| Great Horwood History |
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Buildings
Matt Vincent
From the 1086 Domesday record, Great Horwood was a village of about 20 households, probably living in just a handful of houses. By modern standards these houses would have been cramped, dark and damp inside, poorly heated, insanitary and squalid. The only building materials were those available locally, either naturally occurring or derived from forestry and agriculture. Wall and roof structures were timber, with split hazel rods produced by coppicing fixed across the roof beams and as infill for walls. Straw was used on the roof to keep the worst of the rain out, and the walls were plastered with cow dung or clay and straw (‘wattle and daub’). Inside, floors were of earth covered in straw. The windows might have had shutters but certainly no glass. Cooking and heating depended on a fire, with a hole in the roof above the hearth to let the smoke out; a few houses might have had the luxury of a chimney. All of these houses would have been single-storey, perhaps accommodating livestock at one end.
Cruck Frames and Timber Frames
As the centuries passed construction improved, but by the late Middle Ages most houses were still timber-framed, with thatched roofs and walls of wattle and daub. Within the village there exists a rare survivor from the 15th century in the form of a house built with cruck frames. These are A-shaped timber structures made from the natural shape of a tree. The selected tree would be sawn by hand vertically into two halves, to keep the house symmetrical. Naturally, the top of the ‘A’ forms the roof, while the legs define the walls. Three cruck frames were used in the construction of 17-19 Little Horwood Road, in Edmans family ownership for many years. The house has been rendered, so the structural aspects are not externally visible. However, Richard Edmans has kindly provided a photograph of one of the cruck frames.
Cruck Frames and Timber Frames
As the centuries passed construction improved, but by the late Middle Ages most houses were still timber-framed, with thatched roofs and walls of wattle and daub. Within the village there exists a rare survivor from the 15th century in the form of a house built with cruck frames. These are A-shaped timber structures made from the natural shape of a tree. The selected tree would be sawn by hand vertically into two halves, to keep the house symmetrical. Naturally, the top of the ‘A’ forms the roof, while the legs define the walls. Three cruck frames were used in the construction of 17-19 Little Horwood Road, in Edmans family ownership for many years. The house has been rendered, so the structural aspects are not externally visible. However, Richard Edmans has kindly provided a photograph of one of the cruck frames.
Cruck timber frame, 17-19 Little Horwood Road
Richard has given a brief description of 17-19 Little Horwood Road:
These two houses are the oldest in the village and date from the 1400s. The building was originally one house built using cruck frame construction. From the position of the three cruck frames there was probably one large and one small room downstairs and upstairs. During restoration work it appeared that a vertical ladder was used to get upstairs. Sometime during the 19th century the building was altered to the present two dwellings. The roof was originally of thatch but was changed to tile in the early part of the last century. Modern single storey extensions were added in the 1960s to provide a kitchen and bathroom. Previously the toilets were outside, which in winter meant a cold dark trip with a candle or torch.
Cruck building declined with the development of ‘box-frame’ timber construction. This method of construction is clear when the timbers are exposed to view, consisting of vertical and horizontal beams joined to make a hollow box. The timber beams were held in place by round pegs driven through holes drilled in the joints. Frequently, carpenters worked in the woods alongside those felling the trees and the sawyers who cut up the felled timber. Timbers were measured and joints cut in the woods, for assembly on the site of the house to be erected. It is still possible on some timber-framed houses in the village to see chisel marks cut into the structural timbers to indicate the order of assembly on site.
Great Horwood is fortunate to possess a number of timber-framed houses, mostly thatched. Although the Old Farm House in Spring Lane is attributed to the 16th century, the majority of timber-frame buildings in Great Horwood date from the 17th century. An attractive example is Tudor Cottage in School End, now occupied by one family although originally it housed at least three and possibly four different families. The original thatch has been replaced by clay tiles, probably in the late eighteenth century.
