Chearsley
History
The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Cerdeslai. It was originally a hamlet in the nearby parish of Crendon. It was established as a parish in its own right by the Bishop of Lincoln in 1458.
Etymology
The village name is Anglo Saxon in origin, and means 'Cerdic's clearing' or 'Cerdic's lea'.
Elite personal names
The incidence of Brittonic personal names in the royal genealogies of a number of "Anglo-Saxon" dynasties is significant. The Wessex royal line was traditionally founded by a man named Cerdic, an undoubtedly Brittonic name ultimately derived from Caratacus. This may indicate that Cerdic was a native Briton, and that his dynasty became anglicised over time.
Notability
The village was used as a location in the television series Midsomer Murders – ep. Country Matters, ITV.
References
- ^ Neighbourhood Statistics Census 2011, Accessed 3 February 2011
- ^ Koch, J.T., (2006) Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia, ABC-CLIO, ISBN 1-85109-440-7, pp. 392–393.
- ^ Myres, J.N.L. (1989) The English Settlements. Oxford University Press, pp. 146–147
Gallery
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River Thame at Chearsley, view from footbridge at the Cuddington parish boundary.
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Parish Church of St Nicholas, Chearsley.
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The Bell Inn, Chearsley.
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River Thame floods facing Notley from Railway embankment