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News

NEW BOOK: HOW ONE MAN TRANSFORMED A TOWN:
WINSLOW 1640–1770 AND WILLIAM LOWNDES

Why does Winslow Hall dwarf the rest of the town? Why is there a vast open space in front of it? Why has Winslow got so many houses with a mixture of architectural styles from different centuries? Why are all the farmhouses hidden away in the fields?

This book tries to answer those questions, starting with Winslow in the 1640s when it was a town of small-scale farmers and craftsmen and had two visits from Oliver Cromwell. William Lowndes went off to London in 1667 and soon made enough money to start buying up land in Winslow and knocking down houses. He turned the town into a place where one family owned most of the land, and built a mansion in a style Winslow people had never seen. Meanwhile the Baptists became very influential for a time and built their own meeting house. Lowndes family money helped to create a town full of doctors and lawyers who modernised their houses, and the market and turnpike road provided business for inns and shops. The open fields were enclosed and farmers moved out into newly built farmhouses.

The book’s 386 pages also include ten detailed studies of Winslow families and 28 photos and maps. It is available from the Bucks Archaeological Society (https://bas1.org.uk/) for £11 + £3.50 p&p. If you’re in Winslow you can get it for £11 direct from David Noy (16 McLernon Way, tel.711683, d.noy@btinternet.com).

Please sign the petition to stop the closure of the TSB Bank in Winslow: click here.

The Bucks Family History Society has published a transcription of the Winslow parish registers 1560-1901 on CD-ROM: click here to order

A transcription of the Winslow Congregational registers, with lists of members and abstracts of some minutes, is now available from the Eureka Partnership.

Winslow books for sale:

David Noy, Winslow in 1556: The Survey of the Manor (Bucks Archaeological Society, 2013): £5
David Noy, Winslow Manor Court Books 1327-1377 and 1423-1460 (2 vols, Bucks Record Society, 2011): £50
Alan Wigley, A Window on Winslow (Winslow, 1981): £5 - this contains many historical photos of Winslow

Please contact d.noy@btinternet.com for more information.