Great Horwood is fortunate to possess a number of timber-framed houses, mostly thatched. Although the Old Farm House in Spring Lane is attributed to the 16th century, the majority of timber-frame buildings in Great Horwood date from the 17th century. An attractive example is Tudor Cottage in School End, now occupied by one family although originally it housed at least three and possibly four different families. The original thatch has been replaced by clay tiles, probably in the late eighteenth century.
Tudor Cottage, School End
Two other timber-frame houses in Great Horwood are named Tudor Cottage; 12 Little Horwood Road and 6 Winslow Road, while 6 and 10 The Green and a cluster of cottages along Little Horwood Road also show this method of construction. In addition to the Old Farm House, there are two more timber-frame houses at the top of Spring Lane and, less obviously, 2 Church Lane and The Cottage in Singleborough Lane. Some timber-framed houses hide their structure through the use of rendering or the later partial replacement of the original structure with brick. An example of this is the group of three thatched houses in the Nash Road, while some timber-framed houses are no longer thatched (Tudor Cottage in School End and 6 The Green).
There would have been many more timber-framed houses in the village today but for a series of fires occurring between 1771 and 1791 (See The Great Fire of Great Horwood). Unfortunately, timber-framed houses with thatched roofs burn readily, as clearly demonstrated in the Great Fire of London in 1666. After the fires in the late 18th century, replacement housing in Great Horwood was typically of brick with tiled or, later, slate roofs, to be more fire-resistant. Some houses which appear to have been thatched at one time are actually of stone construction, for example Home Farm and Wheelwrights Cottage in Winslow Road. Their roofs may have been replaced with tiles after the 1781 fire. Some thatched buildings in the village are of brick and stone construction, apparently dating from the 18th century (Ivy Farm on The Green, and Marylands Farm, now Five Penny Farm, in Little Horwood Road), both probably undamaged by the 1781 fire. These buildings reflect the transition from timber and thatch to brick and tile construction.
There would have been many more timber-framed houses in the village today but for a series of fires occurring between 1771 and 1791 (See The Great Fire of Great Horwood). Unfortunately, timber-framed houses with thatched roofs burn readily, as clearly demonstrated in the Great Fire of London in 1666. After the fires in the late 18th century, replacement housing in Great Horwood was typically of brick with tiled or, later, slate roofs, to be more fire-resistant. Some houses which appear to have been thatched at one time are actually of stone construction, for example Home Farm and Wheelwrights Cottage in Winslow Road. Their roofs may have been replaced with tiles after the 1781 fire. Some thatched buildings in the village are of brick and stone construction, apparently dating from the 18th century (Ivy Farm on The Green, and Marylands Farm, now Five Penny Farm, in Little Horwood Road), both probably undamaged by the 1781 fire. These buildings reflect the transition from timber and thatch to brick and tile construction.
Georgian Brick
Most of the buildings in the High Street opposite the church, together with many of the houses on The Green, date from the period immediately after the fire. Most of those on the north side of The Green are characteristic of the late 18th century, with attractive red brick walls and clay tile roofs, although 13 The Green dates from early Victorian times and has a slate roof.
Most of the buildings in the High Street opposite the church, together with many of the houses on The Green, date from the period immediately after the fire. Most of those on the north side of The Green are characteristic of the late 18th century, with attractive red brick walls and clay tile roofs, although 13 The Green dates from early Victorian times and has a slate roof.
North-west side of The Green
3 Little Horwood Road is also a good example of the Georgian style, while The Grange in Winslow Road is another. The date 1836 in the brickwork of the east end gable wall of The Grange applies to an extension; the main house is older, probably dating from the 18th century. The two large houses in School End also date from the late 18th century. The Georgian style was so popular in this period that some owners of much older houses re-fronted them in line with contemporary fashion. An example of this practice can be seen at the Old Rectory in School End which appears from the front elevation to date from the late 18th or early 19th century. When viewed from the side, however, the ‘new’ front is very evident, and the gable wall shows evidence of much earlier timber frame construction.
