Little Horwood: History and Walking Routes

When planning a stay in Little Horwood, there are two distinct areas of interest to consider: architectural and local history, and five named walking routes with stated timings. The village green complements these themes as a communal space in the heart of the village. You can therefore weigh up whether historic building styles and traces in the landscape, or a specific time window for a walk, will shape your stay more.

The Church and Its Bell-Ringing Tradition

The parish Church of St Nicholas reflects several phases of construction. The nave dates from the early 13th century; the chancel and south aisle originally date from the 14th century, and the west tower from the 15th century. Different periods of construction thus stand side by side within the same church. The bells are also part of local history: they have been rung since 1552, bringing a distinct perspective on time alongside the building phases.

Medieval Site and Little Horwood Manor

A moated medieval site lies 200 m northeast of the Church of St Nicholas. It is protected as a Scheduled Monument, well preserved and largely undisturbed. The church and the site represent different forms of history: the various construction phases of a religious building on the one hand, and a protected medieval site with a moat on the other.

Little Horwood Manor is a Grade II-listed hunting lodge, built by A S G Butler in 1938–39. It is a good example of a butterfly plan combined with late, very austere classicism that largely dispenses with ornament. The butterfly plan refers to the shape of the building, while the style description highlights its restrained ornamentation. This gives Little Horwood Manor a different architectural context from the older parts of the church.

Water and Traces in the Landscape at Wood End

East of the protected moated site at Wood End, Little Horwood, two ponds, probably medieval in origin, are visible as earthworks. Their dating is tentative: a medieval origin is considered likely. The ponds add another landscape feature to the site, although their date of origin is not certain.

The historic watermill at Wood End was built by the 13th century at the latest and abandoned in 1824. Its history therefore reaches far back, while 1824 marks a clear later turning point. A circular brick wall from the watermill in Little Horwood is also still visible. The mill can thus be understood both through its long history and through a specific structural detail.

Walking Routes by Duration

There are five named village walking routes in Little Horwood: Black takes 1 hour 45 minutes, Orange 1 hour 15 minutes, Red 1 hour 30 minutes, Green 1 hour 20 minutes and Yellow also 1 hour 30 minutes. By duration, Orange is the shortest route and Black the longest, with a 30-minute difference between them. Red and Yellow have the same stated duration, while Green, at 1 hour 20 minutes, falls between them. This comparison makes it easier to choose a route based on the time available.

A narrow path leads into the woodland of the Nature Reserve in Little Horwood. Its condition may vary seasonally. Take this limitation into account when planning and check conditions before setting out for a walk.

The Village Green and Architectural Details

The village green provides a communal space in the heart of the village. Alongside the buildings and traces in the landscape, this also brings the shared function of a central area into focus.

The Shoulder of Mutton inn has a rear wing featuring an element of a cruck frame, an external brick wall, a rendered ground floor and a thatched roof with a central brick chimney. The combination of these structural elements and materials makes the construction of the wing a distinct architectural subject.

Discover more destinations: Great Missenden, Burnham, High Wycombe, Flackwell Heath, Long Crendon, Buckingham, Chalfont Saint Peter, Seer Green.

For the wider travel guide: Buckinghamshire.