Additions to website

11 Jan 2021	Inventory of Sarah Baseley of Swanbourne, widow, 1885
8 Jan	Debate about building a public room, 1880 Fatal accident to Emmanuel Carter at Winslow Station Royal and Central Bucks Agricultural Association Show, 1880: a major event where the latest farming equipment was displayed
6-7 Jan	Old George: sale in 1821 Football: three more reports from early 1880 Benefit societies in 1880: The Hand in Hand and Provident held their annual festivals but the Foresters was wound up "Our Flower Show": Dr Newham's advice on cottage gardening Nag's Head: annual tripe supper, 1880 Literary Institute: founded in 1880 Buckinghamshire Election, 1880: Henry Wigley wrote a victory song for the Liberals The George: sale of furniture in 1880
4-5 Jan	Keach's Meeting House: an account of Benjamin Keach with a description of the building as it was in 1929 Schools: opening of the Misses Barton's school at 20 Horn Street, closure of Mrs Williams' school at 1 Station Road United Schools: accounts for 1879 Baptist Tabernacle: building of the Centenary Hall, 1880 Relocation of the gasworks and formation of the New Gas Company, 1880
1 Jan	Additions to: The Bell (amateur theatricals in 1889), Buckingham Road (sale of Gubblesgore, 1906), Jones family (a play by W.J. Jones performed in London in 1898) Football: Winslow Junior Rovers, 1893-4
31 Dec 2020	Additions to: Nag's Head (an incident in 1878), Market Square (report of Boxking Day meet, 1923), Keach's Meeting House (letter about the porch, 1929)
27-28 Dec	Redfield: valuation of the contents of Selby Lodge and farm after the death of Edward Selby-Lowndes, 1885 Schools: Dr Newham's side of the argument about the United Schools Committee Market Square: report of the Michaelmas fair in 1879; almost a fatal accident outside W.H. French's shop Football: Winslow v Schorne College, 1879 Baptist Tabernacle: Rev. F.J. Feltham's first anniversary, 1879, and report on recent progress Closure of the Reading Room, 1879 More about the short-lived National Land & Labour Union and its General Secretary Lewis Clarke
23 Dec	Flower Show: accounts for 1878 and a poem about the 1879 show in Winslow dialect United Schools Committee: Dr Newham's report for 1878 Football: more from the 1878-79 season Benefit Society festivals in 1879: there were now three, the Foresters, the Winslow Provident and (new) the Hand in Hand
21 Dec	Winslow Past and Present (Bicester Herald, 1879): a comparison between Winslow in 1879 and 50 years earlier, probably by Arthur Clear and/or his son A.J. Clear
19 Dec	Will of Thomas Adams of Little Horwood, maltster, 1704/5 (proved 1706/7) Will of Thomas Curtes of Little Horwood, yeoman, 1609 Will of John Gerard of Drayton Beauchamp, clerk, 1649 (proved 1650): second husband of Rebecca Fige and apparently a strong Puritan Account of the trial of Benjamin Keach in 1664, published in 1775 and printed in the Buckingham Advertiser in 1877 (PDF file)
16 Dec	An attempt to suppress the sale of the Oxfordshire Telegraph, 1878 A description of insanitary living conditions in Winslow, 1878 Baptist service commemorationg Benjamin Keach Royal Oak: incident of drunkenness outside and accidental slur on its reputation Sale of Miss West's furniture, 1878 Football: Winslow v Quainton 1878; this is now the earliest known match of the Winslow team Benefit / Friendly Societies: newspaper reports of annual feasts, 1850s-70s Sale particulars for 1-5 Vicarage Road, 1950, claiming that part was the old vicarage
13-14 Dec	More debate about the United Schools Committee, 1878 30 Horn Street: sale of the furniture of the late Sarah Carpenter
9 Dec	New page: Arundel House (35 High Street): Grace's School and later the Electricity Showroom
7 Dec	Will of Richard Hurst of Addington, grazier, 1750 (proved 1751): owner of property in Winslow Vicarage Road: information from 1929 rating valuation added
5 Dec	Will of Nathaniel Haslewood, 1689: more information added Board of Guardians: business included vaccination for smallpox and sending local paupers to live in Manchester
1 Dec	Board of Guardians: minutes for 2 & 9 Nov 1835
28-29 Nov	W.H. French cycled to London and back in a day, 1877 Postmaster controversy, 1877: an early example of a Conservative MP rewarding one of his supporters Chandos Arms: collision between a ginger beer cart and a milk cart Bowling Green: poem to celebrate T.P. Willis' purchase in 1877 Church: proposal for restoration of the interior rejected Amateur Athletic Sports 1877 Board of Guardians: minutes for 19 Oct 1835 including details of 7 Winslow paupers Additions to George Inn
