Villages and Forgotten Villages

Most visitors to Milton Keynes are not aware of the ancient villages at the heart of some MK districts. They can’t be seen from the grid roads – but it’s a delight to walk through the ancient parts of Shenley Brook End; Shenley Church End; Bradwell; Loughton and the others. But we also have, wholly hidden from view, villages which have disappeared completely.

One lies underneath the northern part of Shenley Brook End, the “Lost” village of Westbury.

Excavations were done – and a report produced. I have previously borrowed it from the Central Library, and am currently awaiting a copy I bought through Amazon.

While walking around Shenley Brook End, I could see why Westbury attracted our ancestors. There was the stream at the bottom of the hill (which runs into what is now Furzton Lake, before joining Loughton Brook), but it also gave an excellent view across the countryside toward the hills to the south of our modern city.

There was also a settleman a little to the north east called “East Green”, linked to a moated site which is identified in the 2013 Official City Atlas, immediately to the south of “Shenley” island (Childs Way H6/Fulmer Street V3).

Furzton Lake

You won’t find Furzton Lake on the old maps of the area – because it was built as part of the development of Milton Keynes. Our planners knew that building upon fields (in which water is absorbed into the soil) can lead to occasional flooding problems. The water runs off houses and roads and reaches streams quickly. Flash floods are more likely. Willen; Caldecotte ; Furzton and the teardrop lakes are designed to slow the rush of water into Milton Keynes’ streams and rivers.

Three streams flowed and met close to the low bridge which takes Watling Street across the valley. Loughton Brook is the main stream flowing through Tattenhoe; Emerson Valley and divides Furzton into South and North Furzton. The lake narrows but extends for some distance upstream. The Brook which rises close to the site of Snelshall Priory  and flows through Shenley Brook End is the second stream. Another stream flowed through Howe Park through Emerson Valley.

The lake was built during the 1980s. It is now the home to much birdlife – and is popular with walkers; cyclists and anglers.

The Geography of Milton Keynes

Central Milton Keynes is built on a plateau between the Loughton Brook and the River Ouzel. Both are tributaries of the Ouse which flows from West to East.

Watling Street runs alongside the Loughton Brook Valley from the point where the stream flows out of Furzton Lake. Two streams used to met near that Watling Street crossing – the most northerly is the ‘brook’ from which Shenley Brook End gets its name. Loughton Brook heads in a northerly direction, which Watling Street is aligned to the North West.

The map above show the original pattern of streams. (Click on the picture to zoom in)  An Ordnance Survey 1:25000 map shows the contours and the remaining streams. The OS website is a useful one to visit. http://www.getamap.ordnancesurveyleisure.co.uk/

Geography has played an important part in our history. The original settlements were close to streams or other sources of water. The roads; canal and railways followed either the river valleys or ran across the top of the ridge.

In future posts I will explore some of the settlements that were here, long before we arrived.

WOWS is back

Finally, West of Watling Street is back. Welcome – whether you are a new reader or followed this blog in the past.

A bit of background first (though previous posts are available). I’m David Morgan – and I have lived in Furzton, Milton Keynes since my wife and I moved here in April 2009.

This blog is about the area I live in – the Milton Keynes estates west of the ancient Roman Road, later known as “Watling Street”, and now the V4 grid road. I’m in the civil parish of Shenley Brook End, but this post will cover all of Milton Keynes ….West of Watling Street (and I may occasionally cross the road!).

Currently I’m a tutor for the Open University on their Law Degree Courses – but my interests are much wider. History fascinates me – and I’ve recently been researching this area – and the general historical context. I love listening to jazz; watching American Football (the teams I follow are the NFL’s ‘Washington Redskins’ and our own ‘Milton Keynes City Pathfinders’ – and, when I can – I go to MK Stadium to watch the MK Dons.

Do subscribe to this blog – I have lots of items of local interest which I am planning to post – from practical details about local transport and other services – to the fascinating history of this area.