Princes Risborough
Princes Risborough is an old market town in Buckinghamshire. Its thriving high street makes it a busy place, but it still manages to retain some of its old-world charm. Evidence of its history can easily be seen. A block of stone, commonly known as a ‘Pudding Stone’, is one of several in the Chilterns thought to have been way-markers for prehistoric man and can now be seen by the edge of the road near the roundabout in Horns Lane. At the other end of the High Street, the Market House is a familiar landmark and it is thought that there has been a church on the current site of St Mary’s for over 1000 years. The Manor House, a property managed by the National Trust, but not open to the public, stands opposite this church. This is a red brick house dating from the mid to late 17th century, but incorporating some earlier features.
However, I was led here by its connection to the Black Prince. Edward of Woodstock was the eldest son of Edward III and Philippa of Hainault. He became Prince of Wales in 1345, but never became king as he died a year before his father. The crown passed to his son who became Richard II.
In 1343, the manor of Princes Risborough passed to Edward- the distinction was made between the Prince’s estate (Princes Risborough) and the nearby estate owned by an Augustinian monastery (Monks Risborough)- and excavations in 1955 at The Mount, an area which is now mainly a car park, revealed evidence of a substantial manor. A high bank separating St Mary’s churchyard from Stratton Road can still be seen, marked by a plaque which says, ‘The Site of The Manor of The Black Prince’. There is also a sign offering some additional information, but beyond this and a nearby road named Court Close, I could find no evidence of his time here! Not one of my most successful wanderings- but perhaps not a surprise, as neither of the two books I have read about Edward of Woodstock make any mention of Princes Risborough at all! So much of the history of this land is hidden or obscured- such a shame when we have such a wealth to share!
The Mount
Stratton Rd,
Princes Risborough
HP27 9AN