was on the Estate of Lord Rothschild & was occupied for many years by Joseph Rogers. Around 1893 it passed into the Occupation of the Gurney Brothers, at which time it had 3-pairs of Stones. Around 1895 it was converted to a Roller Mill on the Tattersall System. The Mill was Powered by an Overshot Wheel of 23 or 24-ft in dia, with a Steam Engine for Supplementary Power. The Watermill was still in working order when visited by Stanley Freese in the 1930s, by which time the Waterwheel had been replaced by a Turbine.
Little Mill House (centre), part of a former Watermill that existed at least as early as 1788. The Mill was converted about 25-yrs ago into 3-very different Detached Residences
In the Domesday Book, there were 2-Mills at Princes Risborough, worth 14s-8d a year. They may probably be identified with the 2-Watermills mentioned in the Reign of Henry III. Geoffrey Neyrnut Held one of these of the King of Almain, then Richard Earl of Cornwall, the Lord of the Manor & the 2nd of Richard de la Forde. One Watermill was Held in the 17thC by William Hampden. It was left under his Will to his cousin Richard Hampden.
The Mills are thought to be represented by Culverton Mill some distance to the South which dates to the early-14thC at least (Farley et al, 2007) & Park Mill, at Summerleys West of the Train Station no longer a Working Mill but Converted into a House. These Mills were based along the Stream arising near Culverton Farm at Pyrtle Spring. However the Watercourse is largely absent today, the Bed of the Mill Stream broken up by later Agricultural activity. The Culverton Watermill Estate between Risborough & Saunderton was Sold by Auction in 1903, at which time the Mill had 3–Floors & was Powered by Water & Steam.
Turnpike Road between Princes Risborough & Thame. This Road was Established in 1821 & is now known as the A4129. On old Maps the Village is named ‘Long Wick’ (2-words). Cattle Drovers passed through Longwick to take Herds from the Welsh Borders & Herefordshire to London & there were 2-Tollgates in the Village. The 1851 Census for Longwick showed a Population of 369. The 1st School for the Village was Established in 1876. By 1931 the Population had increased to 579. In the 1900s a Major Sawmill was in Operation off Thame Road, owned by the Walker Family. This was one of the largest in Southern England & closed in the early-1970s. The Church of England School in the Village was Opened in 1966, the same year as Mains Drainage was brought to Longwick, Owlswick & Meadle.
It was then called Longwick Mill, a name which is still used for the Watermill in the Hamlet of Longwick at the present day. A Watermill was also Held by Robert, Lord Dormer, early in the 17thC & a Watermill & a Windmill are mentioned in 1712, being then in the possession of Charles Dormer.
Longwick Watermill – A long-established Mill Site, probably dating back to Domesday (1086), the Watermill was still in working order in the 1930s. Longwick Mill which whilst dating back to the 17thC is still run as a Family Business (G B Gomme & Son). Although this is now thoroughly Mechanised the Traditional Buildings & old Millstones are still to be seen. In its time it has been used as a Corn Mill & a Paper Mill. With a good Water Source, it has been Water-driven for most of its life, but it was augmented by Steam at the time of WW1. A Grade II Listed former Watermill set in Grounds of the old Mill Pond. The Millers House is a former Mill house dating back to c.1750 with later additions in 1810. Character features include a Catslide Rear Roof, Oak Doors, Sash windows, Limestone effect Walls, Open Fireplaces & Exposed Beams. Lawned Gardens wrap around the House & back onto the Old Mill Pond.
In the 14thC, there was a Watermill at Culverton. A Mill was 1st mentioned in the Settlement made between Hugh of Culverton & John de Foxle in 1317 & the Latter died Seised of a Watermill. In the Conveyances of the Manor of Culverton in the 17thC, the Watermill passed with the Manor.
The Buckingham Arms Pub was situated on Longwick Road. This Pub was Demolished in the 1920s to be replaced by another Larger Pub of the same name. This Later Pub was in turn Demolished & a Tesco Store & Car Park built on the Extended Site.
The Kop Hill Climb: In 1910 Motorcyclists, looking for somewhere to stretch their Machines, found just what they were looking for in the sinuous & steep Kop Hill Road that Climbs to the Top of the picturesque Chiltern Hills. Within a year Cars joined the Motorcycles & the event quickly became The Kop Hill Climb. As Speeds increased so too did the Roll Call of Famous Cars, Bikes & their intrepid Drivers. The Greats of the day like Sir Malcolm Campbell in BlueBird, Raymond Mays in his Bugatti, Henry Seagrave in his Sunbeam & the wonderfully named Count Zborowski in his 8-Cylinder Ballot were regular Competitors. In fact, the Count recorded the fastest time for a Car in his monster Aero Engine Ballot climbing the narrow winding Hill in 26.8-secs. But in 1925 one Motorcyclist went even quicker – the Legendary Freddie Dixon. Riding his highly tuned Douglas he averaged an astonishing 81-mph from a standing start to put the Record out of reach forever. Fate was to step in at that event when a Spectator who refused to back away from the Course, despite the best efforts of the Marshals, was struck by a Competitor & broke his leg. The RAC Stewards stopped the Meeting & within a week declined to Grant any further Permits for High-speed Contests on Public Roads in the UK, & that was that – until a change in the Road Traffic Act allowed Kop Hill Climb to come roaring back. Today it’s no longer a Competition, but a moving Celebration of the History of the Car & the Motorcycle. A chance to marvel at over 100-yrs of Pioneering, Mechanical progress powered by Steam, Petrol, Electricity, Eccentricity & Innovation. The Road 1 in 4 at its steepest near the top after winding its way up through a Wooded valley situated above the Picturesque Town of Princes Risborough. Go back a Century or 2 & Kop Hill was just one of a number of stony & bumpy Cart Tracks that led up the Open Scarp. Early Competitors would have found it a challenge, particularly given the fragile Tyres & Suspension (or lack of it) of the day. One particular hump, still apparent today, was infamous for launching Riders in the air.
About a 100M years ago what is now Lacey Green, along with the rest of the Chilterns & most of Britain, was lying on the Bed of a Shallow Sea. In fact the Chalk which makes up the Body of the Chilterns was formed over a Period of Millions of years by the skeletons of microscopic Sea Creatures, which rained down on the Sea Bed. The Inhabitants of this Lost Sea, including shells, sea urchins, sponges & sharks, can still be found locally today in the form of beautifully preserved Fossils.
13th November 1943 – Boeing B-17 “Miriam” GY-N of the 367th Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group, Crashed near Princes Risborough. Shortly after Taking-off in Bad Weather from Thurliegh, Beds, the Aircraft Flew into a Downdraft which sent it into a Dive. Most of the Crew Bailed out, but the 21-yr-old Pilot, 2nd L Clyde “Sparky” Cosper, stayed with the Aircraft & avoided Crashing into Rooftops before Impacting in a Field near Longwick. The Bomb Load detonated on Impact, Destroying the Aircraft & killing Cosper. A Plaque dedicated to Cosper was Erected outside the Princes Risborough Library.
“In Memory of 2nd Lt Clyde ‘Sparky’ Cosper. Unveiled some 49-yrs after his death, this Memorial highlights just 1-Act of Heroism, which resulted in the ultimate Sacrifice anyone can make, yet is a single representation of the countless Acts of Heroism displayed during one of mans bleakest hours.”
Aston Rowant & Chilterns Spring Line Villages 