Bledlow
| Bledlow | |
|---|---|
 Holy Trinity parish church |
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 Bledlow
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| Bledlow shown within Buckinghamshire | |
| OS grid reference | SP778021 |
| Civil parish | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Princes Risborough |
| Postcode district | HP27 |
| Dialling code | 01844 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Buckinghamshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | Bledlow-cum-Saunderton Parish Council |
Bledlow is a village in the civil parish of Bledlow-cum-Saunderton (where the 2011 Census population is included) in Buckinghamshire, England. It is about 1 1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) WSW of Princes Risborough, and is on the county boundary with Oxfordshire.
The toponym "Bledlow" is derived from Old English and means "Bledda's burial mound". A 10th century document records it as Bleddanhloew; the Domesday Book of 1086 records it as Bledelai. A more common derivation is from "Bled-Hlaw" meaning Bloody HIll which commemorates an undated battle between Saxons and Danes.
The village is on the ancient Icknield Way and is where several springs form a small pool called the Lyde. The water from the springs is said to wear away the chalk on which the village stands, giving rise to the simple local medieval nursery rhyme:
The brook running from the pool into the nearby valley (called the Lyde Brook) provided water power for two watermills for many years. Bledlow's watermill is a tourist attraction.
Above the village, carved into the chalk of Wain Hill is a large cross, similar to that found at Whiteleaf. There is also a round barrow on the hill. It is thought that this is the barrow or burial mound referred to in the village name.
Within the parish of Bledlow-cum-Saunderton are several hamlets. The main one is Bledlow Ridge. The others are Forty Green (not to be confused with Forty Green near Beaconsfield), Pitch Green, Rout's Green, Skittle Green and Holly Green.
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