Bloomin’ Marvellous

More a hamlet than a village, Bradenham is a classic cluster of Chilterns flint and brick cottages nestled around an expanse of village green.

I am used to villages being more village than green, but Bradenham bucks the trend with an expansive lawn that must prove tricky when playing sport as it follows the gentle downward slope to the road. Sources tell that it was the place to participate in fun games between village men and women. All is peaceful today with dog walkers relaxing on the benches and the pheasants calling from the adjacent field they share with the horses.

Cottages with names like the old Forge, Chestnuts, the laurels and the old post office surround the green. There’s a statement White House too. The village is situated in a classic dip with surrounding steep wooded hills, the neighbouring place names just as ancient: Loosely Row, Bledlow Ridge, Walters Ash and of course West Wycombe, a cosier and prettier relative to the busy commuter town, High Wycombe.

Some Chiltern locations can be snooty with unfriendly ‘gerr orf my land’ signs tacked to gates and trees . Not so this village. At its centre is St Botolph’s, its austere medieval tower standing guard alongside the Manor House at the top of the green. Beside the lynchgate is a friendly sign directing you inside to enjoy a cup of tea and refreshments for your dog.

It has some interesting occupants including two ancient bells, and the writer Isaac D’Israeli and his wide Maria in the crypt. Also former occupants of the Manor House and parents of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881), who lived nearby at his country home Hughenden Manor, another National Trust property.

The whole village was in fact bequeathed in 1956 to the National Trust by the Ernest E. Cook Trust (1865–1955), grandson of Thomas Cook, founder and father of the first international travel agency, Thomas Cook & Son. It’s a small world!

The 15th century Manor House is looking a bit down at heel and is currently for sale for an undisclosed sum. It is not open to visitors, but there’s plenty to enjoy and local trails to explore around the village and into the bluebell woods with far-reaching views of the surrounding hills. See link below for a local bluebell walk.

If you don’t trip over the intriguing puddingstone’s you won’t fail to miss the large sarsen stone found nearby and moved to its prominent position on the lower green ‘to commemorate the dawn of the third millennium’.

This little village has kept the third millennium at bay. I wonder what their secret is?

All photography’s are the copyright of Mary Tebje and can only be used with permission.

Links you will need

Formally the village, pub, the Red Lion tea room offers a hearty breakfast, warming lunch or cream tea. Booking advised as it gets busy.

This Spring, celebrate the colours and landscape of the Chiltern Hills with our range of unique British-made Chilterns Gifts that reflect the special qualities of our favourite places, not least of all the bluebell woods.

The moderate, two-hour Bradenham beech woods walk takes you from the village into the wider estate and a classic Chiltern landscape of blended beech-topped hills topped with beech woodlands - soon to be full of bluebells.