Whitchurch is steeped in history. This page will try and assist you to better understand the village in which we live and point you to other areas where you can seek information.
Maybe the first thing you could do to get a better feel of the place, it’s people and to learn something of it’s history is to view the Whitchurch Millennium Video/DVD. This professionally produced film is a record of life in the village during the years 2001 and 2002. Copies of Whitchurch Parish Map are also available.
These can be obtained from the Editor at editor@whitchurch.org
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A Short History of Whitchurch
The Editor is indebted to Mr & Mrs Stubbs who have sent a transcript of A Short History of Whitchurch which was written by the late Maurice Foulger.
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The Firs - What do you know?
Audrey first came to Whitchurch in 1944. It was on a weekend visit to a friend in Castle Lane in order to meet a cousin, just returned from North Africa, and stationed at Hartwell House - sadly killed a few months later in Holland. It was there that she met her future husband Mac, a design engineer, who worked at The Firs. They married in 1945.
Mac arrived in Whitchurch in 1940 when the precursor to the “Toyshop” moved from it’s home at Portland Place in London to the country house which had been requisitioned from the Abrahams family.
Audrey admits to not knowing too much that went on there and had been through the doors only twice before. However because of Mac’s involvement and his collection of photographs taken in the 1940s together with other memorabilia she was able to pass on some tales and anecdotes to Christopher Mann that added to his knowledge of The Firs. He would now like to learn more from other villagers.
Mr Mann has kindly offered to host an event at The Firs early next year when villagers can attend to learn more about the building and it‘s history but at the same time hear from anyone else who has tales to tell about the place.
Details of the event will be published nearer the time. If you do have stories to tell and things to share that can be passed on to Christopher Mann please contact editor@whitchurch.org or call 640949
All contributions will add to our knowledge of an important building and be recorded for future generations.
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Posted 30 May 2009
Bucks Earth Heritage Group
Walk around Whitchurch, from its geological to historical past
I am indebted to Keith Adams from the village who drew my attention to a recent report by the Bucks Earth Heritage Group. With Keith's help, the Group walked around the village and their report gives a fascinating insight into the history of our village from a different perspective than we normally see. Editor
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Whitchurch man donates history records in tribute to father
There are many publications that have been written about Whitchurch. From this list (see below) the two for which the Editor has had the most requests to help find copies are the History of Whitchurch, Bucks, by Joseph Holloway, and the Chronicles of Whitchurch, Bucks, by G W Wilson. Both are long out of print but copies do exist and some people in Whitchurch have managed to obtain them, however these are not generally for sale. Recently a descendent of Joseph Holloway contacted the Editor in the hope that she might find a copy of the History of Whitchurch.
Now however, whether you be a Holloway or a Wilson, anyone visiting the Whitchurch Village Web Site will be able to read both publications, thanks to a most generous gift from the son of the late Mr Roy Garnham Elmore. Mr Elmore was born in 1940 in Spring Cottage by Whittle Hole, Whitchurch.
Rupert Elmore was going through some old computer files when he found a PDF file which contained the complete and unaltered text of History of Whitchurch and Chronicles of Whitchurch which his father had put together in 2001. Thinking it may be a useful addition to the Whitchurch Village Web Site, and also a fitting tribute to his father who passed away in January 2005, he contacted the Editor.
The Editor is pleased to include this for the benefit of others and access can be gained by clicking here.
Your attention is drawn to the Forward, an extract of which is below.
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Between the two title pages (pages 45 - 59), I have incorporated a section containing additional information that may well be useful in understanding some of the more obscure references and may help to place many of the events in their appropriate time frame.
The cottage that now stands at Whittle Hole was built by my grandfather for his own occupancy in 1868, at a cost of £98 17s 6d., and was lived in by my parents for over 62 years! I was born there in July 1940.
Roy Garnham Elmore
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A few years ago someone living in Australia and who had connections with the village was researching his family history and sought help from the village web site. He knew an ancestor was buried in the church of St John the Evangelist, Whitchurch, and wanted a translation of the Latin inscription. Fortunately living in the village is a scholar who was able to assist. The response is below the following photographs of the grave cover which can be found in the north aisle of the chancel.
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I have consulted a friend, my daughter-in-law, my encyclopaedia, History of Bucks by J J Sheaham and History of Bucks by George Lipscomb. The engraver probably did not know any Latin so there are some rather strange words here. So I will attempt a paraphrase rather than a translation.
“Here lies Edward Smythe, Knight, who after pausing from judging lawsuits in Ireland, carried off, because of this the reward of great fame, for he was made Chief Justice (of common pleas in Ireland) But being religiously inclined, and feeling the weight of cares, he nevertheless thought it wrong to devote his soul to God while he was still fit to hold office, and through his Ormond, setting a fine example by giving up (his wife to serve God) he obtained what others eagerly strive for, that is , high office. Then he took his part in Parliament in England, as long as it (Parliament) held out against Charles (the first) and the church, that is, for as long as there was room for wise policies. I shall say a few, but important, things about his life after that. He was rich in wealth and honour, he was devout, living like a poor man and a private person, well known for his prudence and learning, yet modest, courteous and honest, knowledgeable in local law, yet not against the clergy. He was indeed a well-disposed patron of everyone everywhere, endowed with all the gifts of mind, body and fortune, and public-spirited, yet he preferred to have time for God and himself. He was unobtrusive not only when living but also when dying, for having lapsed into a coma in bed this excellent man did not die (immediately) but (in the end) he passed away aged 79 Feb 20th 1682”
Mrs Sankaran then goes on:
Ormond. - A member of the family of the Earls of Ormond. Ormond is an old name for Tipperary (Ireland). This particular Ormond was Sir John Pakington. He sided with Charles I in the Civil War, was committed to the Tower, fined an immense sum and his estates were ordered to be sequestered for the use of Parliament (presumably Cromwell’s Parliament).
It is not clear in exactly in what way Sir Edward wanted to serve God. He evidently considered it a duty to serve in Parliament. Charles I, of course, restricted the powers of Parliament, supported in this by the church, and Sir Edward eventually gave up his office. It seems he was not against the church as such, but against its support of Charles. He seems to have avoided the kind of treatment meted out to his friend Pakington.
The Smythes held the manor of Whitchurch. I tried to find out what happened to them after Sir Edward. He was succeeded by his son Edward Smythe Esq. D.1690, after which Mrs. Mary Smythe widow in 1692 is mentioned as Lady of this Manor and again in July 1695, in a list of collections for Briefs. Lucius Smythe Esq. (brother or son of Edward) died here and was buried 24 November 1694 and either by Mrs Mary Smythe, widow, or the said Edward, a short time before his decease, the Manor was conveyed to John Reynolds, Gent. (I do not see how Edward, who died in 1690 could have conveyed the manor to Reynolds, since Mary Smythe is mentioned as still holding it in 1695.) Sarah Spencer Smythe, daughter of Edward Smythe Esq. and Mary is wife was baptised here 16 July 1682.
Mrs. Sankaran could then trace no further Smythes and thinks the line died out.