Marsworth, Bucks

Marsworth has been home for the past 14 years, a corner of England where I love to be.

Early Village History

The village name is Anglo Saxon in origin, Mæssanwyrth, and means 'Mæssa's enclosure'. Marsworth is first mentioned in the will of Aelfgyfu (before 975) as granted to Edgar of England who in turn passed it to St Etheldreda's Church belonging to the Bishops of Ely. Brictric, a thegn of Edward the Confessor. After the Norman Conquest Marsworth (Missevorde) is recorded in the Domesday Book as in the possession of Robert D'Oyly and was connected to Wallingford, an association which continued into the 17^th century. The tenants at this time were the Bassett family and the land was split between six sisters and through their line the estates passed to the Goldingtons at which time the manor becomes recorded as Marsworth with Goldringtons.

By 1319 records show there were still several overlords controlling various parts of Marsworth including a descendant of Isabel Bassett, John de Beauchamp Lord of the Manor at Hawridge. This is the first indication of a tie-up between Marsworth and the detached manor or Hawridge, possibly to provide woodland and hilltop summer pasture for the estate across the narrow isthmus of Hertfordshire.

There were connections between another estate in Marsworth and the Savoy Hospitalin London whom the Boughton family granted lands in 1514 in the honour of Henry III. It subsequently became an endowment for St Thomas's Hospital and in 1876 was swapped for lands in Essex by William Brown of Tring.

There are records of a church in Marsworth since the 12^th century. All Saints Church was further extended in the 14^th and 15^th centuries. Despite further restoration in the first part of the 19^th century by 1880 the church was in a deplorable condition and the newly appointed vicar, the Rev. F. W. Ragg set about with the help of parishioners to restore it over the next 25 years.

Marsworth Today

Marsworth is also a civil parish within Aylesbury Vale district.

The construction of the Grand Union Canal, which passes through Marsworth brought with it many new business opportunities and the village expanded greatly as a result. Marsworth is situated at the summit of the canal and where four large reservoirs were built to feed it sourcing the water via culverts from the surrounding hills. The reservoirs are now a nature reserve.

There are three pubs in the village; The Anglers Retreat and The White Lion which are situated in Startops End next to the canal & reservoirs and The Red Lion, which is in the heart of the village near All Saints Church. There was a fourth pub, The Ship; however this is now a private residence.

The pretty village primary school caters for the needs of the younger children from the village but a bus trip is needed to Tring or Aylesbury for those over 11 years of age.

Over the years, various shops have come and sadly gone, with the nearest supermarket in Tring but there's Masons convenience store in neighboring Pitstone and the farm shop at Wilstone. The old lock keepers cottage at Startops is now a tea rooms, which is open all year round.

Copyright: wikipedia

All Saints Church

Grand Union Canal - towards The Red Lion Bridge

The Red Lion Pub from All Saints Church tower

The White Lion Pub, Startops End