Wingrave's Home Page

A Rothschild Village in the Vale of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, U.K.

Following the passage of the 1894 Local Government Act a parish meeting was called on the evening of December 4th 1894 to elect the first Wingrave with Rowsham Parish Council.The members of the First Council were Thomas Biggs, Joseph Bonham, John Bonham, George Ellis, George Griffin, Thomas Jones and John Jarrott. Mark Finch was chosen to be their Chairman and Clerk.

First Chairman & Clerk of the Parish Council 1894 to 1897

Mark Finch lived at Manor Farm, Rowsham. Little else is known about him but his influence on the Council can be judged from the tone of the following letter that appears on page 71 of the Minute Book:

Sept 23rd 1897

To Mr Mark Finch, Chairman of the Parish Council.

Dear Sir,

We the undersigned working men of the parish of Wingrave, beg to tender our most hearty thanks to you for the interest you have taken in us ever since you have been in our neighbourhood; we regret very much that you are leaving us ; we feel we are losing a friend , one who has been most willing to help us in Temperance Work & Christian Work & every other work for our good.

Our sympathy and our prayers will follow you that God's blessing may rest upon you & every member of your family where you are going. We feel this is a very small thing for us to do but we wish you to know how very much we have appreciated the service you have rendered & please believe us your humble servants.

Signed,

Here follow 23 Signatures.

Member of the First Parish Council 1894

Thomas Biggs was born in Burcott, Wing, in 1844. His wife Elizabeth was born in Addington, Oxfordshire. After their marriage they lived in Wendover before moving to Wingrave sometime between 1873 and 1877.

Thomas Biggs was a farmer and the 1881 Census Return for Wingrave shows him living in Manor Lodge, Leighton Road with his wife and family.

Member of the First Parish Council 1894

John Bonham was born in 1849 the second son of James and Eliza Bonham. According to the 1851 Census he was living at Nup End with his parents and older brother. His father was a farm labourer. In the 1861 Census (age 13) he was an agricultural labourer and still living in Nup End. He married Elizabeth Fleet at the Independent Chapel, Wingrave (now United Reformed) on 1st January 1869 and on the 1871 census return thay are living at Nup End. According to the burial register his wife Elizabeth died and was buried at SS Peter & Paul Church on 12th August 1877. In 1881 (age 31) he was again living with his parents but now in Aylesbury Road and was a widower. His occupation was given as bricklayer.

On 26th December 1882 he married Mary Badrick (also from Wingrave) and they had seven children (Beatrice, Gertrude, Nellie, Leonard, Ada, Lily and Bertie). During their married life they lived in Castle Street and later in Winslow Road.

John Bonham died on 1Oth December 19O1 age 52 at Warley, Great Warley, Essex. His occupation was bricklayer and journeyman. He was buried in Wingrave churchyard on 14th December 19O1.

Member of the First Parish Council 1894

Joseph Bonham was living at the Carpenter's Arms public house in 1887. The Kelly's Directory mentions a chimney sweep named Joseph Bonham in Wingrave in 1891.

In 1850 a Joseph Bonham married Phoebe Paine in the Parish Church of SS Peter & Paul and the 1891 census reveals the family as living in Mill Road; Joseph (60) an agricultural worker Phoebe (60) his wife and James (21) his son also an agricultural worker. They were all born in Wingrave.

Joseph Bonham was buried in the graveyard of SS Peter & Paul aged 75 as is his wife Phoebe aged 86 years.

Member of First Parish Council 1894

George Hedges Griffin was the son of George Griffin and his wife Mary (née Hedges). He was born in Wingrave in 1852 and the 1891 Census return for Wingrave reveals him living with his wife Agnes and family in the bakery situated next to the Methodist Chapel in Nup End.

His father was the well-known composer and ran the bakery business in the village. When he moved to the Rothschild cottage on the corner of Nup End to run the Post Office, George Hedges Griffin took over the bakery. In later years George Hedges Griffin moved to Linslade and his eldest son George Edwin - known to everyone as Ted (or Teddy) - became the village baker.

GEORGE ELLIS

Member of the First Parish Council 1894.

