Welcome to

Newport Pagnell

Buckinghamshire, England

 

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Newport Pagnell Virtual Tour - By Jove, It's Just Like Being There

 

For a view from the other side of the bridge click here

The Iron Bridge Our tour starts at the iron bridge, correctly called Tickford Bridge, over the tiny River Lovat. This structure dates from 1810, when it replaced an earlier stone bridge. It is known that there was a bridge here as early as 1167. In 1809 there was an accident to the Manchester stage on the decrepit North Bridge over the Ouse, in which the driver and guard were hurled into the river. An act of Parliament then permitted the building of replacement toll bridges, both toll houses survive to this day. Extensive strengthening work was completed in 2000, the appearance of the bridge has not been affected.

In this photo (Jan 2001) the Lovat is in flood.

Queen Ann's Hospital, St John Street Immediately adjacent to the Iron Bridge is Queen Ann's Hospital. Originally built in 1615 as The Hospital Of St John The Baptist, the structure we see now is in fact little more than 100 years old. The inscription on the front of the building is on an original beam, the wording is "Al you good Cristians that here dooe pas by give soome thing to these poore people that in St. Johns Hospital doeth ly. An. 1615"

Viewed from across the River Lovat in Castle Meadow. View of the nave end from the cemetery footbridge.

St Peter & St Paul The huge and beautiful parish church of St Peter and St Paul is the dominant architectural feature of Newport Pagnell. The church was about 100 years old when the present nave was built in 1475, the west tower was added in 1540. Whenever you see castellations on a English church, you can be sure that the Victorians did some been tinkering, and that is the case here. The area in the foreground of the top left photo is the Old Churchyard. Most of the gravestones were removed in 1966, a remaining tomb dated 1788 bears an epitaph by the poet William Cowper. Cowper lived in nearby Olney, see Ian Burnside's excellent Unofficial Olney Homepage Next to the church stood a medieval castle. The castle, like many of the period, was made of wood, and no trace of it remains. The meadow opposite (where your host and his dogs may often be seen taking the air) has been called Castle Meadow ever since. Unsprayed, ungrazed, and rabbit-free thanks to regular flooding, the meadow is rich in wildflowers and wildlife. Tragically, there is now a scheme to ruin the meadow with footpaths and a car park; let's hope that one fizzles out.

Above: This gateway is at the bottom of the old churchyard. The flooded roadway is Riverside, which is quite frequently under water. Below: Canada Geese taking off from flooded Castle Meadow. If you expand no other images, be sure to look at this one, I'm just so gosh-darned proud of it.

The New Cemetery Connected to the church grounds by a footbridge is the New Cemetery.The photo at top left is a view of the footbridge from the old churchyard. A recent correspondent tells me that the bridge is haunted, and that she has seen the apparition staring down at her as she drove under the bridge. Oooh, spooky! I would welcome more info on this, preferably not from the apparition in person. After crossing the bridge we come to the 1860 Cemetery Lodge. In this sinister building - now a private house - was a chapel where funeral services for non-conformists were conducted.

The British Union Riverside Gardens were originally the gardens of this 17th century building, which has been a library and a girl's school amongst other uses. It now houses the local branch of The British Union, an ex-serviceman's association.

The North Bridge The North Bridge viewed from Riverside Gardens. Like the Iron Bridge, this was built in 1810 on older foundations. The small arch at left of the photo is a remnant of an earlier structure. The steps in the foreground are at the ford, which was used by carriages too wide to cross the medieval bridge.

The North Bridge toll house.This is now the top floor of a surprisingly large private house.

A view of the town from the North Bridge. The stretch of water in the foreground is the mill stream. The mill was burnt down in 1880.

The Swan Revived Hotel Dominating this view of the Northen end of the High Street is the town's last remaining coaching inn. The earliest reference to this inn is dated 1597, we do not know how old it was then. Up until the mid 19th century, when the coaching trade was wiped out by the railways, there were about 30 coaches stopping in Newport Pagnell every day. Not all called at The Swan , there were several other inns. In the top photo, The Swan is pretty in pink in 1999, the lower photo shows its 2000 yellow paintwork.

The War Memorial Most of the names on this memorial are of men who were killed in World War 1, termed 'The Great War' on this and countless other memorials. The building at right is now O'Dells Restaurant. It was until fairly recently the sort of hardware store where you could get your lawnmower blade sharpened and buy a dozen nails in a brown paper bag. It is said to be haunted by the ghost of an old woman who died in a fire.

		Police & Fire Left to right: The Police Station, the Old Firestation (now a private house), the New Firestation.
Lovat Bank, Silver Street Lovat Bank is considered to be one of the finest buildings in town. It was built in 1877 for a mustard and mineral water magnate, a certain Mr. Taylor. Production of Taylor's Mustard was moved from the town to Cheshire in the 1980's. Having had various uses over the years, Lovat Bank is now used as offices, the lawns are open to the public.		Above: View from Silver Street Below: View from lawn

Viewed from Lovat Bank lawn.

Parchment Factory Newport Pagnell is the only place in England where parchment is still made, by William Cowley & Co. This grisly trade is a relic of the lace industry, the lace was produced on parchment patterns. The firm also produces vellum parchment, made from calf (ugh!) skin, the Domesday ( sic) Book is currently bound in Newport Pagnell vellum.

Aston Martin Lagonda AML are Newport Pagnell's most famous company. Although they have only been here about 40 years a link with the past exists, the oldest buildings on the site were the premises of Salmon's coachbuilders. The modern company was founded by Lionel Martin, who built successful cars for the Aston Clinton (near Aylesbury) hill trials. Lagonda is an American Indian word allegedly meaning "smooth running river". Only the hand-built V series, Vanquish etc, are made here, the Jaguar-clone DB7 is made in the neighbouring county of Oxfordshire. The company has had a roller-coaster history, and is now owned by the megalithic Ford empire. The mock-tudor gingerbread cottage is the management building, the bottom photo is of the service department. Since the service department photo was taken, in early 2001, the facia has been remodelled, though whether by a small child or a particularly ungifted architect is not entirely clear.
High Street South Right: A view of the Southern end of the High Street. Below: The Coachmakers Arms, one of the town's 12 pubs.
	Parting Shot Our final view is the Southern end of town seen from the Civil War earthworks on Bury Field.

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Links Newport Pagnell Police Museum Newport Pagnell Historical Society Old Ousedalians (for ex pupils and teachers of the Ousedale School) The Unofficial Olney Homepage Newport Pagnell Christmas Lights The Changing Face Of Newport Pagnell	THREE LIONS September 1st 2001 England 5 Germany 1 Oh, happy day! September 5th 2001 England 2 Albania 0	Homer Sez.. 'That World Cup is as good as ours'

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This page is dedicated to my wife Pat.

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Rants & Raves

• The author of this page has no connection with any business or official body in Newport Pagnell. I am not a travel or employment agent, so I can't book you a room at the Swan or arrange work experience at Aston Martin.
• A number of people have e-mailed me with genealogical queries. I do not have the time, the resources, or the inclination to answer such questions. I can only refer pedigree researchers to church records, to the local historical society, and to Ken's bookshop in the high street. Ken stocks all the published material on the town's history, and is well worth a visit.
• Other people have given me many suggestions for this site. Such suggestions are always welcome, and I do bear them in mind when I make my photographic forays. Please don't suggest that I put up photos of your old school, I am just not going to hang around schools with a camera.
• I am quite prepared to give more prominence to Aston Martin, as some visitors have requested, I just think they should give me a car.
• All photographs on this site were taken by the author. Recognising reality, I give permission for anyone to use any photographs on this site for any purpose.