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Story from the Archive
Story from the Archive

War-time Evacuees
During the second world war many families and children were evacuated to towns like New Bradwell and Wolverton. At the time these towns were in “the countryside” and therefore were considered safe from the dangers present in London during the blitz. more...

Bigger Brighter Better
As we saw in January’s story of the month, Milton Keynes was built to cope with a growing population in the latter half of the 20th century. Prior to Milton Keynes being built one of the towns that saw much of this growth was Bletchley. more...

The birth of a New City
As 2007 is the 40th anniversary year of Milton Keynes it seems appropriate to focus on the town’s beginnings. Milton Keynes was one of several new towns planned and designed to cope with the growth and movement of the population in the UK. more...

The Rockets
In the Mid 1950’s we had our very own rock ‘n’ roll group called The Rockets, They arrived on the scene around the time of the release of “Rock around the clock” and played in many of the pubs and dance halls in the local area. more...

Lewis Lloyd Letters
Arthur Lewis Lloyd was born 14.5.1895 and died 20.8.1916 at the 2nd battle of the Somme. He was a stretcher bearer in the RAMC. He was training to be a languages teacher at Borough Road College, Isleworth after gaining a county scolarship (2nd in county). His Parents lived at Victoria Street, Wolverton. more...

The Stony Stratford to Wolverton Tram
The Wolverton to Stony Stratford tramway was opened in 1887. The service was extended to run as far as the village of Deanshanger in 1888, but this part of the service was withdrawn within two years as it proved uneconomic to operate. The tracks remained for years afterwards. For almost 40 years Stony Stratford had a tramcar service with the largest tramcars ever to run through the streets of a British town. more...

The Ambulance Train
During the First World War, the people of wolverton and surrounding area had the opportunity to view the new Ambulance Train which would be used in France. more...


The Parish Church of St Mary and St Giles
When the people of Stony Stratford looked out on the Feast of Stephen in 1964 they saw smoke coming form the church of St Giles. Four small children had started a fire that completely destroyed the organ and left the woodwork charred and the paintwork scorched. more...

Valley of the Shadow by Hawtin Mundy
Hawtin Mundy was born in 1894 and lived in New Bradwell, now part of Milton Keynes. He joined up to serve in the First World War in 1914. more...


Stony Stratford "The Bunny Run"
A short extract from the Living Archive's book 'A Lifetime Away' of which, memories are told of the "The Bunny Run" around the High Street in Stony Stratford. more...


The Wolverton Refreshment Room
When the London to Birmingham Railway opened in 1838 the journey between the two cities took four hours. The Railway Company established a Grand Central Station (the first in the world) at Wolverton in Buckinghamshire. Here was a place where the engines could be changed and, in the days of corridor less trains, the passengers could descend to 'refresh and relieve' themselves at the famous Wolverton Refreshment Room. more...

The Grand Old Lady of Aylesbury Street
The title of this story refers to Wyvern School in Aylesbury Street, Wolverton, which celebrates its centenary this year. It could equally refer to the person who was interviewed in 1985 as part of a Living Archive project more...

1970 - a vision of transport in new Milton Keynes
On Thursday, March 19, 1970, the Wolverton and North Bucks Express newspaper issued a supplement giving details of the proposed final Master Plan for the development of the new town of Milton Keynes. more...

The Jovial Priest
Eccentric, bombastic, athletic and perhaps even pathetic are some of the words one could use to describe a man who had a profound effect on the lives of the people of New Bradwell in the early part of the last century. more...

"Nobby Newport"
Newport Pagnell Station on the last day of the passenger service 1964. On the 30th September 1865 the line was first used by navvies. The first passenger journey was on the 2nd September 1867 and the last was on the 5th September 1964. more...

Albert French
Albert French was born on June 22, 1899 in New Bradwell, Buckinghamshire. He ran away from home to join the army during the First World War. He sent letters home to his father and sister May from his training camps and from the trenches in France. He was killed a few days before his 17th birthday. more...

Current Project
Milton Keynes Football Project
Milton Keynes Football Project
Funded by a 'Your Heritage' Lottery grant this project will collect personal testimonies, photographs and memorabilia to document the history of football in Milton Keynes over the last 100 years. The primary source material collected will be used to create a website, exhibition, book and digital stories. more
Latest Product
The Story of the original CMK
The Story of The Original CMK
This is the story of how Central Milton Keynes happened, told by the people who shaped the initial ideas of 'CMK'. Commissioned by the Central Milton Keynes Project Board (part of English Partnerships) and published (Oct 2007). more


© Living Archive 2008