26 Nov	Congregational church: purchase of the original building in 1816 Punch House: lease to Susannah Hill in 1816 Old Crown: lease to Richard Barton in 1816 Schools meeting 1877: a stormy meeting which ended with everything carrying on as before; some correspondence in the local press followed
24 Nov	Station: serious accident in 1877 Refusal of Anglican burial service for an unbaptised baby Station Road: sale of 1-2 Belle Vue Terrace, 1877 Vestry, 1877: they wanted to look into the removal of the railings on the Market Square Sale of the Bowling Green and Walled Garden, 1877 Sale of 9 Horn Street and adjacent property under the will of William Bowler Board of Guardians: minutes for 5 & 12 Oct 1835
22 Nov	Parson's Close: sale in 1946 Projected building of Glebe Farm, 1930 Church: notes by A.J. Clear on gallery and harmonium Congregational Church: tombstone of Daniel and Mary Sear, and sign from the Ship Inn Board of Guardians: minutes for 21 Sep to 5 Oct 1835 - the original alignment of the new Workhouse was changed
20-21 Nov	Board of Guardians: minutes for 7 & 14 Sep 1835 - trouble with the contractors for building the Workhouse Manor court 1815: encroachments - a list of people who had taken over roadside land to use as gardens Additions to: second bankruptcy of James King; Baptist Tabernacle (new pastor in 1877); Lewis Clarke (agent for emigration to Queensland); National Agricultural Labourers Union (activities in 1877); conviction of Walter Essex Cross; Workhouse (three inmates who had been there for more than five years in 1861); Congregational Church (temperance address, 1896); Redfield (sale of the remains of the Lambton estate, 1950)
18 Nov	Selby Villa: advertised to let in 1863 as a hunting box Verney Road: sale advert for "Fairview", 1948 Redfield: will of H.R. Lambton, 1896 Keach's Meeting House: an account by A.J. Clear printed in 1934
14-15 Nov	Will of John Markham of London, gentleman, 1837 (proved 1838): lived at 28 Horn Street until 1835 Will of John Gerard of Drayton Beauchamp, clerk, 1649 (proved 1650): husband of Rebecca Fige Board of Guardians: minutes for 26-31 Aug 1835
9-10 Nov	Pigot's Directory, 1830 Church: Opening of the chancel aisle and vestry, 1889: the last structural part of the Victorian restoration Baptists: An account of Benjamin Keach and of the foundation of the Baptist Tabernacle printed in 1866
4-6 Nov	Robert Maynwaring the vicar was severely reprimanded in 1609 for resorting to alehouses and playing at dice and cards Will of Robert Maynwaring of Granborough, 1694 (proved 1695): the vicar's son Will and inventory of Robert Maynwaring of Granborough, 1721 (proved 1732): the next generation St Albans Archdeaconry Court 1567-1602: list of cases concerning Winslow people John Deverell (d.1758): photo of his name engraved on the inside of a watch he made
31 Oct	Will of Mary Gent spinster, 1877 (proved 1888): aged 89 when she died Will of Richard Willmore of Shipton, farmer, 1873 (proved 1883)
27 Oct	Board of Guardians, 1835: list of people still receiving outdoor relief, mainly elderly women, orphans and illegitimate children
25 Oct	Will of Samuel Rowe, labourer, 1881 (proved 1885): lived in Verney Road, previously at The Boot Will of Hannah Fyge of London, spinster, 1736 (proved 1738): last bearer of the Fyge surname which had been very important at Winslow Administration of John Stevens of Granborough, 1731: his widow arranged it on the day she married her second husband Ann Hazzard of the Three Pigeons: repayment of a mortgage Trade union activities in and around Winslow, 1874 More about William Ridgway of the Golden Lion, 1874
21-22 2020	New page: Seaton family: an important family in the 17th and 18th centuries which disappeared from Winslow in the 19th New page: Vicarage Road, Verney Road and Furze Lane: history of the houses from the 1680s to the Second World War Will of Ann Hitchcocke of London, widow, 1632: Valentine Fige was overseer of this very Puritan will Sale of 13 Market Square, 1876 United Schools: 1876 inspection report 1876 by-election: the Liberals went to the Crooked Billet and the Conservatives to the Bell Assault by James King on his sister Charlotte after the death of their brother
18-19 Oct	Will of Ann Hazzard, widow, 1845 (proved 1851): owner of the Three Pigeons Board of Guardians, June 1835: agreement to buy land from Richard Staniford for a new workhouse Letter to the Buckingham Advertiser in 1876 about "early" closing of shops (6 p.m. on Thursdays) Golden Lion: sale of the contents, 1876 Burial of William Henry Lomath at Keach's Meeting House after he was refused an Anglican burial
