View source for Olney, Buckinghamshire

{{Short description|Market town in Buckinghamshire, England}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}

{{Infobox UK place
|country = England
|coordinates = {{coord|52.1529|-0.7015|display=inline,title}}
|population =  6,598 
|population_ref = (2021 census)
|official_name = Olney
|civil_parish = Olney<ref>[https://www.olneytowncouncil.gov.uk/ Olney Town Council]</ref>
|unitary_england= [[Milton Keynes City Council]]
| shire_district = [[City of Milton Keynes]]
|lieutenancy_england = [[Buckinghamshire]]
|region = South East England
|constituency_westminster = [[Milton Keynes North (UK Parliament constituency)|Milton Keynes North]]
|post_town = Olney
|postcode_district = MK46
|postcode_area = MK
|dial_code = 01234
|os_grid_reference = SP889513
|static_image_name = Olney Buckinghamshire 1.jpg
|static_image_caption = High Street, Olney
|london_distance = {{convert|59|mi|km|0}}
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 11
| mapframe-point = on 
}}

'''Olney''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|oʊ|n|i}}, rarely {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɒ|l|n|i}} {{respell|OW|nee}}, rarely {{respell|OLL|nee}})<ref>{{cite news |title=The 6 most mispronounced Milton Keynes place names people are always getting wrong |date=13 June 2022 |work=Milton Keynes Citizen |url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/people/the-6-most-mispronounced-milton-keynes-place-names-people-are-always-getting-wrong-3730262 |first=Sally |last=Murrer}}</ref><ref name="Baines-1979" /> is a [[market town]] and [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in the [[unitary authorities in England|unitary authority area]] of the [[City of Milton Keynes]], [[Buckinghamshire]], England.<ref>[http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/parishes/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=17026 Parishes in Milton Keynes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608003948/http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/parishes/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=17026 |date=8 June 2009 }} – Milton Keynes Council.</ref> At the 2021 census, it had a population of 6,598.

Lying on the left bank of the [[River Great Ouse]], the town is located around {{convert|8|mi|km}} from [[Central Milton Keynes]], and {{convert|10|mi}} from [[Bedford, Bedfordshire|Bedford]], [[Northampton]] and [[Wellingborough]].

== History ==
Olney is thought to have been an important [[Romano-British culture|Romano-British]] township,<ref name="Baines-1979">{{Cite book |last=Baines |first=A. H. J. |title=The Olney Charter of 979. |publisher=Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society |year=1979 |pages=154-184}}</ref> with remains located north-east of the current town,<ref name="HE1006918" /> where in 2023 archaeologists uncovered a villa mosaic considered "remains of high significance".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-64918113|title=Olney: Roman villa mosaic found under Aldi supermarket site|publisher=BBC NEWS|date=17 March 2023}}</ref> 

Olney is mentioned as ''Ollanege'' (Olla's island) in 932.<ref>{{cite book| title=Oxford Dictionary of Placenames|editor= A.D. Mills and Adrian Room|year= 2002|publisher= Oxford University Press}}</ref> According to the [[Domesday Book]] the place later called ''Olnei'' had been held in 1066 by Burgred, a descendent of the King of Mercia, but by 1086 its overlord was [[Geoffrey de Montbray]], Bishop of [[Coutances]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Olney {{!}} Domesday Book |url=https://opendomesday.org/place/SP8851/olney/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=opendomesday.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=OLNEY - A POTTED HISTORY - |url=https://www.mkheritage.org.uk/odhs/about/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |language=en-GB}}</ref> 

The "L" in Olney came long ago not to be pronounced, at least by local people.<ref name="Baines-1979" />

In 1643, during the [[English Civil War]], the [[Battle of Olney Bridge]] saw Prince Rupert's force attack Col. Harvey's Parliamentarians, with 60 killed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Battlefields Trust - Civil War Memorial Database |url=https://www.battlefieldstrust.com/memorial/memorial.asp?MemorialID=242 |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=www.battlefieldstrust.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Olney - Civil War Skirmish |url=https://www.mkheritage.org.uk/archive/jt/tw/docs/208.html |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=www.mkheritage.org.uk}}</ref>

