View source for Shenley Church End

{{short description|Civil parish in Milton Keynes, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
|country = England
|coordinates = {{coord|52.022|-0.788|display=inline,title}}
|population= 12,961
|population_ref= (2011 Census)<ref>{{NOMIS2011|id=E04012190|title=Shenley Church End|accessdate=19 November 2019}}</ref>
|official_name= Shenley Church End
|civil_parish= Shenley Church End
|unitary_england=  [[Milton Keynes City Council]]
| shire_district = [[City of Milton Keynes]]
|lieutenancy_england= [[Buckinghamshire]]
|region= South East England
|constituency_westminster= [[Milton Keynes Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Milton Keynes Central]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Constituency Map of Milton Keynes Central |url= https://streetguide.co.uk/maps/parliament/2023/Milton-Keynes-Central|website=streetguide.co.uk |date=July 2024 |access-date=2 October 2025}}</ref>
|post_town= MILTON KEYNES
|postcode_district = MK5
|postcode_area= MK
|dial_code= 01908
|os_grid_reference= SP832367
|static_image_name = Shenley, Church End - geograph.org.uk - 149262.jpg
|static_image_caption = Church of St. Mary
|static_image_2_name = Rose Cottage - geograph.org.uk - 404825.jpg
|static_image_2_caption = Rose Cottage
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 12
| mapframe-point = on
| mapframe-caption = Interactive map of Shenley Church End civil parish.
}}
'''Shenley Church End''' is a [[village]], district and wider [[civil parish]] in [[Milton Keynes]], [[Buckinghamshire]], England, about {{convert|2|mi}} south-west of [[Central Milton Keynes]], and the same distance north-west of [[Bletchley]].<ref name=BMK-parishes>{{cite web |title=Contact your Parish, Town or Community Council |url=https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/your-council-and-elections/councillors-and-committees/parish-and-town-councils/contact-your-parish-or-town-council |publisher=[[Milton Keynes Council]] |access-date=10 October 2020}}</ref> Together with its neighbouring districts of [[Shenley Brook End]], Shenley Wood and Shenley Lodge, the districts are collectively known as "The Shenleys".

== History ==
The village name 'Shenley' is an [[Old English language]] word meaning 'bright clearing'.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Buckinghamshire/Shenley | title= Key to English place names: Shenley | publisher = Institute for Name-Studies, the [[University of Nottingham]] | accessdate = 6 April 2020}}</ref> In the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 the area was collectively known as ''Senelai'' and controlled by [[Hugh d'Avranches, 1st Earl of Chester]].<ref name=VCH>{{cite book |chapter-url= https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp445-451 | chapter = Parishes : Shenley |series = [[Victoria History of the Counties of England]] | title= A History of the County of Buckingham | volume= 4 | date=1927 | pages = 445{{ndash}}451 |editor= William Page |publisher= [[Constable & Robinson|Constable & Co. Ltd.]] | location = London }}</ref>

The distinction between the Brook End and the Church End happened in the 12th century when a new [[manor house]] was constructed in Shenley Brook End by the [[Mansell family]]. However, by 1426 the two [[Manorialism|manors]] were owned by the same person and the distinction between the two places was in name only.

Shenley Church End is also home to the '''Shenley Toot''', a [[motte-and-bailey|motte and bailey]] (of which only the motte remains), which is now a [[scheduled ancient monument]].<ref>{{NHLE|desc=The Toot: a motte and bailey castle and later manorial complex 450&nbsp;m south west of St Mary's Church |num=1007936 }}</ref>

The parish church, the '''Church of St. Mary''', is a [[Grade I listed building]].<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Church of St. Mary  |num=1160730}}</ref> 

== Education and other services ==
The district contains [[Denbigh School]] (a secondary comprehensive), Glastonbury Thorn First School, a nursery in the former village school, and Shenley Church End Pre-School (situated in the Shenley Leisure Centre).

The Leisure Centre beside the secondary school includes a sports hall, gym, squash courts and outdoor football/tennis courts, as well as the Sportsman's Rest bar.

