Overview

After leaving the delightful village of CRENDON, we journey through countryside to our next destination. SAT NAV. HP18 0DJ. CHEARSLEY It is just a short drive to reach Chearsley with lovely open fields for us to admire (photo 1) before reaching the Chearsley sign (photo 2) and just a few yards later, TURN RIGHT as you see “The Bell inn” sign on a triangle island, and park up either by the wall, or around outside The Bell (photo 3) This pretty old pub has been used in a episode of Midsomer Murders “Country Matters” when they called it The Woodsman. The villages local store was also used, when they called the shop, Elverton village stores. SAT NAV. HP18 0BB. THE CROWN INN CUDDINGTON Leaving The Bell, just follow the road to the RIGHT at the cross roads (photo 4) and drive ahead to pass the CUDDINGTON SIGN (photo 5) and you will reach the most adorable little village of Cuddington, with its many attractive thatch and red brick homes (photo 6). CUDDINGTON In the doomsday book of 1086 it was called Cudintuna, the old word meant Cudda’s estate. The church here of St Nicolas dates from 1100’s, but restored in 1857. The village is concentrated around the village green and the junction, with about 550 residents, and it has won the Britains best kept village competition. We turned right here, then TURNED AROUND so we could look back at the many cottages (photo 7). On the corner stands a most beautiful thatch Inn, “The Crown” This was used in a Midsomer Murders episode, “Death in Disguise” where Culley gets off a coach, but the village was also used in five other programmes, “Death of a Stranger”, “Death and Dream”, Bad Tidings”, “Talking to the Dead” and “Not in my backyard” The Crown Inn was also used in the film by Agatha Christie “Why didn’t they ask Evans”. It would be very nice to have had time to take a drink here sitting in its well maintained patio (photo 9) but time encourages us to move on, so at the cross roads go straight ahead along Upper Church Street, with The Crown on your right, and have a look at the fantastic stoned walled barn like cottage, it’s a beauty is,nt it, (photo 10) and this street scene was used in the film “Oliver Twist” and you can see why, it fitted that time period well (photo 11) This is Bernard’s Hall, and it was used in four episodes of Midsomer Murders “Death of a Stranger”, “Death and Dreams”, “Bad Tidings” and “Talking to the dead” On the opposite side of Church Street, is the Cuddington village stores, and this was used in “Death of a Stranger “, “Talking to the dead” and in “Not in my backyard” Drive ahead now towards the church of St Nicolas, built in the 1100’s (photo 12). The church was used in the episode “Shot at dawn” and just a little further, on the bend you can quickly stop to look to your left and down pretty Tibbys lane (photo 13). There’s nowhere to park here though, so just a quick look will have to do. In Midsomer Murder, a little cottage at the very bottom of this lane, was used in “Death and Dream”. Right on this corner as well is Tyringham Hall, and this very beautiful 17th century Manor House is believed to have been built in 1699, and does have some interesting architectural features, the one we mention is the pigeon holes still there, on top of the dormer window in the gable to the left of the front door. The roof has local red tiles, which add character to this fine ancient house. Just to mention for you that former owners were Jonathan and David Dimbleby. It has of course been used in Midsomers Murder, in two episodes to date, “Talking to the dead” and “Bad Tidings” Continue to drive ahead on this narrow lane, and just drive all the way around the right hand bends, passing other delightful cottages (photo 15) until you reach Upper Church street again. SAT NAV. HP27 9TS. PRINCESS RISBOROUGH. You have about a half hour drive now to reach the old market town that lies at the foot of the Chiltern Hills, and historically it was both a manor and a parish. At the time of the doomsday book of 1086, the Manor of RISBOROUGH was part of a complex of a stud farm, a deer park, and a large fishery, and the old hall, had now been passed on to a Walter Gifford, 1sr Earl of Buckingham. The family line held on to it until the last Gifford passed away with issue in 1164, so without a son, the manor was passed back to the crown. In 1344, King Edward 111 granted his son, Edward, Prince of Wales the manor of RISBOROUGH, who was just 14 at that time, and held the manor until his death in 1376, at Westminster, on 8th June, but having died before his father, the Prince never did become King, so now, the manor became known as Princess RISBOROUGH. Today, it’s a main town, not a lot going for it, but if you take the island and pop down into tesco car park, you can enter your next SAT NAV directions. SAT NAV. Directions. HP18 0DJ. The Bell at Chearsley. Drive out of Tesco’s to the big island, and take the fourth exit, signed as P. Town centre, and leisure centre. Just drive along through (photo 16) and pass the old clock on the market hall (photo 17) and continue ahead on High Street (photo 18). At the junction, but not worth bothering with, over to your right is the information centre, which they used in Midsomer Murders as “ Causton social services” But you though, TURN LEFT at main junction and head for island, and now follow your sat NAV directions. As regards Midsomer Murders, it is the railway station that was used a few times, perhaps the best known programme being “Death in a chocolate box” first shown on 11th May 2008. It’s to far out for us to bother with on this trip. But the town was also used in “Shot at Dawn”

Transport & Parking

We had no need to park at Chearsley, just looked and took photos, before arriving at Princess RISBOROUGH, but again parking was difficult, so we took photos and moved on.

Access

No need to worry as these are just places to look at before moving on.

Toilets

Staff

Photos