(50 years service)

George Ellis was born on 29th May 1866 in Wingrave. He married Fanny Halsey on 6th April 1893. Fanny was born in Cublington her parents being Licensees of the Royal Oak Inn at Aston Abbotts. At some time they may have lived in Castle Street and also in the house which is now the village shop. When the Recreation Ground cottages were bought privately in 191O they moved into No 1.

George Ellis and his wife had four sons. He was well known for his ploughmanship winning many trophies. He entered the local annual ploughing match 6 times and won 5 prizes - the first when he was just 16. One year he took the Championship Prize against 2O Teams. He was a farm worker until he reached the age of 22 then he started on his own. Good at handling horses he became a carrier and job-master. He used to take people for trips in his vehicles to Ashridge Monument during the summer and his excursions to Tring were extremely popular. He was a carrier for 5O years and the last in the village where he lived all of his life.

George Ellis was a Deacon of the church for 5O years and a Trustee of the Congregational Church. He died in l953 and his wife in 1961 and they are buried in the Chapel grounds.

JOHN JARROTT

Member of the First Parish Council 1894.

John Jarrott was born in Wingrave in 1852, the 12th child of Richard and Mary Jarrott (nee Bignell). According to the 1861 census for Wingrave he was living with his parents in Pound End Cottage but by 1871 they had moved to Windmill Street. His occupation was given as agricultural labourer. The 1881 and 1891 census returns for Wingrave reveal John, his wife Sarah and two daughters, Mary Ann and Maggie living in Chapel Street (Fleet's Row). They eventually ran a shop from these premises.

John was highly respected in the village and was connected with the Congregational Church since boyhood. He was a member of the Church for 56 years including 14 as a devoted Sunday School Superintendent. Illness necessitated his retirement. He was very fond of music and singing and was a well known local preacher.

John was fond of cricket and in his younger days was a good batsman and always retained an interest in the game throughout his life. He was of a bright and affable disposition and always had a smile and a word of encouragement.

He died on 6th August 1932 aged 80 and is buried with his wife in the Congregational Church yard.

THOMAS JONES

Member of the First Parish Council 1894

Thomas Jones was born in London in l854, the son of John Jones, a bricklayer and his wife Mary. He married Ann Woodward (from Mentmore) in the Parish Church of SS Peter and Paul and lived with their children (Polly Hannah, Edward Thomas (sadly died aged 6 from measles), Leonard Charles, Phoebe Ellen (Nellie) and Minnie) in a cottage in Nup End.

Thomas Jones worked in the building trade having served his apprenticeship with Taylor & Grist of Bierton. In 1895 he built a house in Main Street (now Winslow Road) which served as a Post Office as well as a home. His wife Ann Woodward was Postmistress for 4O years. Thomas was a member of the Methodist Chapel for 25 years and a local preacher for 2O years as well as being Society Steward for many years.

In 19O5 Thomas Jones died suddenly and was buried in Wingrave Churchyard on 27th April 19O5. On the Sunday evening after his death a Mr. Sale from Aylesbury preached a sermon in the Methodist Chapel which was draped in black and crowded with villagers, parishioners, friends and family mourners. Mention was made of his energy and indomitable perseverance in all he undertook and how in the prime of his life when he was just commencing to feel the benefits, he sadly died aged 5O.

He was remembered for his very kind manner and willingness to help. A plaque in his memory is on the wall of the Methodist Chapel. A stone presented in his memory by his wife and family was laid in the Autumn of 19O5.

(Note: Thomas Jones' son-in-law William Fleet served on the Parish Council in 1922. Douglas Dunker who served on the Parish Council for 27 years married Christine Fleet who was the grand-daughter of Thomas Jones.)

Joined Parish Council in 1896

Charles James Paine was born in 1864 the eldest son of Mr and Mrs. Charles Paine of Weedon Lodge who were well known in farming circles. Charles married Margaret Elliott of Rowsham. For many years he farmed Church and Waterloo farms, Wingrave, retiring about 1924 when he purchased "Baldways" in Leighton Road where he lived with his wife and family until his death.

