OS grid reference SP8306 Region South East Sovereign state United Kingdom Shire county Buckinghamshire Dialling code 01296 | Civil parish Ellesborough Country England Local time Thursday 9:34 AM District Wycombe District UK parliament constituency Aylesbury | |
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Population 811 (2001 Census)
820 (2011 Census) Weather 11°C, Wind W at 19 km/h, 88% Humidity | ||
Ellesborough is a village and civil parish in Wycombe district in Buckinghamshire, England. The village is at the foot of the Chiltern Hills just to the south of the Vale of Aylesbury, two miles from Wendover and five miles from Aylesbury. It lies between Wendover and the village of Little Kimble.
Contents
Map of Ellesborough, Aylesbury, UK
The civil parish (population in 2001 was 811) includes the hamlets of Butlers Cross, Chalkshire, Terrick and Dunsmore.
Close to Ellesborough is the Prime Minister's country residence Chequers.
History
The village's name is derived from the Old English for "hill where asses are pastured". This denotes its importance to the nearby settlements known today as The Kimbles and collectively they comprise a typical Chiltern strip parish with Ellesborough containing valuable hill pasture.
In the Domesday Book of 1086 it was recorded as Esenberge. The road from Wendover to Princes Risborough, which makes a very clearly defined detour around the hill on which Ellesborough Church stands, follows the route of the Icknield Way, an ancient trackway used by man in the neolithic age (3000 to 1800 BC) which ran from Norfolk to Avebury in Wiltshire.
Towering over the village is the dominating Beacon Hill, with its grassy mound and lone tree, iconic amongst the Chiltern Hills when viewed from within the Aylesbury Vale. It is also the site of Cymbeline's Mount, also known as Cymbeline's Castle, referred to in the Shakespeare play Cymbeline. In reality, the name refers to the British King Cunobelinus who, alongside his sons, is said to have battled at this site against the Roman Invasion of the British Isles. It is the site of a medieval motte and bailey castle.
Proximity to Chequers
The Church of England parish church of Saints Peter and Paul stands apart from the village, high on the hill overlooking it. Prime Ministers have often attended this church for Sunday morning worship when in residence at Chequers. Tony Blair, however, followed his wife and children to their Roman Catholic church in Great Missenden. Margaret Thatcher was famously known to have prayed at Ellesborough church, finding comfort during the Falklands War.
Notable people
Notable people who live in the village include former Formula One world champion racing driver Sir Jackie Stewart and the actor Sir David Jason.