Stewkley Village Web - History Home

Over a year ago the Stewkley Local History Group came into being,
here is a link to the group's web site that describes their current research projects.

Stewkley - a history of the 20th Century.
Stewkley is a large village stretching along a 2 mile long high street. It lies on the watershed between streams flowing east to the Ouse and west to the Thames.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Stewkley was a farming community of around 1000 people. Self-sufficient in many ways, the village had a wealth of local craftsmen, a number of small shops and 10 pubs some brewing their own beer. By the end of the century, while still surrounded by farmland, the village had become largely a residential commuter village, still retaining its vibrant character with many social activities.

Farming in the early 1900’s was labour intensive employing most of the male population. There were also 3 local brickworks which provided additional employment in winter when the clay was cut. The bricks were made in frost-free conditions in spring and summer. Coal for the kilns was brought by cart from Swanbourne station. Some limestone was present locally or was brought from Olney. Many village houses are built of Stewkley brick. The last brickworks closed at the outbreak of World War 2, the domestic craft of straw plaiting died out around 1900, hut there were still some village lace makers.

Most national events may not have affected life in the village, hut from 1912-1914 Emmeline and Sylvia Pankhurst had a country hideaway in Ivy Lane.

During World War I many villagers served in the Forces. The 32 who did not return are commemorated on the War Memorial erected in 1922, others returned minus a limb.

In the early years of the century, connections with other villages and local towns were made on foot, on horseback, by pony and trap and the local carriers using carts and later small lorries. These took people to Aylesbury or Leighton Buzzard, carried out errands, took orders and collected parcels from the stations.

Electricity was brought to the village around 1931 by the Northampton Electric Light and Power Company. However, although street lighting was discussed at a public meeting in 1935, the expense was too great and it did not take place till 1963.

In the first half of the century, most social life took place in the village centred around the Parish Church, the two Chapels, the cricket and football clubs and the pubs. In 1925 the village hall was opened. This was built as result of the efforts of Mr Albert London and Mr. Robert Courtneidge - an actor-manager from London, who at that time lived at The Orchard. With his help and fundraising efforts by the villagers, the hall provided a focal point for the village. Stewkley Players still use some equipment brought from the Savoy Theatre in the village hall.

As in many rural communities, World War 2 resulted in changes in village life. Many villagers were involved in the war, evacuees came from London and some remained. After the war as agriculture was increasingly mechanized, people needed to find employment in Aylesbury, Bletchley and Leighton Buzzard. The number of pubs declined to 5or 6, there were fewer shops and new houses were built.

In 1969 Stewkley was threatened with total destruction when the old Wing aerodrome was designated as one of the sites for the third London Airport. The Wing Airport Resistance Association (WARA) united the villagers in total opposition. Petitions, visits to Parliament as well as fundraising involved everyone. When the Roskill Commission proposal was finally rejected, there was great rejoicing, although a second threat 10 years later had to be resisted as well. These events have been permanently commemorated with the construction of a memorial at Cublington Spinney and a plantation near the Kingsbridge picnic site named after Sir Colin Buchanan, the dissenting voice on the Roskill Commission.
With the airport threat lifted, many new houses were built in the 70’s and 80’s The village became sought after partly as the result of the rapid development of Milton Keynes and also due to the ease of commuting from Leighton Buzzard to London. Most housing developments have been infilling by executive houses with few low cost houses built. The increased use of the car has meant loss of village services - fewer shops, only two pubs, loss of bus services.

The new St. Michaels school opened in 1976 to replace the original building opposite the Church, for a time the old school building became offices and the Post Office, now turned into residencial dwellings. This was at a time of restrictions on educational building and helped to preserve the identity of the village. Schoolchildren were now bussed in from other villages which had already lost their schools.

The end of the 20th century finds a vibrant village with around 1600 people. The many social activities centre on church, chapel, village hall, school and pavilion. There are many successful sports teams - cricket, football, tennis, short mat bowls and chess. Youth activities - Scouts, Brownies and a girls club are very active. Stewkley Rights of Way Association has a regular walks programme dedicated to keeping open and improving the Parish footpaths. While long term residents may say the village is not what it was, more recent incomers of 30 years or less find it a welcoming place.