Front elevation of The Old Rectory, School End
Side elevation of The Old Rectory, School End
Victorian
Notable individual houses from the 19th century are the 1830s Glebe House, formerly The Rectory and the home of successive Rectors of Great Horwood until sold in the 1980s, and The Firs at the junction of Spring Lane and Winslow Road, although this is much smaller. In the Victorian era, from roughly 1840 to 1900, a number of houses in Great Horwood were built. In general these were small “two-up, two-down” dwellings in rows of three or four houses. Examples include the one-time terrace of three in Winslow Road next to Old Swan House, itself a good example of a Victorian “villa”, a row of four in Nash Road between 9 Nash Road and a modern bungalow, and a further terrace of four in Little Horwood Road. There are also individual Victorian houses of varying sizes in the village. Two are located in Winslow Road below Spring Lane, while Little Horwood Road has modest properties at numbers 1 and 4, and larger Victorian houses at numbers 13 and 16. Also noteworthy are numbers 5 and 7, built in 1859 by New College as a model of hygienic and affordable housing (described by Clare Martin in Tragic Events). Further along this road, numbers 25 and 27 form a pair of larger houses dating from this era. These are rather more ornate with lofty diagonally-set chimneys.
Notable individual houses from the 19th century are the 1830s Glebe House, formerly The Rectory and the home of successive Rectors of Great Horwood until sold in the 1980s, and The Firs at the junction of Spring Lane and Winslow Road, although this is much smaller. In the Victorian era, from roughly 1840 to 1900, a number of houses in Great Horwood were built. In general these were small “two-up, two-down” dwellings in rows of three or four houses. Examples include the one-time terrace of three in Winslow Road next to Old Swan House, itself a good example of a Victorian “villa”, a row of four in Nash Road between 9 Nash Road and a modern bungalow, and a further terrace of four in Little Horwood Road. There are also individual Victorian houses of varying sizes in the village. Two are located in Winslow Road below Spring Lane, while Little Horwood Road has modest properties at numbers 1 and 4, and larger Victorian houses at numbers 13 and 16. Also noteworthy are numbers 5 and 7, built in 1859 by New College as a model of hygienic and affordable housing (described by Clare Martin in Tragic Events). Further along this road, numbers 25 and 27 form a pair of larger houses dating from this era. These are rather more ornate with lofty diagonally-set chimneys.
25-27 Little Horwood Road
Edwardian to Thirties
A small number of houses were built in Great Horwood between 1900 and the outbreak of World War II in 1939. 16 Winslow Road is a detached house dating from before World War I, and forming the end of a row of earlier houses on the bank above the road. A row of three pairs of houses at 2-12 Nash Road was built by Winslow Rural District Council in the late 1920s or early 1930s, while Townsend Cottages, at the eastern end of Little Horwood Road, were also built in this period. The low rate of house building from 1900 to 1939 forced many residents to tolerate poor housing, dating back centuries in some cases, until improvements arrived after the war had ended.
Demolition and Change
After the rebuilding following fires between 1771-1791, the appearance of the centre of Great Horwood did not change markedly for perhaps 150 years. However, the south side of the Green and Little Horwood Road were changed through the demolition of buildings in the 1960s. Fortunately a photograph from about 1890 shows what has changed. The picture below is a view from The Green looking approximately south-east along Little Horwood Road, and shows a row of cottages between The Old Posthouse at 6 The Green, and the remaining cottage at 10 The Green. These cottages became very dilapidated and were knocked down in the 1960s and replaced by a bungalow, 8 The Green. In the late 20th century, this bungalow was replaced with a two-storey house similar in style to those on the north side. On the far side of Ivy Farm, along Little Horwood Road, stood a wheelwright’s premises, clearly visible in the photograph with a farm cart outside. This building too has disappeared, making way for 2a and 2b Little Horwood Road, which were built about 1970. The thatched building visible immediately behind the cart is Five Penny Farm (formerly Marylands Farm).