16 Oct	Will of George William Ingram, retired farmer, 1920 (proved 1922): lived at 86 High Street Return of owners of land, 1873: this shows how most land in Winslow still belonged to the Selby-Lowndes estate Goodyear v Thorpe: slander case at the Buckingham Archdeaconry Court, 1715-17
12 Oct	Will of Thomas Morecraft, gentleman, 1860 (proved 1861): lived at 5 Station Road
7-8 Oct	Minutes of the Board of Guardians of Winslow Union, June 1835, discussing whether to build a new workhouse John Ingram: reports from Bucks County Asylum, 1873-74: he was regarded as quite sane by 1874 and released in December James Bond (d.1869): another Winslow patient at the Asylum Henry Arthur Jones: announcement of his marriage, 1875 Correspondence about the Tent Mission including strong criticism of the vicar 15 Market Square: new partnership of John Hathaway and A.R. French A case brought by John Yeulett about payment for supply of coal to the poor Sale of 22 High Street and premises at the rear, 1875, by Mary Mayne's trustees
29 Sep	Chandos Arms: to let in 1875 with a ginger beer plant School accounts, 1875: the three teachers were paid £60-£70 p.a. Athletic sports, 1875: first record of a popular event The George: dispute with a dentist who had hired a room for monthly visits The Bell: death of George Odell who drove the coach from the station The Greyhound: lengthy legal ruling made in 1826 about the man attended there by Dr Gent Estate of Edith Mary French (died 1900), 1910: a lawsuit after her brother disappeared Will of Edith Jane Jones of Ramsgate, spinster, 1922 (proved 1926): owner of a lot of property in Winslow Will of Susan Adams of Little Horwood, widow, 1669 (proved 1670) Will of Roger Adams of Little Horwood, gentleman, 1678 (proved 1679)
25 Sep	Sale of the Chandos Arms and other property, 1870: this included Rosemary Cottage and Horsemead Piece
23 Sep	H.A. Jones: information from his will made in 1927, including a statement of his views about English theatre Will of William Blake of London, 1632: brother-in-law of Valentine Fige
13-14 Sep	New page: The Three Pigeons (27 High Street) and 29-31 High Street Will of John William Ingram, retired builder, 1905 (proved 1918): owner of a large number of houses Will of Ann Cross, spinster, 1864 (proved 1875): she lived at 13 Market Square
7-8 September	Second bankruptcy of James King, auctioneer, 1874 Sale of John Ingram's grocery business, 1874 A pub crawl with stolen money, 1874 1874: sale of land which later became part of Redfield 1874: discontinuation of Winslow fair 13 Market Square: sale of contents, 1874 Cattle Market: Harrison & Son of Buckingham took over James King's market in the High Street, 1874, and George Wigley established his own market Will of John Grace, schoolmaster, 1885: one of Winslow's most prominent inhabitants Wills of John Adams senior and junior of Little Horwood, yeomen, both proved 1663
5 Sep	Will of Joseph Bowden of Shipton, farmer, 1865 (proved 1867) United Schools Committee, 1874
1 Sep	New page: The Swan: built in 1850-51, and in George Robinson it had perhaps Winslow's longest-ever serving landlord (1879-1933)
31 Aug	Trial of John Ingram, 1874 and Will of John Ingram of Steeple Claydon, farmer, 1876 (proved 1877)
28-29 Aug	Will of Elizabeth Adams of Little Horwood, widow, 1707 (proved 1710) Kelly's Directory of Buckinghamshire, 1895: comprehensive list of businesses and private residents Quarter Sessions 1764: William Walker was fined £4 for trading as a butcher without serving an apprenticeship Alleged assault on and by a gamekeeper, 1770 Avis Burrall v Thomas Bett in a case of slander, 1698-1700 Will of Jane Cox of Little Horwood, widow, 1710 (proved 1711)
22-23 Aug	Advert for agricultural equipment sold by W.H. French, including the latest horse-drawn reaping machine Advert for contractors to build the magistrates' court, 1873 14 Market Square: 14C (the narrow 4-storey building) was described as "nearly new" in 1873 Discovery of Roman objects between Winslow and Great Horwood, 1873 Buckingham Road: sale of nos.4-6, 1873
21 Aug	Will of Henry Sandys of Little Horwood, esquire, 1657 Will of Thomas Illing of Little Horwood, husbandman, 1657 Attempted wife murder, 1873 Will of Thomas Cox, yeoman, 1868 (proved 1876): he lived in Tinkers End and owned the cottages in Short Lane Workhouse: a lukewarm reference for Hannah Adams, schoolmistress in 1851 More about the "school question", 1873 Fire Brigade: grand concert to raise funds, 1873 Vestry, 1873: an uncontroversial year William Jennings, sexton (d.1872): commemorated with a poem in the Bicester Herald