The town was a centre of the [[Bucks point lace|Buckinghamshire lace-making industry]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=History Of Lace-making |url=https://cowperandnewtonmuseum.org.uk/lacemaking/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |language=en-GB}}</ref> with Armstrong's Lace Factory prominent in the High Street, ornamented as "the Bucks Lace Industry".<ref>{{Cite web |title=A BRIEF HISTORY OF OLNEY LACE FACTORY (1928 to 1943) - |url=https://www.mkheritage.org.uk/odhs/summary-blog-no-xx-olney-lace-factory-1928-1943/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In the late 18th century, the poet [[William Cowper]] and anti-slavery campaigner and cleric [[John Newton]] collaborated here on what became known as the [[Olney Hymns]], which include [[Amazing Grace]]. The town has the [[Cowper and Newton Museum]] dedicated to them, adapted from Cowper's former residence, given to the town in 1905 by the publisher William Hill Collingridge (who had been born in the house). Newton was succeeded as curate in Olney by the biblical commentator [[Thomas Scott (commentator)|Thomas Scott]] (1747–1821). In July 2022, the museum celebrated the 250th anniversary of Amazing Grace with exhibitions and special events.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/people/milton-keynes-looks-back-on-amazing-year-of-celebrations-to-mark-250th-anniversary-of-hymn-amazing-grace-4359282|title=Milton Keynes looks back on amazing year of celebrations to mark 250th anniversary of hymn Amazing Grace|work=[[Milton Keynes Citizen]]|date=6 October 2023}}</ref>

===Olney Park Farm===
The hamlet of Olney Park Farm to the north of the town derives its name from a park established in 1374 by Ralph, Lord Basset.<ref name="VCH">{{cite book |chapter-url= https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp429-439 | chapter = Parishes : Olney with Warrington
 |series = [[Victoria History of the Counties of England]] | title= A History of the County of Buckingham |  volume= 4 | date=1927 | pages = 429{{ndash}}439 |editor-first= William |editor-last=Page |publisher= [[Constable & Robinson|Constable & Co. Ltd.]] | location = London }}</ref> In 1861 it attained civil parish status, but was subsequently incorporated into an enlarged Olney civil parish around 1931.<ref name="VCH" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10009844 |title= Olney Park Farm |access-date= 1 August 2014 |series=[[A Vision of Britain through Time]] |publisher=GB Historical GIS / [[University of Portsmouth]]}}</ref>

The 1841 census gave the population as 2,362.<ref>''The National Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge, Vol.III'', London (1847) Charles Knight, p.898</ref>

=== Olney Pancake Race ===
[[File:UK Olney (Pancake Sign).jpg|thumb|left|Signpost advertising 2009 Pancake Race]]

Since 1445, a [[pancake]] race has been run in the town on many [[Pancake Day]]s, the day before the beginning of [[Lent]].<ref>[http://www.olneyparish.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61&Itemid=73 Olney pancake race] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913070156/http://www.olneyparish.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61&Itemid=73|date=13 September 2011 }}, Olney Parish</ref> Tradition records that in 1445 on [[Shrove Tuesday]], the "Shriving Bell" rang out to signal the start of the Shriving church service. On hearing the bell a local housewife, who had been busy cooking pancakes in anticipation of the beginning of Lent, ran to the church, frying pan still in hand, tossing the pancake to prevent it from burning, and dressed in her kitchen apron and headscarf.<ref name=bbc>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/lent_1.shtml |title=The origin of pancake racing |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |access-date=28 February 2014}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Ideas/Album/Olney-Pancake-Race.htm Pancake races in Olney]</ref>

