Loughton, Buckinghamshire

, to the west of, and about 1 mile from, the city centre.

The village name is an Old English language word, and means 'Luhha's estate'. In the Domesday Book of 1086 the village was recorded as "Lochintone". All Saints Church is the oldest surviving building in Loughton.

Civil parish

The civil parish of Loughton also includes the National Bowl, Great Holm/Loughton Lodge, Knowlhill. It is bordered by H4 Dansteed Way to the north, V4 Watling Street to the west, a tiny stretch of H8 Standing Way to the south, and the A5 to the east.

Modern Loughton district

The original village has now been incorporated into the modern 'grid square' of Loughton. However much of the character of the old village remains. Today Loughton is a mainly residential area but is also home to a large Equestrian Centre, in the grounds of which the medieval field pattern and fish pond can still be seen.

The district is bounded by the A5 to the east, H5 Portway to the north, V4 Watling Street to the west and H6 Childs Way to the south.

Great Holm

Great Holm is primarily a residential district and contains a high point overlooking much of the central area of Milton Keynes.

;Loughton LodgeLoughton Lodge is a small area of Great Holm next to Loughton 'grid square' linked to Loughton by an underpass under which runs the old Bradwell Road and separated from the bulk of Great Holm by Lodge Lake (a balancing lake).

Loughton Lodge is home to the National Badminton Centre, health club, Girl Guides site and a small gated development of luxury apartments.

This district is bordered by H4 Dansteed Way to the north, V4 Watling Street to the west, H5 Portway to the south and the A5 to the east.

Knowlhill

Knowlhill is primarily an employment area with a large parkland alongside the A5. Much of this area is a flood plain of the Shenley Brook, and contains the "Teardrop Lakes" — small balancing lakes.

This district is bordered by H6 Childs Way to the north, V4 Watling Street to the west, H7 Chaffron Way to the south and the A5 to the east.

National Bowl

This district is almost triangular, bordered by H7 Chaffron Way to the north, V4 Watling Street to the west, a tiny stretch of H8 Standing Way to the south, and the A5 to the east.

Pronunciation

The Received Pronunciation of Loughton is IPA| [ˈlaʊtən] ("ou" rhymes with "ouch", the "gh" is silent))

External links

[http://www.loughtonpc.org.uk/ Official parish council website]

Archival photos and recorded interviews with long-term residents of Loughton are available in [http://clutch.open.ac.uk/schools/loughmid99/home.html 'Living Memories of London Road'] and [http://clutch.open.ac.uk/schools/loughman99/home.html 'The Story of Loughton National School']