18 Aug	Park Road: sale of building plots, 1906 Will of Thomas Goodger, gardener and brewer, 1856 (proved 1868): he lived at 110 High Street and owned 112-116 Will of Thomas Warner, yeoman, 1845 (proved 1872): owner of some cottages in Western Lane but his effects were valued at less than £20 More about the bankruptcy of William Ridgway of the Golden Lion, 1873 More about Elizabeth Miles (nee Burnham), d.1871
16 Aug	Will of George King, tea dealer, 1893 (proved 1894): his shop was at 2A High Street 12 High Street: added billhead of William Ingram, 1896
14 Aug	New page: 12 High Street (Mercy in Action, formerly Ingram's Butchers and the National Westminster Bank) New page: The Greyhound (Hare and Hounds): a pub from the 1750s to 1820s
12 Aug	Will of Samuel Burnham Dudley, land agent, 1880 (proved 1883): one of Winslow's most prominent citizens Will of Thomas Clark of Shipton, yeoman, 1841 (proved 1853)
9 Aug	Election to the Board of Guardians, 1886: an unsuccessful attempt to displace two Conservatives
7-8 Aug	New page: 14 High Street (the Farm Deli): it was the Royal Oak c.1699-1795 and a shoe shop c.1863-1981 Description of Benjamin Keach by the bookseller John Dunton (1705) Will of Sarah Hinton, widow, 1836 (proved 1837)
2-3 Aug	Will of George King, grocer, 1879 (proved 1884): he ran a shop at 2B High Street for 60 years Another resolution passed in the dispute about the Infants' School, 1872 Contested election for the Board of Guardians: A Congregationalist defeated an Anglican Sale of the stock of the Station Brickyard Theft from an office at the railway station Letter complaining about the lack of weekday services in the church, 1872
31 July	Will of Phillis Cox, spinster, 1856 (proved 1868): occupant of part of 5 Horn Street Will of Thomas Turnham, butcher, 1866 (proved 1868): his shop was at 12 High Street Sale of Silvanus Jones' property, 1915: houses in Horn Street, Church Street and Tinkers End
28-29 July	Will of John Dudley, 1808 and will of Benjamin Dudley, 1739 (proved 1742): information added Will of Robert Williatt Jones of Winslow, gentleman: owner of Blake House Golden Lion: William Ridgway the landlord had a theft from his butcher's shop, went bankrupt and was prosecuted for fraud
25-26 July	Will of Mary Mayne, spinster, 1875: lived at 22 High Street, and left bequests to many relatives Church clock: the new clock paid for by D.T. Willis' bequest, 1885, and an appeal for funds to clean it in 1929 New information about the Black Horse (17 Sheep Street)
23 July	Will of John Procter, gentleman, 1825 (proved 1841): his daughter married into the Hawley family
19 July	New page: Western Lane: its medieval origins, high-density housing in the 19th century, and Winslow's first council houses
16 July	Concert for the Winslow Wesleyan Chapel building fund, 1871 Dispute over infants' school, 1871
14-15 July	Will of Henry Hughes, yeoman, 1827 (proved 1828) Sale of property by George West's executors, 1871 Dudley v Stonhill, 1871: a dispute about the sale of pigs with a lot of information about market days in Winslow Penny readings continued in early 1871 Vestry, 1871: discussion about providing a water tank for the fire brigade (still being debated in 1914)
11 July	Vestry and correspondence, 1870: an abusive poem about John Ingram led to the exposure of some alleged corruption Fire brigade: practice with the new engine showed the water supply wasn't adequate (leading to 60 years of arguments) Penny readings returned in December 1870 after a year's break Married v single cricket match, 1870
9-10 July	Dudley v Monk, 1870: S.B. Dudley claimed damages for libel after Henry Monk told the company in The Bell that he had robbed everyone The Bell: lectures to encourage a "goodly life" and amateur dramatics including a new play by Mrs Boisragon, 1870 King's Head: theft by an actress, 1870 Death of Charles James King after a shotgun accident
6 July	Will of Elizabeth Dockray, widow, 1868 (proved 1871): nee Mayne, lived at 3 Station Road
3 July	Will of Hannah Gray, 1827: probably a servant at the Vicarage Will of Thomas Edwin, farmer and dairyman, 1852 (proved 1853): tenant of Rands Farm (as it wasn't yet called)
1 July	More legal action between the King brothers, 1869 Rev. Alfred Preston introduced a new form of Harvest Festival The Bell: amateur dramatic performances, 1869 Sale of The Boot and cottages in Church Street by the trustees of the will of Thomas Lomath