Akeley, Buckinghamshire Explained

Official Name:Akeley
Static Image Name:Akeley from the churchyard - geograph.org.uk - 187763.jpg
Static Image Caption:Akeley from the churchyard in 2006
Coordinates:52.033°N -0.97°W
Population:514
Population Ref:(2011)
Os Grid Reference:SP7037
Civil Parish:Akeley
Unitary England:Buckinghamshire
Lieutenancy England:Buckinghamshire
Region:South East England
Country:England
Post Town:BUCKINGHAM
Postcode Area:MK
Postcode District:MK18
Dial Code:01280
Constituency Westminster:Buckingham
Website:Akeley Parish Council

Akeley is a village and civil parish in north-west Buckinghamshire, England. The village is on the A413 road, between Lillingstone Dayrell and Maids Moreton, and around 2.5miles north of Buckingham. The 2011 Census recorded the population of the parish as 514, down from 545 at the 2001 Census.

Village background

The village name is derived from the Old English for "Oak Field". The Domesday Book of 1086 recorded it as Achelei.

The village was controlled by the Cluniac priory of nearby Newton Longville on behalf of the priory of Saint Faith in Longueville in northern France.[1] The parish church of St. James the Apostle was built in Akeley in 1154. It was rebuilt to designs by the Gothic Revival architect John Tarring in 1854[2] and restored in 1901.[1] By the mid 20th century St. James' had fallen into disrepair and in 1982 it was demolished.[3] Akeley presently does not have its own parish church; it is part of the North Buckingham ecclesiastical parish.

Akeley once had a medieval deer park, and a school where poor children were taught to make lace.

Amenities

The village is a small primary school St James Church of England School, and outside the village the large Cognita run private Akeley Wood School.

The village has a pub (Bull & Butcher) and opened a new village hall in 2006.[4]

Akeley hosts an annual horticultural show, which has been run since 1976.

Stockholt

The ancient hamlet of Stockholt once lay within the parish boundary. It has been amalgamated with the modern village.

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Page, 1927, pp. 144-147
  2. Pevsner, 1963, page 76
  3. Web site: Site of 19th century church, built in 1854 and demolished in 1982. Buckinghamshire County Council. 14 August 2014.
  4. Web site: Village Hall. Akeley Parish Council. 14 August 2014.