Haddenham is one of the largest villages in England, and pre-dates the Doomsday book. The sign shows several of the items for which the village is famous: An Anglo-Saxon (there are several conflicting stories as to how the village was founded – one story says it was founded by A-S travellers from Haddenham in Cambridgeshire), the parish church and pond (where the Aylesbury ducks were bred), a whitchet/wychert wall (of which the village has a large number) and a glider (the No 1 Glider School was based here in the war).

Haddenham is also the home of St Tiggywinkles, the world famous wildlife hospital. It cares for ill and injured wild animals, 24 hours a day 365 days a year. It is best known for it’s care of hedgehogs; however it will help any injured wild animals, for example foxes, badgers and birds.

Haddenham Community Website
Haddenham – Wikipedia
Haddenham – A Potted History
Haddenham – British History Online
St Tiggywinkles

Haddenham, OS Grid Ref: SP 741 080

Medmenham lies on the banks of the Thames, and the sign by the church appears to depict a Viking ship, possibly alluding to the nearby ‘hillforts’- a series of prehistoric defensive earthworks on the Chilterns at Medmenham Camp and Danesfield Camp?

Also nearby is Medmenham Abbey – site of the infamous Hell-Fire Club (also known as the Medmenham Monks), held by Sir Francis Dashwood in the 1700’s.

The annual picturesque ceremony of ’swan-upping’ when young swans on the Thames are counted and tagged for the reigning monarch, used to end with a great dinner of the ‘Swan-Uppers’ at Medmenham.

Sir Francis Dashwood: An eighteenth-century independent

Medmenham on Wikipedia
Medmenham Parish Council
Medmenham History
Medmenham Abbey
The Medmenham Monks
RAF Medmenham
St Peter & St Paul, Medmenham

Medmenham, OS Grid Ref: SU 805 844

A wooden Millenium sign, showing the church of St James. Carved by a local craftsman, the sign was erected on New Years Day 2000.

Whitchurch (one of nearly a dozen villages so-named in the UK) is a small, but surprising village with several springs one of which, ‘Fair Alice Spring’, rises out from beneath the site of the old castle and has never been known to dry up. It joins up with other local streams and once powered a 26 feet diameter water wheel. The community web site (link below) has a descriptive walk around the village’s highlights.

During the Second World War a large house in the village, The Firs, housed the secret Ministry of Defence department MD1, known as Winston Churchill’s ‘toyshop’. Over 250 staff developed and produced 26 different types of weapons here.

Whitchurch Community web site
Whitchurch on Wikipedia
Whitchurch Genealogy

Whitchurch, OS Grid ref: SP 801 209

A millenium sign, dated 2000, but the paint was sadly starting to flake on one side at the time of our visit (update: on a later visit the sign was in the process of being repainted).

The Saxon Church is shown, along with what I assume is Ascott House, a local National Trust property formerly owned by the Rothschilds (though it could equally depict the village hall!)

I’m not sure who the spear-wielding character is – unless he’s a Saxon!

Wing Village Sign OS Grid Ref: SP 882 225

The sign depicts the view from near to the village inn, ‘The Boot’, looking toward the church which sits on a rise with commanding views to the south.

The stone in the middle of the road on Chapel Hill is reputed to roll down the hill every night when the clock strikes twelve.

Soulbury Village OS Grid Ref: SP 861 272

Located in the main marketplace, the sign depicts the annual Olney Pancake Race. The sign was commissioned by Olney & District Society and designed by Tom Hancock.

According to legend, the race was first run in 1445, and is now run from the Market Place to a point midway down Church Lane – a distance of 415 yards. Warning bells are rung from the Church steeple and the race is started by the Churchwarden at 11.55 am, using the large bronze ‘Pancake Bell’ normally on display in the Museum. Pancakes are tossed at the start and the winner is required to toss her pancake again at the finish.

The race is open only to women of 18 years of age or over who have either lived in the town of Olney for at least 3 months immediately prior to the event or, if living away, have their permanent home in the town.

Olney, Bucks: The official guide

Olney Village Sign, OS Grid Ref: SP 889 513