Twenty-three miles from London Beaconsfield has always been a resting place for travellers. It was a perfect spot for weary travellers and their horses to rest. Many inns and beer houses dotted the area. At least nineteen have been recorded. This made Beaconsfield an ideal first stop from London.
Beaconsfield’s history stretches far back. Documentary evidence points to its existence as early as 1185. The town itself likely originated much earlier during the Saxon period. A wooden church stood where St Mary and All Saints Church now stands. That first church dates from around 900 AD. Two Roman roads crossed near Beaconsfield. One ran from St Albans to Silchester. The other connected London to the northwest. The strategic location offered good water and a halfway point between London and Oxford. These factors played crucial roles in Beaconsfield’s growth.
Richard Earl of Cornwall held considerable power. In 1255 he persuaded his brother King Henry III to grant him market rights. A Tuesday market thrived in Beaconsfield for centuries. It eventually closed in the early 1800s. It was revived much later in 1982. The covered market hall in Aylesbury End lasted almost seven centuries. It was demolished in 1952. Beaconsfield also gained fair rights in 1269. This annual fair still takes place every year on the 10th of May.
Beaconsfield’s location attracted highwaymen. They preyed upon travellers. At least two highwaymen were captured and hanged at Tyburn in London. The names of places like Cut Throat Wood and Highwayman’s Farm speak to this lawless era. The parish church underwent several transformations. It was rebuilt in stone around 1470. It was then further rebuilt and enlarged in 1869.
The Old Rectory a striking house dates from 1534. It incorporates parts of a nunnery building. After Burnham Abbey’s dissolution Beaconsfield’s lands were divided. Three estates emerged: Halbarne (later Hall Barn) Gregories and Whiltones (now Wilton Park). Gregories owned by Edmund Burke became Butler’s Court. A dispute over manorial rights led to the name change. Butler’s Court unfortunately burned down in 1813. The current Butler’s Court built by Arthur Grenfell dates from 1891. Edmund Burke lies buried in St Mary’s Church fulfilling his own wish.
Wilton Park was home to the Du Pre family for nearly 170 years. During World War II it became a prisoner of war interrogation centre. It housed significant figures like Rudolph Hess and Field Marshal von Rundstedt. Wilton Park’s Palladian mansion was sadly demolished in 1967. The Defence School of Languages currently occupies the site.
Hall Barn was home to the Waller family. Edmund Waller a renowned poet of his time lived there. He played a significant role in the Civil War. He was tried for treason and sentenced to death. His sentence was eventually commuted to exile and a fine. He later returned to Beaconsfield building the current house possibly between 1675 and 1680. Beaconsfield’s rich history continues to captivate. Its layered past offers much to explore.