The village toponym is derived from the Old English for "Eadwulf's barrow".[4] The Domesday Book of 1086 records it as "Eddinberge";[5] records from 1413 list it as "Edlisburgh";[6] and some postcards found from 1911 are labelled with "Eddlesboro'" (though this is likely for the purpose of shortening the name for efficiency).
Parish church
The wall paintings in the nave of St Mary's Church
The earliest parts of the church date from the 13th century. A chantry was added in 1338 and the tower in 1340. The closeness of these construction dates indicates how rich Edlesborough parish was at the time. Much of the church was altered in the 15th century, including the chantry, which has given the church a very 15th-century character.[9][10]
Thomas Cobhambury appears as vicar of Edlisburgh in 1413.[6]
On 28 March 1824, the tower was struck by lightning, setting it on fire. The roof's lead melted, and the molten lead set fire to everything it struck. Villagers fought the fire, which burned for 12 hours until it was extinguished.[9]
A more modern addition is a two-light stained glass window on the theme of the Nativity by M. E. Aldrich Rope, also in an Arts and Crafts style.[13]
The Church contains six tuned bells, and one calling bell.[14] It previously had only 5 tuned bells and one calling bell, however, another tuned bell was added after the fire in 1824. Since the Church was decommissioned, the bells no longer ring often, however, they are used during occasional special events.
Economic and social history
The Lower Icknield Way, a prehistoric track that runs below the Chiltern Escarpment, runs through the village and aligns with the church mound.
The village was once a centre for the straw plait industry.[citation needed]RAF Edlesborough was a radio station near Dagnall.
The nearby Edlesborough Hill is a low wooded hill beside the River Ouzel just south of the village. For decades it was the site of a Classic trials motor sport event known as the March Hare in which a variety of vehicles tried to climb the hill's steep ascent as a test of their capabilities.[15][16]
St. Mary's Village Carnival
Annually, on the first Saturday in July,[17] Edlesborough and the surrounding communities put on an annual carnival, held on the Village Green. It features several attractions, starting with a float parade in which several parties compete for a rosette. These parties include the local Scout group and Edlesborough Primary Academy, the village school, as well as other local scout groups and schools from the other villages surrounding Edlesborough. Other attractions include fairground rides, various shops, a classic vehicle display,[18] barbeques and other food stalls, various performances by local performance groups, a dog show,[19] and an owl display.
Carnival History
It didn't begin on the village's Green, as it does today. At first, it was a traditional Church fete, hosted in the Vicarage garden, before being moved to Park Farm in Eaton Bray in 1965. In 1988, it was moved once again to Eaton Bray Recreational Ground, however, the next year, it was moved to the Edlesborough Village Green. It was originally set to alternate between Eaton Bray Recreational Ground and Edlesborough Village Green, however, the former soon became too small to accommodate the growing event, and it now remains in Edlesborough.[19]
Carnival Themes
Each year, the carnival chooses a different theme, and that theme is often reflected in the float parade.[20]
- In 2020, during lockdown, instead of a carnival, a scarecrow competition was held, where people made scarecrows and put them on display around the village.[21]
- In 2021, the carnival, while not cancelled, was delayed, instead taking place on the 28th of August.[22]
Local Myths And Legends
- A legend says that a tunnel leads from the Church into a former pub, then known as The Bell when it was running. The pub has since been transformed into a private residence.
- While the aforementioned pub "The Bell" was still running, some witnesses claim that after hours, the ghost of a girl with a besom broom could be seen sweeping leaves from the floor by the fireplace. The first report of this sighting claimed that the apparition asked for a better broom.[23]
- Pine Road in the village is said to be the most haunted in the local area, with a ghost known as "The Mulk" said to make regular appearances on nights with a full moon. Residents have reported seeing a tall, ghostly figure accompanied by a brown and white dog running up and down the road.
- It is said that, on dark nights, riding on horseback down the road leading from the Church towards Tring Road, is the ghost of Dick Turpin. He was said to hide in the attic of Butler's Manor in Northall, looking out for coaches to come past for him to hold up.[24]
The village green has two football pitches, one enclosed tennis court and a cricket square. There is a small playing area for children in the green, as well as another in The Grange, which is a residential development further out in the village. There is also a sports pavilion next to the tennis court, which was upgraded in 2021 to include a gym and a café. Nearby, the more central area of the village contains the Edlesborough Post Office and Stores, a corner shop that sells general food supplies and birthday cards, as well as serving as a post office.
Talk Talk
The English band Talk Talk filmed a music video for their song "Dum Dum Girl" on their 1984 album It's My Life. The video was filmed on Sparrow Hill Farm; the parish church can be seen in the background. The video was released on the band's 1990 video compilation "Natural History: The Very Best Of Talk Talk".[27][28][29]
Gróf, László (1988). Children of Straw -– The story of a Vanished Craft and Industry in Bucks, Herts, Beds and Essex. Southampton: Barracuda Books. ISBN0-86023-290-5.[page needed]
