The history of Great Linford village and parish

This website collects a wide and growing repository of information exploring the history of the Buckinghamshire village and ancient parish of Great Linford. The charming historic village is adjacent to scenic Great Linford Manor Park, once the extensive private pleasure gardens of the lords of the manor, and is now considered one of the jewels of Milton Keynes.

Situated in the midst of the modern city and sheltering a treasure trove of historical buildings and changing farming landscapes that can be traced back centuries, the village became home in the late 16th century to the renowned astrological doctor the Reverend Richard Napier. The old rectory became famous as a place of medical and spiritual healing, and with its 17th century manor house, the church of St. Andrews, quaint olde-worlde High Street and scenic public parkland with cascading ponds, Great Linford remains a fascinating place to visit.

​It is hoped this website will provide readers interested in exploring further an insight into the past lives of its people and the rich historical legacy preserved within the original parish boundaries.
If you want to explore what things you can see and do in the village and parish, please check out this handy Great Linford visitors guide.

Pick a topic to learn more about Great Linford

Education

Great Linford is notable for having had a school in one form another since 1702, when the Lord of the Manor, William Prichard established a charity school in the Almshouses. Read more about education in Great Linford.

Great Linford Manor Park

Toward the end of the 1600s, the Lords of Great Linford set about creating so called pleasure gardens in the manor grounds, including a series of cascading ponds. Read more about Great Linford Manor Park.

Industry & Commerce

For a small rural village, there was a surprising amount of industry & commerce taking place,  with a busy canal wharf and a long history of brick making. Read more about industry and commerce in Great Linford.

Law & Order

There was no police station in Great Linford, but until the creation of a national police force, local constables were appointed to keep order. Punishments could include time in the stocks.  Read more about law and order in Great Linford.

People

Did you know that Great Linford had a resident photographer from about 1880 to 1930? In this section you can find out about his life, and also the stories of other people who lived and worked in the village. Read more about people in Great Linford.

Places

From its cozy village pubs to belching brick kilns and remote farmhouses nestled in pastoral landscapes, the individual places that have defined Great Linford are many and varied. Read more about places in Great Linford.​

Politics

We take voting for granted, but there was a time when only a tiny handful of people were allowed to vote. Politics was also every bit as divisive as it can be today, and things could become very heated. Read more about the history of politics in Great Linford.

Religion

The church of St. Andrews is an ancient edifice that contains elements potentially dating back to late Saxon or early Norman times. But there is much more to the story of religion in Great Linford, including a strong dissenting tradition.  Read more about religion in Great Linford.

Sport

The village has a proud sporting tradition, with league topping footballers and a well regarded darts team. It has also had its oddities, such as a famous performing horse, but equally there is a darker sporting history, due to the presence of the Bucks Otter Hunt. Read more about Sport in Great Linford.

Do you have some history to share?


​Do you have some knowledge about the history of Great Linford? It doesn't have to be ancient history. Perhaps your family has a connection to the village, or you have some old photographs you would like to share? Why not get in touch?