Dinton | |
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Dinton from the south |
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Dinton shown within Buckinghamshire | |
Population | 809 (2011 Census)(civil parish) |
OS grid reference | SP7610 |
Civil parish |
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District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Police | Thames Valley |
Fire | Buckinghamshire |
Ambulance | South Central |
EU Parliament | South East England |
Dinton is a village in Buckinghamshire, England. It is in the south of the Aylesbury Vale on the ancient turnpike leading from Aylesbury to Thame (although this road has since been diverted away from the village). It is within the civil parish of Dinton with Ford and Upton in the district of Aylesbury Vale. The village name is Anglo Saxon in origin, and means 'Dunna's estate'. In the Domesday Book of 1086 it was listed as Danitone.
There was an ancient mansion house in this parish that belonged to the Mayne family for many years (they were lords of the manor in 1086). This has long since disappeared, but the groundworks of the ancient manor house still remain and are a goldmine of archaeological finds. There is also a ruined mock-fortified building, Dinton Castle also known as Dinton Folly, though this was constructed much later (in 1769) by Sir John Vanhattem. This octagonal folly is a listed building and has recently undergone some restoration work.
The 12th century parish church of Saints Peter and Paul is a grade I listed building.
Next to the church is Dinton Hall; this fine many gabled mansion altered at various periods during its long history, was until the last quarter of the 20th century the seat of the Currie family and now owned by the Vanbergen family. Following the Curries' departure it was bought by a Mr. Smith. He carried out a program of restoration, and placed his own coat of arms above the mansion's portals. Since 2004 the mansion is owned by the Vanbergen family, and they have restored the mansion and brought in new facilities.