Holmer Green

{{Short description|Village in Buckinghamshire, England}} {{Use British English|date=May 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}} {{infobox UK place |official_name= Holmer Green |coordinates = {{coord|51.6654|-0.6943|display=inline,title}} |os_grid_reference= SU904971 |static_image_name= HGchurch.JPG |static_image_caption= Christ Church parish church |population= 4077 |population_ref= ([[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]])<ref name=ONS>{{cite web |title=Neighbourhood Statistics |publisher=[[Office for National Statistics]] |url= http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadDatasetList.do?a=3&b=5948330&c=Holmer+Green&d=14&g=424700&i=1001x1003&m=0&r=1&s=1208775380843&enc=1&domainId=16 |access-date=20 April 2008}}</ref> |civil_parish= [[Little Missenden]] |unitary_england = [[Buckinghamshire Council|Buckinghamshire]] |lieutenancy_england = [[Buckinghamshire]] |region= South East England |country= England |constituency_westminster= [[Chesham and Amersham (UK Parliament constituency)|Chesham & Amersham]] |post_town= [[High Wycombe]] |postcode_district= HP15 |postcode_area= HP |dial_code= 01494 |website= [http://www.littlemissendenpc.co.uk/ Little Missenden Parish Council] }}

'''Holmer Green''' is a [[village]] in the [[Civil parishes in England|civil parish]] of [[Little Missenden]], in [[Buckinghamshire]], England. It is next to [[Hazlemere]], about {{convert|3|mi|0}} south of [[Great Missenden]].

==History== {{more citations needed section|date=August 2013}} Holmer Green is named after the [[Manorialism|manor]] of Holmer that covered a significant part of the parish of Little Missenden in the [[Middle Ages]]. The early history of the village is essentially one of people moving out of Little Missenden over the centuries and settling on a large area of [[heathland|heath]] (now vanished) known as Wycombe Heath or Holmer Heath. The 'Holmer' part of the [[Toponymy|toponym]] was first recorded as ''Holeme'' in 1208 and is probably derived from [[Old English]]. It is commonly thought{{by whom|date=August 2013}} to derive from 'mere in a hollow' which would refer to Holmer Pond. However, there are certain factors that do not support this theory and the ''-mer'' element may actually translate to an Old English word meaning 'boundary'. The 'Green' part of the name refers to a large and ancient Green, probably dating from the 13th century that used to exist here but was reduced to a size of only {{convert|4|acre|ha}} in 1854.<ref>{{harvnb|Riches|McLain Smith|2006|p=}}{{page needed|date=August 2013}}</ref> [[File:hgcommon.jpg|left|thumb|The Common at Holmer Green showing the village hall and parish church]]

The site of the original medieval [[manor house]] of Holmer remains obscure, although local historians McLain-Smith and Riches have suggested its location at a [[moat]]ed site in nearby Colemans Wood where they have excavated medieval [[pottery]].{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}

The oldest houses are The Old Rookery, Hollands Farm and Penfold, all of which probably date from the early 16th century when the hamlet thrived due to [[sheep farming]]. The Grade II-listed,<ref>{{NHLE|num=1124962 |desc=HOLMER RIDINGS, SHEERCOTE DELL ROAD|access-date=3 February 2020}}</ref> brick and flint, Holmer Ridings, now a manor and equestrian facility, was built ca. 1728 as a hunting lodge and has been fully restored.<ref>[https://www.countrylife.co.uk/property/a-grade-ii-listed-home-counties-former-hunting-lodge-with-state-of-the-art-equestrian-facilities-211063 A Grade II-listed Home Counties former hunting lodge with state of the art equestrian facility]</ref>

In the hundred years between 1850 and 1950, the village became well known locally for its cherry orchards,<ref>[https://www.chilternsaonb.org/ccbmaps/768/137/flackwell-heath-s-cherry-orchards.html Cherry Orchards]</ref> and there remain many references{{citation needed|date=August 2013}} to orchards and cherries in road names and house names.

In 2008 the village formally celebrated 800 years of recorded settlement.

