Penn, Buckinghamshire

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.632882
longitude= -0.681409
official_name= Penn
population= 3,779 [ [http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=792130&c=penn&d=16&e=15&g=424745&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1216576145546&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 Neighbourhood Statistics 2001 Census] ]
shire_district= Chiltern
shire_county = Buckinghamshire
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Chesham & Amersham
post_town= High Wycombe
postcode_district = HP10
static_

static_image_caption=Penn Street Church
postcode_area= HP
dial_code= 01494
os_grid_reference= SU912935

Penn is a village and civil parish within Chiltern district in Buckinghamshire, England, about 3 miles (5 km) north west of Beaconsfield and 4 miles (6 km) east of High Wycombe. It is 3,991 acres (16 km²) in size.

The village name is originally Brythonic and means simply "hill": the village stands on a particular promontory of the Chiltern Hills, and from the tower of the Holy Trinity Church in the village it is supposedly possible to see into not less than eight other counties. There is also a beacon hill with a signal post on it in the village boundary.

Segraves Manor, the principal manor in Penn, historically belonged to the Penn family. Sybil Penn, wife of David, was dry nurse and foster mother to King Edward VI and Lady of the Bed Chamber to his sister Queen Elizabeth I. William Penn (after whom Pennsylvania is named after William's father, Admiral Sir William Penn who was a close friend of the King) erroneously believed himself to be a descendant of this family. However in 1735 the manor passed from the unmarried Roger Penn to his only heir and sister, who was married to Lord Curzon.

The village of Penn Street also lies within the parish boundary about a mile from the main village, and refers to the road that leads to Penn from nearby Amersham. Penn Street remains home to Earl Howe of the Penn-Curzon-Howe dynasty and the family's long historic influence on the village is evident all around Penn Street church. The church yard contains a number of items from Gopsall, Lord Howe's other country house in Leicestershire. The Lych gate and Countess Howe memorial was moved from Congerstone 1919 when the family sold the Gopsall Estate. Penn Street looks out on a large village green, where cricket is played in summer. Refreshments are served in The Squirrel, a pub with a garden facing directly on to the green.

The area is a very beautiful part of the Chiltern Hills, and is very popular with London executives due to its proximity to road (Junction 3 of the M40 motorway at Loudwater) and rail (Mainline rail at Beaconsfield and London Underground at Amersham) links into the city.

In 1983, Penn became the burial place of the British spy Donald Maclean. Brad Pitt and his current partner, Angelina Jolie, reportedly own a house in Penn.

The Cottage Bookshop in Penn has been used as one of the filming locations for the "A Tale of Two Hamlets" episode of the ITV television program "Midsomer Murders". It was also used to film an episode called "" of the children's television show ChuckleVision. The tree acre set for "Nanny McPhee" was also constructed there.

Medical pioneers Dr.Louisa Garrett Anderson and Dr.Flora Murray are buried in the grounds of the Holy Trinity Church.

References

External links

* [http://www.pennandtylersgreen.org.uk/ Penn and Tyler's Green Community and Village website] - run by the Penn & Tylers Green Residents' Society - this site contains news, events, photos and a village map and articles.
* [http://www.pennandtylersgreen.co.uk/ Penn and Tyler's Green Independent Village website]
* [http://www.pennstreetvillage.co.uk/ Penn Street village website]
* [http://www.pandtg.org.uk/ Penn and Tylers Green FC]
* [http://www.871penn.org/ 871 (Penn) Squadron Air Training Corps Website - Air Cadets]