A small number of houses were built in Great Horwood between 1900 and the outbreak of World War II in 1939. 16 Winslow Road is a detached house dating from before World War I, and forming the end of a row of earlier houses on the bank above the road. A row of three pairs of houses at 2-12 Nash Road was built by Winslow Rural District Council in the late 1920s or early 1930s, while Townsend Cottages, at the eastern end of Little Horwood Road, were also built in this period. The low rate of house building from 1900 to 1939 forced many residents to tolerate poor housing, dating back centuries in some cases, until improvements arrived after the war had ended.
Demolition and Change
After the rebuilding following fires between 1771-1791, the appearance of the centre of Great Horwood did not change markedly for perhaps 150 years. However, the south side of the Green and Little Horwood Road were changed through the demolition of buildings in the 1960s. Fortunately a photograph from about 1890 shows what has changed. The picture below is a view from The Green looking approximately south-east along Little Horwood Road, and shows a row of cottages between The Old Posthouse at 6 The Green, and the remaining cottage at 10 The Green. These cottages became very dilapidated and were knocked down in the 1960s and replaced by a bungalow, 8 The Green. In the late 20th century, this bungalow was replaced with a two-storey house similar in style to those on the north side. On the far side of Ivy Farm, along Little Horwood Road, stood a wheelwright’s premises, clearly visible in the photograph with a farm cart outside. This building too has disappeared, making way for 2a and 2b Little Horwood Road, which were built about 1970. The thatched building visible immediately behind the cart is Five Penny Farm (formerly Marylands Farm).
Cottages on the south-east side of The Green, now demolished
In addition to those lost in fires, many other buildings have been demolished for various reasons. Clare Martin’s research located a 1905 article in The Bucks Herald indicating that cottages like those shown in the 1890 view above had disappeared at the rate of about one a year since 1880. They were probably regarded as beyond economic repair at the time, yet today would make a welcome addition to the historic housing stock of the village. The cottages and post office at the top of the Nash Road were demolished in about 1960 to widen the road, along with other buildings further along Nash Road.
Shop and houses in Nash Road, now demolished
Besides demolition, many houses in Great Horwood have changed through consolidation, whereby two or more small houses were combined to form one larger dwelling. Tudor Cottage in School End has been mentioned already, but many other examples exist: 5 Winslow Road was originally three houses; 11 and 13 Nash Road once comprised a terrace of four dwellings, while another row of four houses at 18-24 Little Horwood Road gradually turned into one house. Gill Wood has described her parents’ life in number 18:
18-24 Little Horwood Road were built around the turn of the 19th century. My parents moved into number 18 in 1945, when the houses were owned by Mr W Hanson of Home Farm. Each house consisted of a living room, a kitchen with pantry under the stairs, and two bedrooms upstairs. There was an outside toilet, but water had to be fetched from the pump across the road, visible in the picture below. Cooking was on a coal range in the living room, which also provided some heating, and there was another fireplace in the kitchen along with a wash boiler. My parents lived there until they passed away, my mother in 1986 and my father in 1989. Right up till this time, my parents coped with only an outside toilet and cold water in the kitchen. The houses still belonged to the Hanson family, and over the years many different families moved in and out of the other houses in the terrace. Later, when each house fell vacant, they were gradually combined to make one house, a process which started in the late 1950s.
Little Horwood Road, showing 18-24 as individual dwellings
Innovation
Pond Cottage, 29 Nash Road, is a house whose recent development has won awards. Pond Cottage is a detached 19th century building, originally three dwellings but now consolidated into one. The architect owners developed the property to be sympathetic to local style, but wished to distinguish new construction from the original. Behind the original building, a new brick ground floor was built, with a timber upper floor and glazed gables. This innovative design gives excellent views over the open fields and allows morning sun to light up the interior. Awards won include the ‘Design Awards plaque for Outstanding Design 2011’ from AVDC, and two in 2012: the Royal Institute of British Architects South East ‘Downland Award’ and the RIBA South ‘Small Project Award’.
