Village History
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 are available from the Editor at editor@whitchurch.org
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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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The following is a list of publications about Whitchurch. This is by no means exhaustive.
Chronicles of Whitchurch, Bucks by G W Wilson, privately printed in 1909. A fascinating and detailed account of village events and history from Roman times through to the early 1900s.
A Whitchurch Diary by Maurice Foulger in the style of the Chronicles of Whitchurch. A collection of reports published by the Bucks Herald newspaper researched for the Whitchurch & Creslow Community Association. Six volumes covering 1910 to 1950.
The History of Whitchurch by Joseph Holloway, published in 1889 - Out of print. A short book of only 42 pages but full of detailed information of the history of the village and many references to local people and church records.
The History and Antiquities of the County of Buckingham by George Lipscomb published in 1847 - Out of print but there are several copies in Whitchurch
Whitchurch in Camera by Ian Beckett and Ron Adams. Published by Quotes Limited, Buckingham, England in 1989 ISBN 0 86023 3510. More than 50 photographs of Whitchurch with many giving names of local people.
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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.
