- Deanshanger
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Coordinates: 52°02′50″N 0°53′34″W / 52.0473°N 0.8928°W
Deanshanger 
Deanshanger
Deanshanger shown within NorthamptonshirePopulation 3,810 [1] OS grid reference SP7639 - London 55miles District South Northamptonshire Shire county Northamptonshire Region East Midlands Country England Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town Milton Keynes Postcode district MK19 Dialling code 01908 Police Northamptonshire Fire Northamptonshire Ambulance East Midlands EU Parliament East Midlands UK Parliament Current: Northampton South; from next General election: South Northamptonshire List of places: UK • England • Northamptonshire Deanshanger, pronounced deans-hanger, is a village and civil parish in South Northamptonshire, just north of Milton Keynes. In 2007 it was joined with the civil parish of Wicken to form Deanshanger ward, returning two councillors. Deanshanger is in the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Growth Area[2].
Contents
History
Deanshanger used to be called Daneshanger, "Hanger" being an old English word, meaning a clearing in the woods - hence Daneshanger was a clearing in the woods where the Danes lived.[3]
The original population centre of the parish was the hamlet of Passenham. However, from the late 18th century the coming of the Grand Union Canal to the east made Deanshanger an agricultural industrial centre causing it to grow quickly. This growth accelerated with the building of the London and Birmingham Railway in the first half of the 19th century which passed through the nearby villages of Wolverton, Bletchley and Roade.
After a fall out with Henry II in 1170 AD, Thomas Becket is said to have sought refuge in the Gilbertine Monastery in Deanshanger (or Dinneshangra as it was then known). Although disguised as a peasant, he was nevertheless recognised by a farm labourer known only as Wayne.[citation needed] At the time the only water supply in the village was foul and brackish, and having heard of the miracle that Becket was said to have performed at nearby Northampton, the farm labourer pleaded with Becket to repeat the performance. Becket is said to have looked towards Heaven, struck the ground with his staff, and immediately a fresh spring appeared. This is one of 703 miracles that is said to have led to his canonisation.[4].
In 2010 a sixteen year old boy was stabbed outside a kingsbrook school in Deanshanger and later died of his injuries.[5] The boy was attacked by a group of four men and the four were arrested and are currently on trial a fifth man is on trial for conspiracy to commit grevious bodily harm. [6]
Demography
At the time of the 2001 census, Deanshanger parish had a population of 2,900 citizens[7] and in 2010 was estimated to be 3,877[1].
Industry
From the 1820s, the main industry in the village was an iron foundry and later an iron oxide works (making pigment for paint)[8]. This gave some of the surrounding area a red colouration from the oxide dust, which was mostly used to produce pigments. However, in 1999, the works closed and was demolished. By 2008, most of the works land has been replaced by the construction of several new housing estates. Extensive remedial work was needed to reverse the harmful effects of the previous industrial use of the site there are still signs of the red stained oxide all around the village. Some land has designated for light industrial use.
Amenities
The village has village hall and community centre (extended in 2008) to provide a venue for events and facilities for community groups, a doctor's surgery and a library. Other amenities include a primary school,[9], a secondary school, Kingsbrook School became Elizabeth Woodville School in 2011 when it merged[10] with Roade Sports College[11] and is now split over two sites. The Deanshanger grounds include the site of a Roman villa[12]. The merged school will be re-named Elizabeth Woodville School. Woodville was born in Grafton Regis which is halfway between the two schools and was Queen consort of King Edward IV.
There is a parish church (Holy Trinity, Church of England) and a Methodist chapel, a post office, two pubs and two members' clubs (sports and social, Conservative club[13]), a pharamacy, a hairdresser, a pizza and kebab takeaway, a Chinese and fish and chips takeaway, a mobile takeaway, and other village stores and newsagent's shops including a greengrocers. On the edge of the village on the A422, is a golf and country club, a hotel, a Thai restaurant and a petrol and service station.[14].
For children, there is a pre-school playgroup, youth club, and junior football club[15]
The village's annual event is a revival of the historic Feast[16] held on a Saturday afternoon and evening in October each year. This includes a fun fair, stalls and firework show.
There is an active village heritage society that organises the Feast, the planting of spring flowers on the roads into the village in autumn, cleaning of the stream (King's Brook) in spring and carol singing in December.
The parish council office is the former primary school and redundant Baptist Chapel building renovated inn 2008-09[17].
Transport
The local bus service runs hourly (between 07:00 and 18:00 Monday to Friday, 08:00 and 18:00 Saturday, no Sunday or Public Holiday services) Bus route 14[18] travels between Deanshanger, Stony Stratford, Old Stratford, Kiln Farm and Milton Keynes town centre and rail station. Certain timetabled buses on this route also travel to Wicken.
The nearest railway station is Wolverton for services to London Euston railway station, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Birmingham and north. Milton Keynes railway station (on the same line) is the nearest station to give access to fast trains to London (40 minutes), intercity and cross-country services. There are several private hire taxi services.
See also
References
- ^ a b SNC (2010). South Northamptonshire Council Year Book 2010-2011. Towcester NN12 7FA. pp. 39.
- ^ MK South Midlands Growth
- ^ Bill Foddy's memories
- ^ David Saint. Most wanted man's miracle. Northampton Chronicle & Echo. 29 December 2008. Retrieved 8 November 2009
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-11805638
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14199793
- ^ Office for National Statistics: Deanshanger CP: Parish headcounts. Retrieved 8 November 2009
- ^ Deanshanger community memory project
- ^ Deanshanger Primary School
- ^ Northampton Chronicle & Echo, 13 June 2011
- ^ Roade School Sports College
- ^ historical and archaeology review of Deanshanger and Passenham
- ^ Deanshanger and District
- ^ 2001 sales promotion to highlight the taxes on petrol
- ^ Deanshanger Colts
- ^ 2008 Feast report Buckingham News
- ^ Deanshanger Parish Council office address
- ^ Bus route 14 information
External links
Categories:- Villages in Northamptonshire
- History of Northamptonshire
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