The local retail centre opposite (south of) the school and Leisure Centre is a shopping area consisting of a [[fish and chip]] shop, a pharmacy, a cafe, a gym, a barber shop, a bike shop, a bookmaker, a charity shop, a Chinese restaurant, a medical practice and a dental surgery.

In June 2014, [[Sainsbury's]] opened new supermarket opposite (east of) the Leisure Centre, on the site of the former Dolphin Splashdown swimming pool.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sainsburys-shenley.co.uk/ |title=Shenley |accessdate=2012-07-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418230008/http://sainsburys-shenley.co.uk/ |archivedate=2013-04-18 }}</ref>

=== Sport ===
;Shenley Church End Cricket Club
The cricket club has been in existence since 1947. Previously known as Rickley Park CC until 1992, the club was renamed after moving from [[Bletchley]] to play home matches at [[Denbigh School]], but in 2002 SCECC relocated to the bottom pitch at Manor Fields in [[Fenny Stratford]] (where Bletchley Town CC play) – though choosing to retain their current name.<ref>[http://www.shenleychurchendcc.co.uk/ Shenley Church End Cricket Club]</ref>

SCECC currently have a Saturday side playing in the Morrant Four Counties Cricket League Division 3 and play friendlies on Sundays.

== Civil parish ==
Today, the historic village is the core of the [[civil parish]] that bears its name. The parish is bounded by V3 Fulmer Street, V4 [[Watling Street]], H5 Portway and H6 Childs Way. The parish includes Shenley Hill, Grange Farm, Crownhill, Oakhill/Woodhill, Shenley Wood (including Medbourne), Shenley Church End and Oxley Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shenleychurchend-pc.co.uk | title= Shenley Church End parish council|accessdate=5 November 2019}}</ref> On pre-designation maps, the area now occupied by Oakhill, Woodhill, Oxley Park and Whitney was called Shelley Common: MKDC did not name this grid-square.

The parish is bounded to the north-east by V4 [[Watling Street]], to the north-west by the border with [[Calverton, Milton Keynes|Calverton]] parish, to the south-west by the [[City of Milton Keynes|city]] boundary with the [[Buckinghamshire Council]] unitary authority (at [[Whaddon, Buckinghamshire|Whaddon]]) and to the south-east by H6 Childs Way. These are the other neighbourhoods that that comprise the civil parish:

=== Oxley Park ===
Oxley Park, primarily a residential area, is relatively young district having been formed via a development framework in 2004.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} The street naming convention is based on the Silver Screen era of Film, with surnames of film stars forming street names. For example, Audrey Hepburn provides the name of Hepburn Crescent. It is also the location of a [[site of special scientific interest]], [[Oxley Mead]], and a nationally notable architecture-led development, [[Oxley Woods]].

=== Medbourne ===
Medbourne is another residential district. It forms part of the [[Milton Keynes#Grid roads and grid squares|grid square]] that includes Shenley Wood.

=== Grange Farm ===
Grange Farm is another residential district. It occupies a full grid square and is relatively new. It was originally to be named Grange Hill: this was changed due to it also being the name of a school drama on the BBC.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

=== Crownhill ===
Crownhill is district of both residential and commercial properties. It is also the location of the city [[crematorium]].

=== Oakhill ===
Oakhill is a small residential area of detached houses to the north of the prison site.

=== Woodhill ===
Woodhill is the location of [[HMP Woodhill]] and associated developments. At {{convert|120|metre|feet}} above [[Ordnance Datum Newlyn|sea level]], it occupies the land with highest elevation in Milton Keynes.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=481828&y=235399&z=115 | title = Ordnance Survey 1:25000 | website=Streetmap.co.uk|accessdate= 6 November 2019}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://www.shenleychurchend-pc.co.uk/ Shenley Church End Parish Council]

{{Milton Keynes parishes}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Areas of Milton Keynes]]
[[Category:Villages in Buckinghamshire]]