The women of Olney recreate this race every Shrove Tuesday by running from the market place to the Church of St Peter and St Paul, a distance of over 400 yards. The traditional prize is a kiss from the [[verger]]. In modern times, Olney competes with the town of [[Liberal, Kansas]], in the United States for the fastest time in either town to win the "International Pancake Race". There is also a children's race, run by children from the local schools. The children have to run a distance of about 20 yards. The competition was revived postwar in 1948 and has been run every year without interruption since 1950.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} Olney Pancake Race |url=http://olneypancakerace.org/pancake-race-history/ |access-date=2025-10-02 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
{{clr}}

===Listed buildings and structures===
The parish has one Grade I [[listed building]], the '''Church of Saints Peter and Paul''';<ref name="NHLE SSPP">{{NHLE|desc=Church of Saints Peter and Paul |num=1125308}}</ref> four Grade II*,<ref>{{NHLE |num=1332279 |desc=OLNEY WINE BAR AND CROSS KEYS HOUSE, 9 AND 11 HIGH STREET SOUTH}}</ref><ref>{{NHLE |num=1158059 |desc=THE VICARAGE INCLUDING ATTACHED COACHHOUSE,  CHURCH STREET}}</ref><ref>{{NHLE |num=1125295|desc=GILPIN HOUSE 29 MARKET PLACE}}</ref><ref>{{NHLE |num=1222060 |desc=ORCHARD HOUSE INCLUDING FRONT RAILINGS,  67 AND 69 HIGH STREET}}</ref>  and a further 114 at Grade II.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/results/?searchType=NHLE+Simple&search=Olney%2C+Milton+Keynes |title= Search Results for 'Olney, Milton Keynes' | publisher=Historic England |access-date=2 January 2023}} (Note: the 144 results returned by the search include sites in Emberton, Lavendon, Newton Blossomville, etc.) </ref> The church is 14th century, with later additions.<ref name="NHLE SSPP" /> There is a [[scheduled monument]], a [[Romano-British]] settlement, on the northern outskirts of the town.<ref name="HE1006918">{{NHLE |num=1006918|desc=Roman site at Olney}}</ref>

==Governance==
[[File:UK Olney (Sign1 SideA).jpg|thumb|upright=0.55|Olney [[town sign]], depicting a women's pancake race]]
Olney has been part of the Borough (now City) of Milton Keynes since 1974, which has been a [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]] since 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/your-council-and-elections/councillors-and-committees/parish-and-town-councils/contact-your-parish-or-town-council|title=Contact your parish or town council}} – Milton Keynes Council.</ref> This gives [[Milton Keynes City Council]] the responsibility for the provision of most [[Local government in England|local government services]]. Voters registered in the town are represented on MK City Council, which has (since 2014) been divided into 19 wards each carrying 3 councillors with Olney being part of the larger ward of the same name.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/22/contents/made| title = The Milton Keynes (Electoral Changes) Order 2014}} </ref><ref>{{cite report |title=Local electoral arrangements for Milton Keynes (final recommendations) |url=http://www.lgbce.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/14057/milton-keynes-final-recommendations-final-2013-06-17-1.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227124617/http://www.lgbce.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/14057/milton-keynes-final-recommendations-final-2013-06-17-1.pdf |archive-date=27 December 2014 |publisher=Local Government Boundary Commission for England}}</ref> 

At the parish level, Olney has a town council based at the Olney Centre on the town's high street.<ref>{{cite web |title=Olney Town Council |url=https://www.olneytowncouncil.gov.uk/|access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" 
|+ Census population of Olney, Buckinghamshire parish
|-
! scope=col width=18%| Census
! scope=col width=18% class="unsortable"| Population 
! scope=col width=18% class="unsortable"| Female
! scope=col width=18% class="unsortable"| Male 
! scope=col width=18% class="unsortable"| Households
! scope=col width=10% class="unsortable"| Source
|-
!scope=row| [[2001 United Kingdom census|2001]] 
|| 6,032   
|| 3,067
|| 2,965 
|| 2,454
|| <ref name="wikidata-a08218995ada6ed07e35f13524a292a4b6851935-v20">{{Cite web|at=Tables KS001 (Usual resident population) and KS016 (Household spaces and accommodation type)|publisher=Office for National Statistics|title=Key Statistics|access-date=23 June 2025|url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2001_ks}}</ref>
|-
!scope=row| [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011]] 
|| 6,477   
|| 3,352
|| 3,125 
|| 2,715
|| <ref name="wikidata-23d93403bbd510e3eaf857bb0207b766770d8bc9-v20">{{Cite web|at=Table KS101EW (Usual resident population) and Table KS105EW (Household composition)|publisher=Office for National Statistics|title=Key Statistics|access-date=23 June 2025|url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2011_ks}}</ref>
|-
!scope=row| [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]] 
|| 6,598   
|| 3,409
|| 3,189 
|| 2,865
|| <ref name="wikidata-1777794f031f3bb865bc1ba87bbd53bc9876131c-v20">{{Cite web|publisher=Office for National Statistics|title=Parish Profiles|access-date=5 August 2024|website=2021 United Kingdom census|url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2021_pp}}</ref>
|}