He was very active in gardening. In his youth he was keenly interested in cricket and, in later years, an ardent bowls player becoming the first captain of the village Bowls Club. For a period of about 2O years he was church warden of the Parish Church and represented the Parish on the Aylesbury Board of Guardians and the Rural District Council for many years. He was a member of Aylesbury Literary Institute and the first farmer in the village to enrol as a member of the National Farmers' Union. He was keenly interested in Wingrave, Bierton, Aston Abbotts and Rowsham Agricultural Association of which he was Hon. Treasurer.

He was a man highly esteemed by all who knew him. His kindly disposition won him many friends who admired the sterling qualities of his strong character; quiet and unassuming in manner yet a man of great integrity and justice.

Charles Paine died at the age of 69 on 6th October 1933 and is buried with his wife (who predeceased him) in Wingrave Churchyard. The picture shows Charles Paine with his wife and daughter in the hunting field at Mr. Freeman's on 21 March 1907.

FRANK RICHARD GIBBS

Joined the Parish Council in 1897

Chairman 1904 to 1907 & 1926 to 1939

Parish Clerk 1932 to 1939

Frank Gibbs was born in Wingrave in l868, the son of James & Emma Gibbs who lived in Church Square with their family.

Frank played a prominent role in village affairs as Chairman and Clerk of the Parish Council. He was the local representative on the Rural District Council, a member of the Board of Guardians and a Justice of the Peace. At the time of his death he was local agent for the Liberal Party and Secretary of the local hospital scheme. He held various senior positions in the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows. He also served as a church warden and sidesman. His main hobby remained beekeeping but in his younger days, like all the Gibbs boys, he was a keen cricketer and later became interested in bowls. He was always ready to offer advice on the village charities and local history of which he had thorough knowledge.

Frank never married and apart from two unmarried nieces was the last of the Gibbs line. He died at his home in Winslow Road in 1948 at the age of 80, following a long illness, and is buried in the church yard.

THOMAS COLLINS

Joined the Parish Council in 1896

Chairman from 1900 to 1904

Thomas Collins married Emily Ann Gibbs at SS Peter & Paul Parish Church on 13th January, 1873. He was a farm bailiff from Cheddington, the son of Joseph Collins. Emily Ann was the daughter of James Gibbs, a tailor from Wingrave. Thomas Collins and his wife eventually moved to live and farm at Helsthorpe Farm, Crafton. He ran an 'up-to-date' farm with the latest machinery and was one of the first to own a self-binder. Several village boys were employed by him, initially as stone pickers. He reared cattle but his main interest was in sheep. Cheese was made in the farm dairy which was collected every two weeks by the authorities during the 1914-18 War.

FREDERICK BRANDON

Joined the Parish Council 1897

Frederick Brandon was born in Wingrave in 1841. He was the son of Robert Brandon and his wife Hannah and lived at the blacksmith's shop where Robert was the blacksmith.

After his father's death in 187O Frederick took over the blacksmith's shop and the 1891 Census return for Wingrave reveals him still the village blacksmith living with his wife Agnes in the Smithy situated opposite the Green.

WILLIAM GRIFFIN

Joined the Parish Council in 1896

Chairman from 1907 to 1926 (until his death)

William Griffin was born in 1862, a member of a well known Wingrave family and a respected farmer of Straws Hadley Farm.William was a Trustee of Wingrave Congregational Church and very closely identified with the local Conservative Association. He was known to all the farming community in the Vale of Aylesbury, a member of the National Farmers Union and Aylesbury Farmers Association. He was an active member of Wingrave, Aston Abbotts, Bierton, Rowsham and Hulcott Agricultural Association and also filled the office of Income Tax Collector for Wingrave and Aston Abbotts.William Griffin was married with one daughter and died in April 1926. His funeral was held at the Congregational Church which was filled with friends and family mourners.

Joined the Parish Council 1897

Ezra Fleet was born in Wingrave in l847 the son of William Fleet (a labourer) and his wife Mary. He married and had two children, Ada and William. Sadly his wife died in 188O. The Census returns for 1881 and 1891 reveal him still a widower living in a cottage on the Recreation Ground with his children. His occupation is given as labourer.