==Social and Community== {{more citations needed section|date=August 2013}} The village underwent housing development during the 1960s and early 1970s and now has about 4,000 inhabitants (almost double that of neighboring Little Missenden).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.chiltern.gov.uk/downloads/Factsheet_Ward_HolmerGreen.pdf |archive-url= http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110929052223/http://www.chiltern.gov.uk/downloads/Factsheet_Ward_HolmerGreen.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date= 2011-09-29 |title=Holmer Green Ward Factsheet |publisher=Chiltern District Council |format=pdf}}</ref> The big developments of the 1960s and 1970s included an expanded range of shops around Turners Place, the Winter's Way estate, the Fox Road and Harries Way estate and the Holmer Court estate (Clementi Avenue). A significant number of newcomers to the village came from [[Middlesex]] during that period. [[File:holmergreen legion.jpg|left|thumb|The annual Holmer Green Remembrance Day parade]]

The village has two centres: a commercial centre based around the shops and central crossroads; and a community-oriented centre based around The Common featuring two churches, the [[village hall]], a school, a [[pub]], a children's playground, and The Common itself.

Holmer Green's most desirable roads range from older roads like Watchet Lane and Penfold Lane through to newer developments like Mead Park. The village's most famous residents are television presenter [[Fern Britton]] and her husband, [[celebrity chef]] [[Phil Vickery (chef)|Phil Vickery]].

Residents jealously guard the village's independence from the [[High Wycombe|Wycombe]]-based [[urban sprawl]] next door.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}} Maintenance of an independent community separate from the Wycombe [[conurbation]] has been helped not only by the village's historic connections with the Missendens, [[Penn Street]] and [[Amersham]] but also by the presence in the village of a full range of amenities including: pre-schools; primary and secondary schools; three different [[Christian denomination]] churches ([[Church of England]], [[Baptist Union of Great Britain|Baptist]], [[Methodist Church of Great Britain|Methodist]]); a dental practice; three pubs (The Bat and Ball, The Earl Howe and The Old Oak); two social clubs ([[The British Legion]] and Holmer Green Sports Association); and significant sports facilities. The village lost its only [https://www.hazlemereparishcouncil.org.uk/news/closure-dragon-cottage-surgery-holmer-green/ GP practice] in 2018 when the lease on the surgery premises expired.

==Sport and recreation== {{unreferenced section|date=August 2013}} The sporting activities hosted by the Holmer Green Sports Association (HGSA) are an important feature of village life. [[Association football|Football]] is particularly popular and very well established:[[Non-League football]] team [[Holmer Green F.C.]] celebrated its centenary in 2008 and there are numerous football teams for all age groups – male and female – that play on the four scaled football pitches and two mini pitches. [[File:Hgrailway.jpg|thumb|Holmer Green miniature railway]] The grounds and facilities at HGSA in Watchet Lane have been used to host training sessions for England teams and for [[Wycombe Wanderers]], and have recently been awarded [[The Football Association|FA]] Community Charter status. Football matches and training sessions for some village teams are also held on The Common. Wycombe Wanderers are in League One.

Other sports at HGSA are: a Padel Tennis club and facilities consisting of two Padel tennis courts which were built in 2021; a [[Squash (game)|Squash]] club and courts; a [[Cricket]] club and cricket square; and a [[Short Mat Bowls]] club with a 3-rink outdoor green.

Surrounded as it is by [[Metropolitan Green Belt]] countryside, Holmer Green village is well placed for [[Hiking|walking]], [[horse riding]], and cycling – the Chiltern Heritage Cycling Trail runs right through the centre of the village.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.chiltern.gov.uk/downloads/HeritageRedRouteMap_Hampden.pdf |archive-url= http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110930032859/http://www.chiltern.gov.uk/downloads/HeritageRedRouteMap_Hampden.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date= 2011-09-30 |title=The Chiltern Heritage Trail |publisher=Chiltern District Council |format=pdf }}</ref>

A [[funfair]] is held on The Common for several days in May and September.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

==Places of interest== * Holmer Green Miniature Railway, run by the High Wycombe Model Engineering Club<ref>[http://www.hwmec.co.uk High Wycombe Model Engineering Club]</ref> * Penn Wood, a {{convert|450|acre|ha|adj=on}} woodland on Holmer Green's southern fringe managed by the [[Woodland Trust]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wt-woods.org.uk/PennWoodBuckinghamshire |title=Penn Wood |work=Our Woods |publisher=[[Woodland Trust]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012221738/http://www.wt-woods.org.uk/pennwoodbuckinghamshire |archive-date=12 October 2008 }}</ref>

==Education== Holmer Green has several pre-schools including: Holmer Green Methodist Pre-School; the Cherry Tree Pre-School; the Village Centre Pre-School; and Playmates Day Nursery.

Holmer Green First School (ages 4–7) and Holmer Green Junior School (ages 7–11) are part of a cluster of local primary schools used by Holmer Green families. A significant proportion of villagers use the Holmer Green schools while others make use of spare places at Little Kingshill School and the [[Church of England]] schools at Penn Street and [[Great Kingshill]].

In 2006 Holmer Green Junior School led this cluster of schools at [[Key Stage 2]] and came joint-tenth in the county for aggregated score.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/education/06/school_tables/primary_schools/html/agg_825.stm |title=Primary schools in Buckinghamshire |work=BBC School League Tables |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=7 December 2006 }}</ref> Previously, Little Kingshill School led the group. All four primary schools are consistently in the top half of KS2 results in Buckinghamshire.[[File:hgshops.jpg|thumb|Holmer Green shops from Browns Road]]

Most Holmer Green children who are not selected for [[grammar school]] under Buckinghamshire's [[eleven-plus|11+]] selective system go to either [[Holmer Green Senior School]] or to the [[Sir William Ramsay School]] (in Hazlemere) which share a common catchment area. A smaller number go to the [[Misbourne School]] and the [[Amersham School]] despite both being out of catchment.

Local pupils selected for grammar school at age 11 – about a third of all those who sit the test – have customarily attended Amersham and [[Chesham]] schools: [[Dr Challoner's Grammar School]] (boys), [[Dr Challoner's High School]] (girls) and [[Chesham Grammar School]] (mixed). New catchment areas were implemented by Buckinghamshire Local Education Authority in 2004 so that selected pupils may now attend [[Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe|The Royal Grammar School]] (boys), [[Beaconsfield High School]] (girls), or [[Wycombe High School]] (girls). Some selected pupils still choose to attend Chesham Grammar School and [[John Hampden Grammar School]] (boys) despite both now being out of catchment. In recent years, Year 7 children who qualify for grammar school under Bucks' late transfer procedure<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/assets/content/bcc/docs/schools/late_transfer_procedure_booklet_2008_2009.pdf |year=2008–2009 |title=Late Transfer Procedure |publisher=Buckinghamshire County Council |format=pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604210519/http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/assets/content/bcc/docs/schools/late_transfer_procedure_booklet_2008_2009.pdf |archive-date=4 June 2011 }}</ref> (known colloquially as "The 12+") have been able to win places at Chesham Grammar School.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.holmergreenparents.info/11twelveandthirteen.htm |title=The 12+ and 13+ |work=holmergreenparents.info |publisher=Aramis |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721205230/http://www.holmergreenparents.info/11twelveandthirteen.htm |archive-date=21 July 2011 }}</ref>

A number of [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|private schools]] are available in nearby villages and towns. [[The Gateway School]]<ref>[http://www.gatewayschool-bucks.co.uk/ The Gateway]</ref> (primary), the [[Claires Court School]]s<ref>[http://www.clairescourt.com/ Claires Court]</ref> (for which there is a coach to & from Holmer Green) and [[Pipers Corner School]]<ref>[http://www.piperscorner.co.uk/ Pipers Corner]</ref> (primary and secondary girls) are popular with villagers who choose the independent sector.

It is said that Holmer Green people enjoy an unusually wide choice of schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.holmergreenparents.info/ |title=Holmer Green: a village rich in school choice |work=holmergreenparents.info |publisher=Aramis |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171802/http://www.holmergreenparents.info/ |archive-date=3 March 2016 }}</ref>

==Religion== According to the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]], 77.8% of Holmer Green's population is Christian, while both Sikhism and Buddhism have 0.2% each. 0.3% of Holmer Green's inhabitants identified as Jewish, while 0.6% identified as Muslims. Alternative religions made up 0.1% of the population, while 14% identified as atheists and 75 did not state a religion.

This overwhelming majority of Christians is also reflected in the places of worship. While, previously, Holmer Green has had 3 Churches, an Anglican church, a Baptist church and a Methodist church, following Covid-19 the Methodist church announced that it would be shutting down. Then, it announced it final closure was not guaranteed and as of 2024, its current and future status is currently ambiguous to even its own churchgoers. Meanwhile, the Baptist church focuses on bringing Children into the church, partnering often with the next door Holmer Green Junior School, running events such as messy church, in which children do activities and can participate in small prayer sessions or passage reading. Furthermore, the Baptist church focuses a lot on making themselves family friendly, such as focusing greatly on their christenings. Finally, the Anglican church, officially Christ's church, focuses much more on Adults and the elderly moving into the village and giving them a place of worship. This is further reinforced by doing burial services in the only grave yard in the village in the land surrounding the church building itself, also owned by Christ's church.

Nearby, as well, are two more churches nearby in Hazlemere, an Anglican one, called the Holy Trinity Church and another Methodist church, run by the same organisation as the one in Holmer Green itself, known as the Hazlemere Free Methodist Church. Finally there is a nearby church in Widmer end known as the Church of the Good Sheppard, with no clear denomination.

Catholics, other denominations and other religions must travel into nearby High Wycombe, Chesham or Amersham, or elsewhere where other Churches, Mosques and other places of worship are present.

Being only a short drive from both Amersham to the east, and High Wycombe to the south-west, the village is suitably located for [[commuting]] into London by main line trains on the [[Chiltern Railways|Chiltern line]] which takes about 40 minutes, or on the [[Metropolitan line]] which is slower. Some of the working population commute to London every day. The proportion of London commuters is however lower than some surrounding villages – most villagers work in Buckinghamshire, [[Berkshire]] or [[Hertfordshire]].{{citation needed|date=August 2013}} The village is about 25 minutes' drive from [[London Heathrow Airport]] and an hour's drive from [[London Gatwick Airport|Gatwick]], [[London Luton Airport|Luton]], and [[London Stansted Airport|Stansted]] airports.

Regular bus services operated by [[Carousel Buses]] and [[Arriva Shires & Essex]] connect Holmer Green to High Wycombe, Amersham and Chesham.<ref>[http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/serviceInformation.aspx?id=4826 Arriva bus routes from Holmer Green]{{dead link|date=August 2013}}</ref>

==Politics and Public Administration== {{more citations needed section|date=August 2013}} Seven parish councillors represent Holmer Green on Little Missenden's thirteen-seat [[Parish councils in England|parish council]] which has offices at Rossetti Hall in Holmer Green. The councillors are formally independent of political parties.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.chiltern.gov.uk/elections2007/downloads/uncontested.pdf |year=2007 |title=Parish Council results |publisher=Chiltern District Council |format=pdf }}{{dead link|date=August 2013}}</ref> Holmer Green has long elected two [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] district councillors to the Conservative-run [[Chiltern District Council]]. Holmer Green is also represented by Conservatives at County and Parliamentary levels.

Holmer Green has been part of [[Chesham and Amersham (UK Parliament constituency)|Chesham and Amersham Parliamentary Constituency]] since its creation in 1974. Between 1950 and 1974, the village formed part of the larger [[South Buckinghamshire (UK Parliament constituency)|South Buckinghamshire constituency]], and prior to 1950, it was a part of the historic [[Aylesbury (UK Parliament constituency)|Aylesbury constituency]]. As such, the village was last represented by a non-Conservative in 1923, when the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] [[Thomas Keens]] was elected.

It is not however entirely accurate to say that Holmer Green has never been represented by a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] MP. Until quite recently, the far south-west corner of Holmer Green around the appropriately-named Wycombe Road was actually a part of [[Hughenden Valley|Hughenden]] parish, [[Wycombe (district)|Wycombe District]] and therefore [[Wycombe (UK Parliament constituency)|Wycombe constituency]]. This peculiarity had resulted from the village's steady growth towards Hazlemere and across an old [[Hundred (administrative division)#England|Hundred]] and parish boundary. Between 1945 and 1951, Wycombe and therefore a handful of Holmer Green houses were represented by Labour MP [[John Edwin Haire]].<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Craig |editor-first=F. W. S. |year=1972 |title=Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885–1972 |publisher=Political Reference Publications |isbn=0900178094 }}{{page needed|date=August 2013}}</ref>

The peculiarity was addressed and the village finally unified inside Little Missenden parish, Chiltern District and Chesham and Amersham constituency following the movement of the administrative boundary to the top of Sawpit Hill in 1987.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1987/Uksi_19870339_en_1.htm |title=The Buckinghamshire (District Boundaries) Order 1987 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information }}</ref>

The 2011 proposals for parliamentary constituency boundary changes has kept Holmer Green in Chesham and Amersham constituency.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/whats-proposed/south-east/buckinghamshire-and-milton-keynes/ |title=Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Revised proposals |publisher=[[Boundary Commission for England]] |year=2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709072940/http://consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/whats-proposed/south-east/buckinghamshire-and-milton-keynes/ |archive-date=9 July 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Demography== {| class="wikitable" id="toc" cellspacing="3" style="float: right; margin-left: 2em" |+Holmer Green compared<ref name="ONS" /> |- ! !Holmer Green ward !Chiltern borough !England |- !Population |4,077||89,228||49,138,831 |- !Foreign born |4.4%||9.3%||9.2% |- !White |97.8%||95.5%||90.9% |- !Asian |1.1%||2.8%||4.6% |- !Black |0.4%||0.3%||2.3% |- !Christian |77.8%||74.7%||71.7% |- !Muslim |0.6%||1.9%||3.1% |- !Hindu |0.0%||0.5%||1.1% |- !No religion |14.0%||15.0%||14.6% |- !Unemployed |1.7%||1.7%||3.3% |- !Retired |16.4%||14.6%||13.5% |}

The [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]] recorded Holmer Green's [[electoral ward]] as having a population of 4,077. The ethnicity was 97.8% white, 0.5% mixed race, 1.1% Asian, 0.4% black and 0.2% other. The place of birth of residents was 95.6% United Kingdom, 0.5% Republic of Ireland, 0.9% other Western European countries, and 3% elsewhere. Religion was recorded as 77.8% Christian, 0.2% Buddhist, 0% Hindu, 0.2% Sikh, 0.3% Jewish, and 0.6% Muslim. 14% were recorded as having no religion, 0.1% had an alternative religion and 7% did not state their religion.<ref name=ONS/>

The economic activity of residents aged 16–74 was 39.9% in full-time employment, 14.1% in part-time employment, 12.5% self-employed, 1.7% unemployed, 2.5% students with jobs, 2.8% students without jobs, 16.4% retired, 7.3% looking after home or family, 1.7% permanently sick or disabled and 1.2% economically inactive for other reasons. The industry of employment of residents was 17% retail, 15.6% manufacturing, 7.9% construction, 19.5% real estate, 9.1% health and social work, 6.9% education, 5.6% transport and communications, 4.1% public administration, 2.6% hotels and restaurants, 3.8% finance, 1.1% agriculture and 6.8% other. Compared with national figures, the ward had a relatively high proportion of workers in real estate and construction. There were a relatively low proportion in public administration, hotels and restaurants. Of the ward's residents aged 16–74, 21.5% had a higher education qualification or the equivalent, compared with 19.9% nationwide.<ref name=ONS/>

==See also== *[[Beamond End]] *[[Spurlands End]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Sources and further reading== *{{cite book |editor-last=Page |editor-first=W.H. |editor-link=William Henry Page |year=1908 |chapter=Little Missenden |title=A History of the County of Buckingham, Volume 2 |series=[[Victoria County History]] |publisher=[[Archibald Constable]] & Co |pages=354–360 |url= http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=62787 }} *{{cite book |last=Riches |first=Paul |last2=McLain Smith |first2=Roland |year=2006 |title=Once Upon a Heath: The Early History of Holmer Green |location=Dunstable |publisher=Annodata Print Services |isbn=0955372100 }}

==External links== {{Commons category|Holmer Green}} *[http://www.holmergreen.info/ Holmer Green village website] *[http://www.hwmec.co.uk/ High Wycombe Model Engineering Club website] *[http://www.pshg.org/ Holmer Green and Penn Street churches] *[http://www.littlemissendenpc.co.uk/ Little Missenden Parish Council] *[http://www.littlemissendenparish.org.uk/ Little Missenden Parish Church] *[http://www.hgsa.co.uk/ Holmer Green Sports Association] *[http://www.holmergreencc.co.uk/ Holmer Green Cricket Club] *[http://www.hgsrc.co.uk/ Holmer Green Squash & Racketball Club] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060201230234/http://www.hgfc1908.freeserve.co.uk/ Holmer Green Football Club] *[http://holmergreenyouthclub.org.uk/ Holmer Green Youth Club] *[http://www.holmergreenplayers.co.uk/ Holmer Green Players]

[[Category:Villages in Buckinghamshire]]