Pitstone

infobox UK place
country= England
latitude= 51.82564
longitude= -0.63020
official_name= Pitstone
civil_parish= Pitstone
population= 2,343 [ [http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=792076&c=Pitstone&d=16&e=15&g=424352&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1216581914565&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 Neighbourhood Statistics 2001 Census] ]
shire_district= Aylesbury Vale
shire_county= Buckinghamshire
region= South East England
post_town= LEIGHTON BUZZARD
postcode_area= LU
postcode_district = LU7
dial_code= 01296
os_grid_reference= SP943150
constituency_westminster= Aylesbury

Pitstone (formerly Pightelsthorn) is a village and also a civil parish within Aylesbury Vale district in Buckinghamshire, England. It is located at the foot of the Chiltern Hills, about seven miles east of Aylesbury, six miles south of Leighton Buzzard. It adjoins the village of Ivinghoe.

The village name is Anglo Saxon in origin, and means 'Picel's thorn tree'. It was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Pincelestorne".

Pitstone was given to the abbey at Ashridge by the Earl of Cornwall in 1283. In 1290 King Edward I spent Christmas in Pitstone at the estate that had been given to the abbey, and stayed for five weeks, during which time he held parliament in Ashridge. His stay caused great inconvenience to the local inhabitants of the village, who were legally obliged to keep the king and his court.

More recently Pitstone was the site of a cement works which were closed in the 1990s. The site has now been demolished and has been redeveloped for housing and business use.

A notable building nearby is Pitstone Windmill, which is owned by the National Trust.

Pitstone Green Museum provides some interesting insights into agricultural history and various supporting trades.

References

External links

* [http://website.lineone.net/~pitstonemus/ Pitstone Green Museum]
* [http://www.pitstone.co.uk/ Village Website]
* [http://www.ipschurches.co.uk/ The Benefice of St.Mary’s includes the villages of Ivinghoe, Pitstone, Slapton, Horton and Ivinghoe Aston]