Pond Cottage, 29 Nash Road, is a house whose recent development has won awards. Pond Cottage is a detached 19th century building, originally three dwellings but now consolidated into one. The architect owners developed the property to be sympathetic to local style, but wished to distinguish new construction from the original. Behind the original building, a new brick ground floor was built, with a timber upper floor and glazed gables. This innovative design gives excellent views over the open fields and allows morning sun to light up the interior. Awards won include the ‘Design Awards plaque for Outstanding Design 2011’ from AVDC, and two in 2012: the Royal Institute of British Architects South East ‘Downland Award’ and the RIBA South ‘Small Project Award’.
Front elevation of Pond Cottage, Nash Road
Side elevation of Pond Cottage, Nash Road
Conservation Area and Listed Buildings
Many of Great Horwood’s buildings have been lost or altered over time; to protect what remains, a building listing scheme was established in the late 1970s. Later, in 1989, a Conservation Area was designated for Great Horwood, whose purpose is to protect the appearance of the whole area, including not just buildings but trees and other aspects. Great Horwood’s Conservation Area includes the great majority of old buildings which have survived the ravages of time. It stretches from School End across the Green, and includes houses in Church Lane and the top end of Nash Road, and both sides of Little Horwood Road. It covers the High Street, and Winslow Road on both sides as far as Spring Lane, and also includes the top of Spring Lane. Modern developments within the Conservation Area are generally excluded, the boundary skirting round the housing concerned.
Many of Great Horwood’s buildings have been lost or altered over time; to protect what remains, a building listing scheme was established in the late 1970s. Later, in 1989, a Conservation Area was designated for Great Horwood, whose purpose is to protect the appearance of the whole area, including not just buildings but trees and other aspects. Great Horwood’s Conservation Area includes the great majority of old buildings which have survived the ravages of time. It stretches from School End across the Green, and includes houses in Church Lane and the top end of Nash Road, and both sides of Little Horwood Road. It covers the High Street, and Winslow Road on both sides as far as Spring Lane, and also includes the top of Spring Lane. Modern developments within the Conservation Area are generally excluded, the boundary skirting round the housing concerned.
West-facing view of the High Street, in the Conservation Area
There are 39 listed buildings in the parish of Great Horwood, a large number for a village of its size. Two are of the important Grade II* listing: St James’ church, (described by Mary Saunders in St. James Church History), and Manor Farm (formerly the Manor House) in Nash Road. Built in about 1700, the house is of brick construction, uncommon for this period, and is an example of a listed building outside the Conservation Area. In the days of the manorial system the manorial court proceedings were held here (described by Rod Moulding in Medieval and Later Times).
The Manor House (now Manor Farm), 2018
Singleborough
Early 20th-century view of Singleborough looking north east. Old Dean Farm is on the left. The brick building on the right is the barn (now converted into a home) that has the post box built into it and the date '1871' built into the gable end brickwork.
Singleborough also has a Conservation Area and has four good examples of thatched timber framed houses within its single main street. One of these, Old Vine Cottage, is 15th century cruck-built, as is the much smaller Ivy Cottage, whose original structure is disguised by later brickwork.
Old Vine Cottage, Singleborough
Ivy Cottage, Singleborough
Several other houses show evidence of timber framing; in two cases (Fir Tree Cottage and Laurel Farm) a small timber-framed house has been greatly extended during the 19th century, losing its thatched roof in the process.
Early 20th-century view of the south end of Singleborough. The little thatched cottage on the left was later demolished. Fir Tree Cottage is on the right.
Fir Tree Cottage, 2018
There are several 19th-century houses in Singleborough but most of the housing here is 20th-century infilling.
Early 20th-century view of Singleborough looking south west. Pear Tree House is on the right. The thatched buildings pictured were later demolished. Rotherby House is built on the site of the cottage in the centre of the photo.