==Transport==
The closest passenger rail service is at {{rws|Wolverton}} (approximately {{convert|8|mi}} distant), with inter-city services from {{rws|Milton Keynes Central}} and {{rws|Bedford}} railway stations (each approximately {{convert|11|mi}} distant). Olney formerly had [[Olney railway station (England)|its own railway station]] on the [[Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway]] and the [[Bedford-Northampton line]], but passenger services were withdrawn in 1962.<ref>[http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/odhs/level3/olneyrailway.html THE NORTHAMPTON – OLNEY- BEDFORD (LMS) RAILWAY: A View from Olney] – Milton Keynes Heritage Association</ref>

The town is bisected by the Central Milton Keynes-[[Kettering]] A509 road, which runs south towards the [[M1 motorway|M1]] at Junction 14 (roughly {{convert|7|mi}} distant), and north towards the [[A428 road|A428]] (which runs west towards Northampton and east towards Bedford and [[Cambridge]]).

Bus 21 (Red Rose) connects the town with [[Lavendon]] to the north-east, and [[Newport Pagnell]] and Central Milton Keynes to the south. Bus 41 ([[Stagecoach Group|Stagecoach]]) connects the town with Lavendon, Bedford and Northampton.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/highways-and-transport-hub/bus-and-taxi/bus-timetables-maps-and-travel-updates|title=Bus and Taxi, Bus Timetables, Maps and Travel Updates|work=[[Milton Keynes City Council]]}}</ref> The city council also operates an on demand bus service known as "MK Connect".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://city.ridewithvia.com/mk-connect|title=On-Demand Rideshare in Milton Keynes powered by Via|work=Via}}</ref>

==Developments==
Olney is identified by MK City Council (in local planning documents) as one of the three "key settlements" in the Milton Keynes UA outside of the [[History of Milton Keynes#1960s plans for a new city in North Buckinghamshire, 1967 designation of Milton Keynes|1967 "designated area"]] of the New Town,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2022-05/PlanMK%20Adoption%20Version%20%28March%202019%29.pdf |title=Plan:MK 2016-2031 |access-date=12 December 2023|publisher=Milton Keynes City Council}}</ref> with the town's complementary Neighbourhood Plan, adopted in May 2017, allocating a total of 300 homes for the town between then and 2031, with 30% of dwellings planned to be affordable.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-10/Olney%20Neighbourhood%20Plan%20for%20Referendum%202017.pdf |title=Olney Neighbourhood Plan |access-date=29 December 2023|publisher=Milton Keynes City Council}}</ref>

== Media ==
Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC East]] and [[ITV Anglia]]. Local radio stations are [[BBC Three Counties Radio]], [[Heart East]] and MKFM.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkfm.com/|title=MKFM - Radio Made in Milton Keynes|access-date=16 October 2023}}</ref> The town is served by the local newspaper [[Milton Keynes Citizen]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-se/milton-keynes-citizen/|title=Milton Keynes Citizen|date=11 March 2014|website=British Papers|accessdate=16 October 2023}}</ref> 

