Newport Pagnell
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Newport Pagnell | |
  Newport Pagnell shown within Buckinghamshire |
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| Population | 15,020[1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Unitary authority | Milton Keynes |
| Ceremonial county | Buckinghamshire |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEWPORT PAGNELL |
| Postcode district | MK16 |
| Dialling code | 01908 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Buckinghamshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | North East Milton Keynes |
| List of places: UK • England • Buckinghamshire | |
Newport Pagnell is a town in the Borough of Milton Keynes (traditional Buckinghamshire), England. It is situated on the other (eastern) side of the M1 motorway from Milton Keynes itself. It is also the name of a motorway service station on the M1 near the town.
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[edit] History
The town was first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Neuport, which is Old English meaning New Market Town. At that time it was fairly new, having been founded by Norman invaders. The suffix "Pagnell" came later, when the manor passed into the hands of the Pagnell (Paynel) family.
At one time Newport Pagnell was one of the largest towns in the County of Buckinghamshire (the assizes of the County were occasionally held here) though today, despite its own substantial expansion, it has been completely dwarfed by the growth of Milton Keynes. There were also at one time two hospitals in Newport Pagnell and six fairs were held for the townsfolk throughout the year.
Newport Pagnell became the headquarters of Newport Pagnell Rural District under the Local Government Act 1894. The parish of Newport Pagnell itself became a separate urban district in 1897.
[edit] Modern times
Tickford Bridge, over the River Ouzel (or Lovat), was built in 1810 and is the only iron bridge in Britain that still carries main road traffic. This is the oldest iron bridge in the world that is still in constant use. There is a plaque near the footbridge on the side that gives details of its history and construction. A large set of sluice gates used to control downstream flooding of the River Great Ouse is located near the bridge.
Since 1954, Tickford Street in Newport Pagnell has been the home of the Aston Martin site, where all Aston Martin cars were built, until the recent opening of the new Ford Motor Company luxury division plant for Aston Martin built at Gaydon, Warwickshire. The town is also home to the only remaining vellum manufacturer in the United Kingdom.
The modern civil parish of Newport Pagnell stops at the M1, but the ecclesiastical parish extends to include Broughton and Caldecote. The parish church is dedicated to St Peter and St Paul.
[edit] Population and growth
Although formally Newport Pagnell is outside the designated area of Milton Keynes, its growth has been consistent with the constituent towns of the latter. Today, the two have joined up on either side of the M1 and there is little distinction between them. The Office of National Statistics regards Newport Pagnell as part of the Milton Keynes Urban Area.[2] Its population in 1971 was 6,000:[3] by 2001 it had reached 15,020. The Borough Council projects[4] that the population will remain broadly stable at this level. However, in its comments on the expansion plans for Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire County Council challenges this assumption, calling for any further expansion to be to the east of the M1 rather than south across the border into Aylesbury Vale.
[edit] Famous names
- Nigel Benson, the author, was born in Newport Pagnell.
- Steve Brooker, footballer, was born in Newport Pagnell.
- Kelly George, actor and star of BBC children's television series Grange Hill lived and was educated in Newport Pagnell.
- Gordon Moakes, bassist of Indie band Bloc Party was educated in Newport Pagnell.
- The members of the ska punk band Capdown were educated in Newport Pagnell.
- David Oldfield who played for Leicester City, Stoke City & Oxford United lived in Newport Pagnell.
- The Smiths (1980's band) Wrote a song entitled "Is it really so strange?" from the album Louder than Bombs in which the town is featured. "I lost my bag in Newport Pagnell".
[edit] External links
- The unofficial town website with historical pictures, pictures of the town carnival and a message board for locals and ex pats to keep in touch
- Milton Keynes website with maps and information about Newport Pagnell
- Newport Pagnell Town Council
[edit] References
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