Wavendon

Coordinates: 52°01′31″N 0°40′36″W / 52.0252°N 0.6767°W / 52.0252; -0.6767

Wavendon is a village and civil parish in the south east of the Borough of Milton Keynes and ceremonial county of Buckinghamshire, England.

History and geography

The village name is an Old English language word, and means 'Wafa's hill'. In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 969 the village was recorded as Wafandun. The ancient village lies just outside the south-east of Milton Keynes itself. The ecclesiastic parish of Wavendon anciently contained the hamlet of Woburn Sands, which became a separate civil parish in 1907.

The village is best known today for being the location of the Stables Theatre live music venue, and the "Wavendon All-music Plan" music summer schools. The venue is the brainchild of the late Sir John Dankworth and his wife, Dame Cleo Laine (who continues to live in the village).

Wavendon Tower

Wavendon Tower is a large country house with substantial modern additions on the edge of the village. During the Second World War it was used as a recording studio for black propaganda. From 1969 to the late 1970s, it was the base for the Milton Keynes Development Corporation. Until 2011 it was an operating centre for Scicon (subsequently EDS).As of January 2012 it is vacant and seeking tenants.