== Sport ==
Olney has a [[Rugby football|rugby]] team, [[Olney RFC|Olney Rugby Football Club]] dating to 1877.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Olney RFC |url=https://www.olneyrfc.co.uk/a/about-olney-rugby-club-46616.html |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=www.olneyrfc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The first Olney RFC team in 1877 |url=https://www.livingarchive.org.uk/content/catalogue_item/olney-rugby-union-football-club/olney-rugby-team-photographs-from-1877-to-date/the-first-olney-rfc-team-in-1877 |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Living Archive |language=en}}</ref> 

The town's football club, [[Olney Town F.C.|Olney Town]], played in the [[United Counties Football League|United Counties League]] but closed in 2018.<ref>[https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/football/olney-town-set-to-fold-after-unsuccessful-board-hunt-1-8480776/amp Olney Town set to fold after unsuccessful board hunt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717184224/https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/football/olney-town-set-to-fold-after-unsuccessful-board-hunt-1-8480776/amp |date=17 July 2018 }} [[Milton Keynes Citizen]], 30 April 2018</ref>

== Notable natives and residents == <!-- Please do not someone to this list unless there is already an article about them.-->
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2022}}
* [[Thomas Armstrong (conductor)|Thomas Armstrong]], organist and college administrator
* [[Moses Browne]], poet and clergyman
* [[William Cowper]], poet and hymn writer
* [[Clem Curtis]], musician, television personality, a member of ''[[The Foundations]]''.
* [[Ben Field (murderer)|Ben Field]], convicted murderer.<ref name="bbcevil">{{cite news |date=9 August 2019 |title='Evil' churchwarden guilty of murdering author |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-49002436 |accessdate=24 July 2023 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref>
* [[Henry Gauntlett]], organist and composer
* [[Susannah Martin]], a woman executed for witchcraft during the [[Salem witch trials]]
* [[John Newton]], clergyman, slave trader turned abolitionist and writer of "[[Amazing Grace]]".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-06-01 |title=Olney church to remember slave trader turned abolitionist |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-57320090 |access-date=2022-03-15}}</ref>
* [[Thomas Scott (commentator)|Thomas Scott]] (1747–1821) preacher and biblical commentator.
* [[John Sutcliff]], Baptist minister in town for 39 years, and key figure in the revival of the Baptist mission.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-09-01 |title=A cloud of witnesses: John Sutcliff (1752-1814) |url=https://www.evangelical-times.org/a-cloud-of-witnesses-17/ |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=Evangelical Times |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Dan Wheldon]] (1978–2011) (former resident), racing driver, winner of the 2005 [[IndyCar Series]] and twice winner of the [[Indianapolis 500]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-12-15 |title=Dan Wheldon crash findings due to be released by IndyCar officials |url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/dec/15/dan-wheldon-crash-findings-indycar |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Albert Wise|Albert William Wise]] (1886-1964) known as Micky Wise, was born in Olney, and played [[Association football|football]] as goalkeeper for [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea FC]], [[Bedford Town F.C.|Bedford Town]] and other clubs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Albert Wise |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/albert-wise/#wac_660x40_top |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=worldfootball.net |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bedfordoldeagles - Seasons on the Field 1908-14 |url=https://sites.google.com/site/bedfordoldeagles/first-years-1884-39/seasons-on-the-field-1908-14 |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=sites.google.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

<!-- Please do not someone to this list unless there is already an article about them. -->

== References ==
{{Commons category|Olney, Buckinghamshire}}
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{EB1911 poster|Olney, England}}
* [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=62610 'Parishes : Olney with Warrington'], [[Victoria History of the Counties of England]], A History of the County of Buckingham: Volume 4 (1927), pp.&nbsp;429–439.
* {{Official website|https://olney.co.uk/}}

{{Milton Keynes parishes}}
{{Buckinghamshire}}
{{River Great Ouse}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Olney, Buckinghamshire| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Buckinghamshire]]
[[Category:Populated places on the River Great Ouse]]
[[Category:Market towns in Buckinghamshire]]
[[Category:Milton Keynes]] <!-- Borough -->
[[Category:Civil parishes in Buckinghamshire]]