Quainton
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Quainton (formerly Quainton Malet) is a village in Buckinghamshire, England, about 5 miles north west of Aylesbury. The total population is 1290, of that total approximately 1000 are adults. The village has a church, school and three public houses. The village's geographical location means that while many commute to London, many others are employed in the neighbouring towns and villages.
Its name is Old English and means Queen's Estate (cwen tun). It is not known, for certain, to which queen this refers, but possibly the Queen was Edith, the wife of Edward the Confessor. Known as "Fair Edith" she held manors in this part of Buckinghamshire, including a hunting lodge at Mentmore. Edward the Confessor had a palace at nearby Brill.
The former suffix Malet refers to the Malet family who were lords of the manor from 1066 until about 1348. At least one member of the family went on the crusades, and had close associations with the Hospitallers, the organization credited with rebuilding Quainton church circa 1340. The Hospitallers also erected the cross on the village green, the base and shaft of which still remain.
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The village green in the centre of the village has grouped around it some of the half-timbered thatched cottages for which the village is well known.
The parish church is dedicated to St Mary and the Holy Cross. It is a 14th century building of the style of gothic architecture known as Decorated. The west tower was built later in the 15th century. The church contains many fine memorial brasses and sculpture, including the particularly fine tomb of Thomas Stayner of 1689. The stone effigies depict the deceased lying in full armour, while his widow rests beside him, half sitting regarding her husband. In the chancel are a reredos and sedilia by William White who was responsible for the heavy Victorian restoration and rebuilding of the chancel in 1877. The church also contains Victorian stained glass windows.
Close by the church is the former rectory, a large imposing house (described by Pevsner as) of vitreous red brick. The principal facade has a three bayed centre and two canted bays. The house contains fine 16th century linnenfold panelling.
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The Winwood Almshouses, still inhabited, were built originally to house the poor of the parish; their gothic style of architecture belying the construction date of 1687. They are a terrace of eight small cottages, one storey high with a row of dormers in the attics. These attic windows have alternating small and large gables. The terrace is decorated by two porches, with a plaque above. The Almshouses are further adorned by diagonally placed chimney stacks.
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Quainton was once linked to London by services to Marylebone and to Baker Street. Regular services ceased many years ago, but special trains from Aylesbury run to connect with events at the Railway Museum at Quainton railway station. The station was once a junction for the light railway, sometimes known as the Brill Tramway, connecting Quainton with Brill village. The local headquarters for the RSPCA are also in the parish, but a little outside the confines of the village.
Quainton typifies the true English village, it is not a contrived and manicured "pretty" attraction for the benefit of tourists, in fact few tourists are aware of its existence. It has a mix of both old and new dwellings which ensure a thriving community spirit, which is proven by the many clubs and societies formed in the village, which ensures the village is as thriving today as it was in medieval times.
N.B. The photographs taken for this article were taken on the day of a village event, the parked cars are generally less plentiful)
External links
- Quainton Village Website (http://www.quainton.net/)