Winslow, Buckinghamshire

History

Winslow was first recorded in a royal charter of 792–93 in which it was granted by Offa of Mercia to St Albans Abbey as Wineshauue, which means Wine's Burial Mound The Domesday Book of 1086 records it as Weneslai.

A late Celtic copper torc has been found here, and also a silver drinking-cup of late Roman design.

Notable buildings

One of the finer buildings in Buckinghamshire is situated in this small town. Winslow Hall, which sits on the main road leading into the town from Aylesbury. It was built possibly from the designs of Sir Christopher Wren by William Lowndes, secretary to the Treasury. His name and the date 1700 are to be seen on the frieze over the door. The Anglican parish church in High Street, dating from about 1320 is dedicated to St. Laurence, and is twinned with St Paul's Church in Winslow, Arizona. The church has a ring of 8 bells, the heaviest weighing 19 long cwt (970 kg).

The half-timbered Bell Hotel was first recorded in the late 16th century and soon became the main hostelry in the town.

Keach's Baptist Chapel, dating from 1695 in its present form, is probably the oldest surviving nonconformist chapel in Buckinghamshire.

Leisure

The Whaddon Chase fox hunt has traditionally met in the Town Square at Winslow every Boxing Day for many years. The occasion is very well attended with over a thousand people visiting the town on Boxing Day each year. The Silver Band from the nearby village of Great Horwood playing Christmas carols have often been in attendance. Other annual events in the town include a beer festival in March, and the Winslow Show, a gymkhana and agricultural show which is held every August on Sheep Street, across the road from Winslow Hall.

Winslow Hall Opera, formerly known as Stowe Opera was reformed after a gap of six years and since 2012 is performed in the grounds of Winslow Hall.

The Lions Club of Winslow meets fortnightly in the Bell Hotel in the town and prides itself on helping the community of Winslow and the surrounding areas.

In 2017, Sir Thomas Fremantle's new school site will bring a much needed expansion of sporting facilities to the town. These will include a 4 court sports hall, large dance studio, fitness suite and a range of all-weather pitches.

Modern housing developments

Verney Road Estate - Phase 1 - Built in 2010s by Bellway and Cala Homes

Phase 2 - Built in 2015 by Bloor Homes

Phase 3 - Built in 2016/17 by Bloor Homes

Phase 4 - Going through planning process (Bloor)

Phase 5 - Planned in 2020s as stated in the Winslow Neighbourhood Plan (WNP)

Land at Tinkers End - Also planned in the WNP and going through planning process.

Transport

The A413 road linking Buckingham and Aylesbury, runs through the centre of Winslow, forming the high street. This was originally the Wendover to Buckingham Turnpike, which was diverted to go through Winslow by Act of Parliament in 1742.

The town formerly had its own railway station on the "Varsity Line" (Oxford/Cambridge), with a spur to Aylesbury (from Verney Junction). The trackbed remains in place and, when reopened, it will provide new rail connections with London, Milton Keynes, Aylesbury and Oxford.

The Sustrans National Cycle Route 51 (Oxford – Colchester) goes east–west through Winslow, via Milton Keynes or Bicester. As of December 2016, a new 5.6-mile (9.0 km) shared use path between Buckingham and Winslow, neared completion.

Bus services to and through Winslow include the x60 Aylesbury – Milton Keynes express, the route 60 Aylesbury – Buckingham and the route 50 Milton Keynes – Winslow. There is also a number of Winslow Community Bus Services.

Winslow town council

Winslow Town Council (WTC) is a group of 12 members, spilt into 4 committees : Amenities, Development, Events, and Finances and General Purposes. The Town Council meets around once a month.

Education

Winslow is home to Furze Down School for children with special educational needs, aged 5–19. The town is also served by Winslow Church of England Combined School, which is a mixed, voluntary controlled primary school, that takes children from ages four to eleven. The head Teacher is Mrs Colmer and it has no deputy. The school has approximately 520 pupils. State Secondary schools for Winslow children are the highly rated Sir Thomas Fremantle School with Buckingham School and the Royal Latin School in nearby Buckingham and the Cottesloe School in Wing.

Sport

The local football team are Winslow United who play in division one of the Spartan South Midlands Football League.

Winslow Town Cricket Club, which is based at Elmfield's Gate, next to the football pitch, currently field 3 men's Saturday teams. Two of which play in the Morrants Four Counties League, the 1st XI play in Division 1 and the 2nds in Division 4. The 3rd XI play mainly at Winslow's secondary pitch over at Padbury near Buckingham. The club also fields a Sunday team who play other local Sunday teams. The club also fields many youth teams, ranging from Under 9's to under 15's.

Twin towns

Winslow is twinned with: