Milton Bryan
Timeline
Places > Milton Bryan
12th century: A Norman church built with a 12th century chancel arch and font.
1678: The parish register notes the following piece of local justice "Robert Burroughs, a sturdy wandringe rogue, black haire, hookd nose, and of middle statue, was taken in the parish 11 Nov: 78: whipt according to law and sent to Bow Brickhill in countye of Bucks, the place of his birth as he confesses."
1687: More local law enforcement recorded in the parish register "Joseph Elkington, a sturdye vagrant, about seventeen years of age, of a low statue, light colored, reddish browne haire, was taken begginge in this parish, 24 Decb: 1687 and whipt according to the law and sent by passe towards St. Giles Cripplegate, London, ye place as he confesses of his borth; he had ten days allowed him in his passe to get thither."
1742: The parish register records the following event, "William Higham (Hyam) condemn'd and hang'd for a Robbery was buried." F.G. Emmison the editor of the parish register believed that this entry may relate to the story of the Milton man whose corpse was brought back to the village by a group of drunken men. While going up Reddings Hill the cart was upset and the body thrown into a ditch.
1798: The parish register records the burial of "John Morris, rector of this parish for many years, aged 71. formerly fellow of St. John's Cambridge afterwards curate of Woburn and Chaplain to John Duke of Bedford when Ambassador at Paris. He was a pious, learned good hearted man and much respected in the parishes in which he resided. He must be considered as a great benefactor to this living by having built a good house upon it." (May 14th)
1801: Joseph Paxton, famous for being the designer of the Crystal Palace, born in Milton Bryan.
1801: Population totals 333 persons.
1823: A Dame School was opened in the village. It was settled as a trust called Lady Inglis' School in 1853. After The Education Act of 1902 the school was styled a Public Elementary School.
1841-43: The church was greatly restored by Lewis Cottingham and the present tower and porch built.
1861: Methodist Chapel erected, Lady Inglis, then Lady of the Manor, gave her permission to build the chapel over the pond.
1921: The Bedfordshire Times and Independent of the 7th January carries a report about the unveiling of the Milton Bryan war memorial (p.4). "The memorial erected in honour of the village lads who lost their lives in the war was unveiled by His Grace the Duke of Bedford on Sunday afternoon." A short service preceded the unveiling in the parish church followed by an address by the Duke of Bedford.
1931: Population totals 166 persons
1939-45: Milton Bryan becomes a centre of secret "black propaganda" operations and a recording studio is constructed.
1980: The Methodist Chapel pulled down, the chapel had not been in use since the early 1960s.
1983: The village school closed.
Page last updated: 3rd February 2014