Bledlow Ridge

Coordinates: 51°40′12″N 0°50′46″W / 51.670°N 0.846°W / 51.670; -0.846

Bledlow Ridge is a village in the civil parish of Bledlow-cum-Saunderton in Buckinghamshire, England. In 2004 the population was 940. It is situated in the Chiltern Hills, about 4 miles SSW of Princes Risborough and on the road between the High Wycombe and Chinnor.

Originally the hamlet was within the ecclesiastical parish of Bledlow. It gained separate status in 1868 when the new chapel, dedicated to St Paul, was constructed.

In common with other similar villages in the Chiltern Hills properties have become increasingly sought after due to its location and the improvement in rail and road connections to London. It has a recently refurbished village shop, The Country Store (formerly the "Kedai"), and a local school, Bledlow Ridge School. Bledlow Ridge has a number of clubs such as 'Bridge' a youth club and a cricket club. As well as the corner shop, there is also an Equestrian Centre, park, tennis courts and a cricket pitch owned by the 'Bledlow Ridge Cricket Club'.

Bledlow

Coordinates: 51°42′44″N 0°52′31″W / 51.7123°N 0.8754°W / 51.7123; -0.8754

Bledlow is a village in the civil parish of Bledlow-cum-Saunderton 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.

Geography

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.