St Leonards combines a distinct connection to the landscape with several cultural and historical themes. St Leonards Parish Hall is located in the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It also has seven acres of adjoining playing fields. The parish church, The White Lion Public House and local history activities raise different questions: How has the church changed over the centuries, what architectural features define the pub, and how is the history of the villages explored? For travellers who take cultural and historical interests into account when choosing where to stay, St Leonards offers more than a single historical connection.
The parish church and its layers of history
The Church of St Leonard is a parish church that probably dates back to the 15th century. It was almost completely destroyed during the Civil War and rebuilt in the 17th century; restorations took place in the 17th century and in 1845. The nave has 16th-century roof trusses with braces. The probable date of origin, destruction, rebuilding and restorations are distinct stages and do not describe a single building event. The church site is also associated with a former medieval hermitage, which was linked to the Abbey of Missenden. The church’s history therefore encompasses both architectural history and an older religious connection.
Timber framing and interiors at the White Lion
The White Lion Public House complements the church’s history with a different example of historic architecture. It is an altered 17th-century building. Its rear wall is timber-framed, with brick infill between the timbers, and the roof is covered with old tiles. Inside, the building has ceiling beams and an open fireplace. The descriptions of the walls, roof and interior offer different ways to look at the building: timber framing refers to the wooden structure, while the brick infill fills the spaces between its timbers. This makes it possible to understand the White Lion through its specific architectural features, while the parish church is distinguished by its different phases of construction over time.
Local history beyond individual buildings
The Cholesbury-cum-St Leonards Local History Group was founded in 1963 to promote interest in the history of the four villages and their outlying hamlets. It organises an annual programme of monthly talks. This broadens the focus to local history in a wider context, rather than just individual buildings. The talks have their own annually organised schedule, distinct from the architectural themes. If you would like to include a talk in your stay, check in advance which dates fall within your travel period.
Choosing a focus for your stay
There are three distinct ways to explore the area: the parish church’s building phases and connection to the hermitage, the White Lion’s materials and interior features, and the history of several villages as presented in the Local History Group’s programme. You can decide whether you are more interested in church architecture, historic building details or broader local history. St Leonards Parish Hall Playing Field also has a communal children’s play area. Please observe the applicable rules when using it.
Discover more destinations: Little Missenden, Wooburn Green, Adstock, Fulmer, Slough, Saunderton, Burnham, Buckingham
For the broader travel overview: Buckinghamshire.
