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Woburn Sands

Woburn Sands photos (14 available)

Old photo of Woburn Sands

Woburn Sands maps (2 available)

Old map of Woburn Sands

Woburn Sands books (6 available)

Woburn Sands memories

Reminiscing

I was born in NW London. My first visit to Woburn Sands was about 1950 when my Uncle Ted and Aunt Ada moved here. They lived at the 'Dene' Aspley Hill. Aunt Ada did the housework for Mrs Russell the owner of the 'Dene' and my uncle drove a lorry for Marston Bricks. My school holidays were spent here cycling around the district. Then in 1955 my father Charles Batham bought 'Quarry Cottage' in Sandy Lane, Aspley Heath. At that time there was no electricity or sewer. Mum cooked on a wood stove and we read by oil lamps. No TV or radio. The toilet was the outhouse. I met my wife Barbara while travelling to work at Bletchley. We married ...read more here
Contributed by Roy Batham

Buckinghamshire memories

Reminiscing

I was born in NW London. My first visit to Woburn Sands was about 1950 when my Uncle Ted and Aunt Ada moved here. They lived at the 'Dene' Aspley Hill. Aunt Ada did the housework for Mrs Russell the owner of the 'Dene' and my uncle drove a lorry for Marston Bricks. My school holidays were spent here cycling around the district. Then in 1955 my father Charles Batham bought 'Quarry Cottage' in Sandy Lane, Aspley Heath. At that time there was no electricity or sewer. Mum cooked on a wood stove and we read by oil lamps. No TV or radio. The toilet was the outhouse. I met my wife Barbara while travelling to work at Bletchley. We married ...read more here
A memory of Woburn Sands contributed by Roy Batham

My roots

Stoke Hammond, the Parish Church c1955

I lived at the family home at the Three Locks, which was about one mile out of Stoke Hammond.  Every Sunday from around five years of age, I walked to St Luke's Parish Church, Stoke Hammond to attend Sunday School.  In later years I was the Sunday School teacher for a time. I was also confirmed here.
Along with my brother, I joined the church choir which we were members for many years.  I remember we walked to the church services very often three times every Sunday.  My brother also played the organ during his late teens, and he was a member of the bell ringing team. I also learnt to ring the bells about eight years ago at this ...read more here
A memory of Stoke Hammond contributed by stephanie mcpherson

From birth to 25yrs

Stoke Hammond, the Three Locks c1965

I lived at the house just at the top of photo. The outbuildings can clearly be seen in the adjoining field to the family home.  I spent all my childhood years playing with my brother and friends here. I used to love watching the working barges going through the locks.  My grandfather kept the Three Locks (known then as The New Inn) as publican for 16yrs. (That was when the barges were horse drawn.)
A memory of Stoke Hammond contributed by stephanie mcpherson

Extracts From Woburn Sands & Buckinghamshire books

Woburn Sands, High Street c1955

Woburn Sands, right on the Bedfordshire border and bleeding across it, grew up when the railway arrived in 1846; its delightful station in Tudor cottage style is on the Bedford to Bletchley junction line. This view looks along the High Street, with Hardwick Road to the left. The war memorial-cum-clock tower has been relocated away from the more recent roundabouts at the junction to a safer location further up the High Street beside the 1874 Institute. The Swan still thrives, now mostly clad in painted weatherboarding.
An extract from from"North Buckinghamshire Photographic Memories".

Woburn Sands, High Street c1955

Further north along the High Street, the photographer looks past the junction with Vicarage Street past a jumble of piecemeal development, mostly late 19th-century small shops. The post office is still in the right-hand building. The brick wall on the left encloses the grounds of Shelton House, the best building in the village, a late 18th- century brick house predating Woburn Sands’ arrival; it is now offices.
An extract from from"North Buckinghamshire Photographic Memories".

Whitchurch, Oving Road c1955

Moving east, the route passes through Whitchurch on its way back to Aylesbury. Whitchurch is a long village with many fine houses and cottages, and also the remains of Hugh of Bolbec’s early 12th-century earthwork castle. Oving Road runs east from the High Street; this view is taken beyond its junction with Market Hill looking west, showing the mix of building materials found in the village: timber-framing, brick, local crumbly limestone, thatch, tiles and slate.
An extract from from"Aylesbury Photographic Memories".

Oving, Church and Black Boy Inn c1955

The Black Boy is on the left, with the Victorian school, now a house, beyond the car. The ugly lean-to on the cottage has been replaced by a conservatory, and the railings by a rubble stone wall. The church, like Quainton’s, was substantially rebuilt, this time in the 1860s, a not uncommon result of medieval use of the local highly friable limestone.
An extract from from"Aylesbury Photographic Memories".

Oving, the Village c1955

Moving north-east of Waddesdon, the last two villages on this tour, Oving and Whitchurch, are on the Quainton- Whitchurch Hills, a ridge of Portland limestone that gives fine views over the Vale of Aylesbury to the south and towards Buckingham to the north. Oving is a most attractive village. Here we see Magpie Cottage, a fine 17th-century timber- framed thatched cottage with whitewashed infill panels, hence the name, presumably.
An extract from from"Aylesbury Photographic Memories".