Post World War II Development
Records of Great Horwood housing from the 1850s reveal poor sanitation, overcrowding and serious outbreaks of disease (described by Clare Martin in Tragic Events). Clare Martin’s research showed that nearly 50 years later in 1905 the situation was little improved, and housing was still in desperately short supply. Older residents in the village have confirmed that many were living in poor housing until after the end of World War II. Agriculture was depressed from about 1875 until the outbreak of war. With many of the village residents engaged as farm workers on low wages, living in rented (possibly tied) properties, rents remained low, and there was no incentive for the owner to improve his properties. This situation led to a great desire for improved housing by those who had tolerated poor living conditions for many years. Shortly after the end of the war, an opportunity arose, (described by June Margerrison in Great Horwood during World War II). Families moved into vacated military buildings in very late 1947, almost as the RAF left them, in an organised ‘squat’.
Records of Great Horwood housing from the 1850s reveal poor sanitation, overcrowding and serious outbreaks of disease (described by Clare Martin in Tragic Events). Clare Martin’s research showed that nearly 50 years later in 1905 the situation was little improved, and housing was still in desperately short supply. Older residents in the village have confirmed that many were living in poor housing until after the end of World War II. Agriculture was depressed from about 1875 until the outbreak of war. With many of the village residents engaged as farm workers on low wages, living in rented (possibly tied) properties, rents remained low, and there was no incentive for the owner to improve his properties. This situation led to a great desire for improved housing by those who had tolerated poor living conditions for many years. Shortly after the end of the war, an opportunity arose, (described by June Margerrison in Great Horwood during World War II). Families moved into vacated military buildings in very late 1947, almost as the RAF left them, in an organised ‘squat’.
Wartime buildings for airfield personnel had been erected on two adjacent fields to the east of Spring Lane (now the location of Greenway). The buildings, clearly visible on 1952 and 1958 OS maps, were occupied by squatters, who found the accommodation much superior to the poor housing they had endured for many years.
The squat generated political pressure to initiate the building of improved housing. On 1 March 1948 Winslow RDC secured part of an orchard behind the High Street, to build a row of four houses, 1-7 Spring Lane. These comprise the northern boundary of Spring Lane, running roughly east-west. Built in about 1949, they represented the start of a wave of new post-war housing for Great Horwood. For many of the tenants it was their first experience of a new house, and they were delighted with their cleanliness and convenience, equipped as they were with flush toilets and bathrooms. ‘Like a palace’ was a frequent comment.
The squat generated political pressure to initiate the building of improved housing. On 1 March 1948 Winslow RDC secured part of an orchard behind the High Street, to build a row of four houses, 1-7 Spring Lane. These comprise the northern boundary of Spring Lane, running roughly east-west. Built in about 1949, they represented the start of a wave of new post-war housing for Great Horwood. For many of the tenants it was their first experience of a new house, and they were delighted with their cleanliness and convenience, equipped as they were with flush toilets and bathrooms. ‘Like a palace’ was a frequent comment.
Early post-war development, 5-7 Spring Lane
Four pairs of houses (9-23) were built by the council in the early 1950s in Spring Lane, around and behind the initial row. As described earlier, some council housing was built in the 1930s, but it was the post-war developments which seemed to trigger a real push for new housing in Great Horwood. The eastern side of Spring Lane and the loop of Greenway were built as private housing in the 1960s. This constituted one of the largest programmes of building in the history of the village. So significant was the development, that the school was expanded with major new buildings in the same period, and agreement reached in 1968 that it should become a combined primary and middle school catering for pupils from 5 to 12 years of age.
45-55 (odd numbers) Spring Lane under construction
Further private house developments were to follow in The Close (late 1960s) and Weston Road (early 1970s), again to the south of Little Horwood Road. Single storey houses in Willow Road, frequently favoured by older residents, were built by the council in the 1960s. This road connected to another parcel of land to the south of Little Horwood Road which had also been requisitioned during World War II to provide accommodation for the WRAF. There is some evidence these buildings were also occupied by squatters after the RAF departed. Later, after Willow Road opened up access to the site, it was developed during the 1960s for residential use and is now Nook Park, housing ‘mobile’ homes. Some residents have enjoyed life in Nook Park for over 35 years.
