Hanslope

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Hanslope
unitary_england= Milton Keynes
lieutenancy_england= Buckinghamshire
region= South East England
constituency_westminster=Milton Keynes North East
post_town= MILTON KEYNES
postcode_area= MK
postcode_district= MK19
dial_code= 01908
population=
os_grid_reference= SP803471
latitude= 52.1168
longitude= -0.8279

Hanslope is a village in the Borough of Milton Keynes and is the centre of a Civil Parish of the same name. It is about 4 miles (6 km) WNW of Newport Pagnell, about 4 miles (6 km) north of Stony Stratford, about 8 miles (11km) north of Central Milton Keynes and just south of Northamptonshire. For ceremonial purposes, it is in Buckinghamshire.

History

Previously called "Hanslape" from the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 right through to the Victorian era, it refers in Old English to a muddy place or slope belonging to a man called "Hama".

There was once a castle in the parish (that later became Castlethorpe), that was the seat of the Maudit family. In 1215 William Maudit had started a rebellion against King John of England and was defeated in battle by the king's men. Following King John's death however, Maudit reclaimed his seat and founded a grand park in the parish, remnants of which can still be found in Hanslope today. The castle building has long since disappeared, though the grassy mounds of the motte-and-bailey groundworks can still be clearly seen.

In the medieval period it was a market town, granted in 1293.

In the Victorian period, most of the inhabitants of the village were employed in the manufacture of lace. This was a common trade in Buckinghamshire, and Hanslope lace was renowned for being a particularly fine example.

Parish church: Hanslope spire

A prominent feature of the village is the parish church, St James the Great. The church spire is exceptionally high (180 feet, almost 55m) and, because the village is already on a ridge, it can be seen from a very wide radius. The claim that "before air pollution, it could be seen from London" seems fanciful. The church has an open day in the summer when the tower is open to the public.

Hanslope Park

About half a mile south-east of the village lies Hanslope Park. Once the manorial estate of the village, it is now owned by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and is home to HMGCC (Her Majesty's Government Communications Centre); which researches, designs, develops and produces communications systems and equipment and related hardware and software. During the 2nd World War, the Radio Security Service was based here; it is also rumoured to be home to the Technical Security Department of the UK Secret Intelligence Service.

External links

* [http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/hdhs/frameset.html Hanslope & District Historical Society web site] History, census data, old photographs etc.
* [http://www.hanslopemethodists.org.uk/History.html Hanslope Methodist Chapel] History and recent events
* [http://www.mkanglocatholic.org.uk/stjinfo.htm St. James the Great, Hanslope] Anglican church
* [http://www.hanslopecc.co.uk Hanslope Cricket Club, Hanslope] Village Cricket Club