Edlesborough

The village toponym is derived from the Old English for "Eadwulf's barrow".[4] The Domesday Book of 1086 records it as Eddinberge.[5]

The wall paintings in the nave of St Mary's Church

The Church of England parish church of St Mary the Virgin is built on top of a barrow and its high 14th-century bell tower is a local landmark.[6] The church has been redundant since 1975, when the ecclesiastical parish merged with that of Eaton Bray. Today the church is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, and it is normally open to visitors.[7]

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.[8][9]

Thomas Cobhambury appears as vicar of Edlisburgh in 1413.[10]

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.[8]

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. 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]

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.

- 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]

- 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]

Edlesborough Primary Academy (Formerly Edlesborough School) is a community primary school.[25] It serves the 4–11 age range and has about 250 pupils. The Academy was founded in 1849.[26] The nearest secondary school is The Cottesloe School in Wing, though students that pass the Eleven-Plus exams can also choose to enrol in one of the three Grammar Schools in the relatively nearby town of Aylesbury, the three Grammar Schools being Aylesbury Grammar School, Aylesbury High School, and Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School.

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. Next to the shop is an appliance retail, Janes LTD, and the Heirloom Café.

The village is also home to a village pub, the Traveler's Rest, and a used car dealer, the NMJ Motorhouse.

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. ISBN 0-86023-290-5.
• Page, W.H., ed. (1925). A History of the County of Buckingham, Volume 3. Victoria County History. pp. 350–361.
• Pevsner, Nikolaus (1960). Buckinghamshire. The Buildings of England. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. pp. 114–115. ISBN 0-14-071019-1.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Edlesborough.

• Archives of the Incorporated Church Building Society. "Edlesborough, St. Mary the Virgin". churchplansonline.org. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2009.