Nook Park, off Willow Road.
Into the 21st Century
Housing development in Great Horwood has been sporadic and piecemeal since the late 1980s, with typically three to five private houses being built on parcels of land. These developments have been along Little Horwood Road: the Grainge Chase barn conversions (late 1980s) and Wheathouse Copse (1980s-1990s) and, at the top of Spring Lane, Wigwell Gardens (1997) followed by Spring Close. These late 20th century developments have tended to be of larger four- or five-bedroomed houses, reflecting the increased value of land and restrictions increasingly placed on the number of houses permitted in any specific development. These twin factors favour the building of a limited number of high-value houses. More recently, since the turn of the 21st century, a number of developments have featured just one or perhaps two houses, such as the two large houses built on land behind The Old Farmhouse in Spring Lane in 2012.
Large-Scale Development
A number of attempts have been made in recent years to develop the old airfield site, which lies due south of Great Horwood between the village and Winslow and half of which is in the neighbouring parish of Little Horwood. A developer made repeated informal proposals for the land, which were then followed by an application under the Government’s Eco-Town scheme for 5,300 houses, just exceeding the minimum of 5,000 required to qualify under the Eco-Town submission rules. The Eco-Town bid was rejected in April 2008 by the Government after almost unanimous opposition from local residents, the local MP, and AVDC.
Later, a full-scale request for planning permission was made to AVDC in late 2008 for a 3,300 house development to be called ‘Winslow Green’. This was to include offices, shops, a supermarket and links to a revived East-West Rail link between Oxford, Milton Keynes and Bedford. Once again, condemnation was almost total, mainly on the grounds that the proposed development was too large in scale (it would have been roughly twice the size of the existing neighbouring town of Winslow) and would have placed unacceptable demands on local infrastructure. After a fierce local campaign of opposition the bid was rejected in April 2009 and this result was followed a few months later, to the relief of many, by the news that the developers would not be appealing against the AVDC decision.
Housing development in Great Horwood has been sporadic and piecemeal since the late 1980s, with typically three to five private houses being built on parcels of land. These developments have been along Little Horwood Road: the Grainge Chase barn conversions (late 1980s) and Wheathouse Copse (1980s-1990s) and, at the top of Spring Lane, Wigwell Gardens (1997) followed by Spring Close. These late 20th century developments have tended to be of larger four- or five-bedroomed houses, reflecting the increased value of land and restrictions increasingly placed on the number of houses permitted in any specific development. These twin factors favour the building of a limited number of high-value houses. More recently, since the turn of the 21st century, a number of developments have featured just one or perhaps two houses, such as the two large houses built on land behind The Old Farmhouse in Spring Lane in 2012.
Large-Scale Development
A number of attempts have been made in recent years to develop the old airfield site, which lies due south of Great Horwood between the village and Winslow and half of which is in the neighbouring parish of Little Horwood. A developer made repeated informal proposals for the land, which were then followed by an application under the Government’s Eco-Town scheme for 5,300 houses, just exceeding the minimum of 5,000 required to qualify under the Eco-Town submission rules. The Eco-Town bid was rejected in April 2008 by the Government after almost unanimous opposition from local residents, the local MP, and AVDC.
Later, a full-scale request for planning permission was made to AVDC in late 2008 for a 3,300 house development to be called ‘Winslow Green’. This was to include offices, shops, a supermarket and links to a revived East-West Rail link between Oxford, Milton Keynes and Bedford. Once again, condemnation was almost total, mainly on the grounds that the proposed development was too large in scale (it would have been roughly twice the size of the existing neighbouring town of Winslow) and would have placed unacceptable demands on local infrastructure. After a fierce local campaign of opposition the bid was rejected in April 2009 and this result was followed a few months later, to the relief of many, by the news that the developers would not be appealing against the AVDC decision.
© Matt Vincent, 2012.