California is an area to the south side of Aylesbury town centre in Buckinghamshire in England.[1]
| California | |
|---|---|
 Penn Road, California, Aylesbury | |
  California Location within Buckinghamshire | |
| OS grid reference | SP8113 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | AYLESBURY |
| Postcode district | HP21 |
| Dialling code | 01296 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Buckinghamshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| UK Parliament | |
Etymology
editThe area is probably named after the U.S. state of California, though its history goes back long before the state was known to British people.
History
editThe history of the area goes back many centuries. Before it became California the area was known as Cooks Close and was part of the grounds of the 14th century Grey Friars monastery. Around the year 1849 some of the land was sold off and split into gardens. This area was named California. It wasn't long before plots were built on and with the coming of the Wycombe Railway in 1863 many railway workers houses appeared on the southeastern side of California. This block of houses included a beerhouse called the Golden Sovereign and later the Silver Bugle.
Hazell, Watson and Viney
editIn 1867, printing and publishing firm, Hazell, Watson and Viney, opened an inkworks in a disused silk mill in California. In 1878, this was moved to purpose built premises on the Tring Road (opposite the current site of Tesco), which closed in 1952.[2]
20th century
editBy the early 1920s Aylesbury had grown such that it was necessary to start building houses on the site of Southcourt (the other side of California from Aylesbury), and so California and the associated farmlands that surrounded it became part of Aylesbury town. Eventually the farmlands themselves were built on, though some of the railway cottages still stand today.
In 1924, the Bishop of Oxford transferred lands owned in California into the hands of the Municipal Borough of Aylesbury, which in 1929 was partially used in the construction of a new church and parsonage house, which is currently located on Penn Road.[3]
21st century
editThe site was home to the "California Industrial Estate" until 2005 when it was demolished to make way for a new housing estate, renamed the "Grand Central" due to its proximity to the centre of Aylesbury. As of November 2006 the building work has nearly finished and it is likely that the hamlet will be forgotten as it has been completely swamped by Aylesbury's development.
Facilities
editEducation
edit- Aylesbury College
- Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School
- Oak Green School
- Bambino Community Nursery
- Pebble Brook School
Religion
edit- Southcourt Baptist Church
Other
edit- The Railway Club, a social club[4]
- Southcourt Community Centre[5]
References
edit- ^ Streetmap.co.uk, with the arrow pointing to the location of California
- ^ "Records of Hazell, Watson and Viney Ltd, printers, Aylesbury, 1709-c.1991". The National Archives. 1995. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ^ "Aylesbury, St Mary's to 1989". The National Archives. Oxfordshire History Centre. 1989. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ^ "Railway Club, Ayylesbury (California)". www.aylesbury.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ^ "Southcourt Community Centre - AVDC". www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2016.