Wavendon Hall

Wavendon is a village and civil parish in the south east of the Milton Keynes urban area, in Buckinghamshire, England.

History and geography

The village name is an Old English language word, and means 'Wafa's hill'. In the ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'' in 969 the village was recorded as ''Wafandun''. The ancient village lies just outside the 1967 designated area of Milton Keynes. The ecclesiastic parish of Wavendon anciently contained the hamlet of Woburn Sands (originally known as 'Hogsty End, Wavendon'), which became a separate civil parish in 1907. The parishes are separated by the Marston Vale line.

Wavendon Tower

Wavendon Tower is a large country house with substantial modern additions on the edge of the village. During the Second World War it was used as a recording studio for black propaganda. From 1969 to the late 1970s, it was the base for the Milton Keynes Development Corporation. Until 2011 it was an operating centre for Scicon (subsequently EDS). In 2012, Landar Limited, an automotive management consultancy, moved into Wavendon Tower.

Expansion plans for Milton Keynes

In the 2004 expansion plans for Milton Keynes, it was proposed that Wavendon would become a part of the city and a neighbourhood centre, in a similar way to the other towns and villages that provided the roots of early Milton Keynes districts. However, following the 2010 general election, the new Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government cancelled the expansion plans of the outgoing Labour government. Consequently, it is not clear whether or when (if at all) the expansion plan will be realised.

In 2012, Milton Keynes Council approved the designated area within the scope of the Neighborhood Plan to be developed by the parish council.

Since the 2011 National Census, the Office for National Statistics shows Wavendon as part of the Milton Keynes built-up area.

Magna Park

Magna Park is a large distribution site on the part of Wavendon civil parish east of the A421 (and in the 'Eastern Expansion Area', one element of the expansion plans for Milton Keynes that has gone ahead). In 2012 its occupants included John Lewis and River Island, both of which have very large distribution centres. , AG Barr, Amazon, H&M and Waitrose have joined them. The site is at the south-east edge of Milton Keynes, about from M1 Junction 13 or about from Junction 14 via Fen Street and Newport Road, Broughton (former A5130). Access is from the A421.

Housing developments

Following an increase in housing demand in the Milton Keynes urban area, the Wavendon civil parish has undergone major development, including the construction of two new estates ( Eagle Farm and Glebe Farm) on its eastern outskirts. Milton Keynes Council regards this part of the parish as a major part of Milton Keynes' "Eastern Expansion Area."

The Stables

Jazz artists John Dankworth and Cleo Laine live venue in 1970 in what was the old stables block in the grounds of their home. It was an immediate success with forty-seven concerts given in the first year.

The venue was completely rebuilt in 2000, with a subsequent development in 2007 to create Stage 2. Each year, the venue presents over 350 concerts and around 250 education events in its two auditoria including summer schools; the 400 seat Jim Marshall Auditorium, and smaller studio space at Stage 2. Dame Cleo Laine continues to live in the village.

See also

*Wavendon Gate district is in the adjacent parish of Walton
* Presles-en-Brie, France, is twinned with Wavendon
* Eagle Farm, a housing estate on the outskirts of the civil parish.

References

External links

{{authority control

Villages in Buckinghamshire
Areas of Milton Keynes
Civil parishes in Buckinghamshire