In medieval times Gatehouses were heavily fortified entrances to cities or towns, or buildings such as castles and manor houses. Some still exist, such as Bargate in Southampton and at Durham Castle. At the end of the Middle Ages, they tended to lose their defensive purpose and were converted into beautiful, grand entrance structures to manor houses or estates. In the 19th century gatehouses became separate free-standing buildings and more of a monumental structure designed to harmonise with the manor or mansion. Well-known Gatehouses in the Wycombe area include that in London Rd at Loudwater, which was an entrance to the estate of Sir Philip Rose, and in Hughenden Valley Rd at the entrance to the National Trust property Hughenden Manor. Less well-known is a Gatehouse which was at another entrance to the Hughenden estate in Hughenden Rd, some half a mile south of the main entrance.
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St Mary s Church in Yaxley
- Credit: Geograph/John Tomlinson
Hidden in amongst our county s market towns and popular tourist spots, are some fascinating little places you might not know about.
Yaxley s village sign, which pays homage to both its nickname and the Sexton s wheel which can be found in its church
- Credit: Chris Barker/Archant Archives
Yaxley
Situated just west of Eye is the village of Yaxley. With a population of just 588, this small settlement’s name means ‘cuckoo-clearing’ and while it may be small, it in fact has a pretty rich history.
Yaxley is home to two important buildings – St Mary’s Church and Yaxley Hall. The former is a 12th century church which was described by art and architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner as ‘one of the most swagger in Suffolk’. The church is also home to the remnants of a medieval doom painting and a Sexton’s Wheel – one of only two left in East Anglia.