Boveney
Encyclopedia
Boveney is a village
in Buckinghamshire
, England
, near Windsor
.
The village name is Anglo Saxon
in origin and means 'above island'. This refers to the island that sits in the River Thames
next to the village. The Anglo Saxon name for the village was Bufanege.
Boveney was once a hamlet
within the parish
of Burnham
, though has long since been considered a separate village, particularly since the urban growth of nearby Slough
. It became a separate civil parish in 1866, having been a chapelry before, and was part of Eton Rural District
from 1894 to 1934. In 1934 the parish of Boveney was abolished, under a County Review Order
, with the more urbanised part being added to Eton
urban district, and with the larger, less populous part being added to the parish of Dorney
.
The Church of St Mary Magdalene
is in a remote part of the village by the River Thames
. This church was used as a location for many Hammer Horror movies which were made at nearby Bray Studios
. The church was declared redundant and vested in the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches
in 1983, who repair and conserve it for visitors and the local community to enjoy. In 2004 a major campaign was undertaken to repair the 14th century timber framed tower and a further programme of repairs is planned for 2007, so unfortunately the church is at present closed to visitors. The Friends, whose work in England is not automatically grant-aided, welcome donations towards their cause.
Many TV and Film companies use the village as a location. Inspector Morse
episode Silent World of Nicholas Quinn and Kevin Costner
movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
were filmed here.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, near Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
.
The village name is Anglo Saxon
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
in origin and means 'above island'. This refers to the island that sits in the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
next to the village. The Anglo Saxon name for the village was Bufanege.
Boveney was once a hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
within the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Burnham
Burnham, Buckinghamshire
Burnham is a village and civil parish that lies north of the River Thames in the South Bucks District of Buckinghamshire, and sits on the border with Berkshire, between the towns of Maidenhead and Slough. It is served by Burnham railway station in the west of Slough on the main line between London...
, though has long since been considered a separate village, particularly since the urban growth of nearby Slough
Slough
Slough is a borough and unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Royal Berkshire, England. The town straddles the A4 Bath Road and the Great Western Main Line, west of central London...
. It became a separate civil parish in 1866, having been a chapelry before, and was part of Eton Rural District
Eton Rural District
Eton was a rural district in the administrative county of Buckinghamshire, England. It was named after but did not contain Eton, which was an urban district....
from 1894 to 1934. In 1934 the parish of Boveney was abolished, under a County Review Order
Local Government Act 1929
The Local Government Act 1929 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that made changes to the Poor Law and local government in England and Wales....
, with the more urbanised part being added to Eton
Eton, Berkshire
Eton is a town and civil parish in Berkshire, England, lying on the opposite bank of the River Thames to Windsor and connected to it by Windsor Bridge. The parish also includes the large village of Eton Wick, 2 miles west of the town, and has a population of 4,980. Eton was in Buckinghamshire until...
urban district, and with the larger, less populous part being added to the parish of Dorney
Dorney
Dorney is a village and civil parish within South Bucks district in the English county of Buckinghamshire, near Slough and about two and a half miles west of Eton.The village name is Old English and means "island frequented by bumble bees"...
.
St Mary Magdalene's Church, Boveney
St Mary Magdalene's Church, Boveney, is a redundant Anglican church standing close to the river on the north bank of the Thames, near the village of Boveney, Buckinghamshire, England. It is about to the west of Eton College...
is in a remote part of the village by the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
. This church was used as a location for many Hammer Horror movies which were made at nearby Bray Studios
Bray Studios (UK)
Bray Studios is a film and television facility at Bray, near Windsor, Berkshire, England. The films Alien and The Rocky Horror Picture Show were shot there...
. The church was declared redundant and vested in the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches
Friends of Friendless Churches
Friends of Friendless Churches is a registered charity active in England and Wales. It campaigns for and rescues redundant historic churches threatened by demolition, decay, or inappropriate conversion. To that end, as of August 2010, it owns 43 former churches or chapels, 23 of which...
in 1983, who repair and conserve it for visitors and the local community to enjoy. In 2004 a major campaign was undertaken to repair the 14th century timber framed tower and a further programme of repairs is planned for 2007, so unfortunately the church is at present closed to visitors. The Friends, whose work in England is not automatically grant-aided, welcome donations towards their cause.
Many TV and Film companies use the village as a location. Inspector Morse
Inspector Morse (TV series)
Inspector Morse is a detective drama based on Colin Dexter's series of Chief Inspector Morse novels. The series starred John Thaw as Chief Inspector Morse and Kevin Whately as Sergeant Lewis. Dexter makes a cameo appearance in all but three of the episodes....
episode Silent World of Nicholas Quinn and Kevin Costner
Kevin Costner
Kevin Michael Costner is an American actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and businessman. He has been nominated for three BAFTA Awards, won two Academy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. Costner's roles include Lt. John J...
movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is a 1991 American adventure film directed by Kevin Reynolds. Kevin Costner heads the cast list as Robin Hood...
were filmed here.