The River Ouse at Olney

Where? Olney in Buckinghamshire, England, UK. Where? Midway between Northampton and Bedford. Why? I live here!

Olney- Past and Present

Olney information is reproduced by kind permission of the Olney Chamber of Trade. 

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Olney Events

How did Olney Get its Name? 

Attractions

Recreation

Nearby

Pancake Race (Watch You Tube Videos!!! )

Olneys around the World

Museum

Liberal (Kansas, USA - Olney's Pancake Race "Twin Town")

The Floral Fiesta

The Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul

Olney Picture Gallery - Olney scenes in camera.

 
Links about Olney and surrounding towns

Olney Accommodation - Due to popular demand here is a link to accommodation in the area. 

How did Olney Get its Name?

First mentioned in 876AD in the treaty of Wedmore. This was between King Alfred and Guthrum the Dane. The boundary was the river, with Olney under Danish rule and the other side under the rule of King Alfred.

A few theories (From "Cowper Country" by Gordon Osborn) 

1. May be Anglo-Saxon. In a charter dated 979 (yes 979 !) a passage says "These are the boundaries of the ten hydes of land at Ollanege". "ege" is pronounced "e" or "ey" from the Anglo-Saxon "ig".......said to mean an island or land nearly surrounded by water. This suggests the name to be "Ola's Island"; Ola possibly being the name of some Saxon who owned the land. 

2. The name may be derived from Aln-ey, an island of alder trees. 

3. In 1835 the post mark was "Oulney", thought to mean Ousen Eye, a wet place near the river Ouse. (The river Ouse winds its way picturesquely around Olney). In the Domesday book the spelling is Olnei, and in Civil War Tracts it is spelt Oulny. Other spellings are Wolney and Olneye. 

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Attractions

Olney is a thriving and bustling Market Town lying on the A509 from Milton Keynes to Wellingborough.It has a wealth of attractions for tourists, including antique shops, places of historical interest, accommodation, 4 public houses, restaurants and cafes and ample free car parking. Many places of interest are open on Sundays. Market day is on Thursday and half day closing (for some shops) is on Wednesday. 

Since the early '70s the population of Olney has increased significantly from around 2,400 in 1971 to 6,000 in 1995. However, Olney's centre still retains its old eighteenth century market town character. There are historical associations with the poet William Cowper who lived in Olney between 1768 and 1786 and John Newton who became its curate in 1764. Together they wrote the "Olney Hymns" ("Amazing Grace") and they are commemorated in the Cowper museum in the Market Place, giving details of local historical interests. 

Lacemaking

For 300 years Olney was at the heart of bobbin lace making industry in the area. The lace was made using fine thread wound on wooden or bone bobbins. In the 1700s it was at its most expensive with Royalty and the well-to-do wearing Olney Lace. Unfortunately, Nottingham machine made lace grew in popularity, and its lower price finally saw the end of the lace making tradition in Olney. Attempts were made to revive the trade as late as 1928 when the Lace Factory was built on the High Street. Handmade lace is still produced locally, mainly for pleasure, the Museum contains an extensive collection. 

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Nearby

The cultural heritage of the Olney area is reflected in its worthy legacy of historic buildings, ancient monuments, archaeological sites and historic landscapes. Close by, Weston Underwood, Emberton and Clifton Reynes all have been designated as Conservation areas in recognition of their special architectural or historic interest. The majority of the listed buildings within the locality lie within these Conservation areas. Olney Bridge dates from the 19th century. Visit also a Roman site north of Olney, a mediaeval moat and fishponds near Weston Underwood, and a number of archaeological sites in the area. 

Recreation

Recreation and leisure facilities in the area are Emberton Country Park, with 70 hectares (170 Acres) for sailing, windsurfing, fishing and picnics and a permanent caravan park. Extensive sport and recreational facilities are located between the eastern side of the town and the river (Ouse). The Three Shires Bridle way passes south of Emberton and to the east of Olney. 

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Pancake Race 
SELECT THE RUNNER FOR THE FULL STORY!

Olney is well known in the media for its traditional Pancake Race which has been run on Shrove Tuesday since its misty beginnings (!) in the mid 15th Century. Since 1950 this race has also been run against a race in Liberal, Kansas (USA). 

In 1950, a picture appeared in a national magazine showing the women of Olney, England, running through their village streets flipping pancakes in skillets, in a traditional race that started there in 1445.Legend has it that women customarily used up accumulated cooking fats (forbidden during Lent) to bake pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. One woman, engrossed in her pancakes, forgot the time until she heard the church bells calling everyone to the shriving service. She ran to the church, clad in her apron and with skillet in hand, to become the first pancake racer. In following years, other women of Olney, not to be outdone by their neighbors, got into the act. The one reaching the church steps first was kissed by the verger, or bell-ringer. The kiss came to be called the "Kiss of Peace" and was accompanied with the words, "The peace of the Lord be always with you."  

After seeing the magazine picture, R. J. Leete, then president of the Jaycees, wrote the Rev. Ronald Collins, vicar of Olney and supervisor of the Olney race, challenging their women to a race with Liberal housewives. Vicar Collins quickly accepted and following several letters, cables and a trans - Atlantic phone call, the first race was arranged for Feb. 21, 1950. 

R. J. and Virginia Leete visited Olney in 1975, when they were sent to England as representatives at that city's Pancake Day celebration. On June 20, 1992, R. J. Leete was honored for 75 years of living, 50 years of loving (his anniversary), and 43 years of giving to Liberal, all in one day. A monument, placed at the starting line of the Pancake Race was dedicated to two men - Canon Ronald Collins and R. J. Leete.  

(The above was taken from the book "The History of International Pancake Racing" by Virginia Leete)

........With thanks for her kind permission to reproduce this extract and also to Beverly Leete for her valued correspondence. 

Follow this link for a complete "International Pancake Race" results table since 1950!!!

Have a Look at Liberal's Amazing Pancake Race Website

The 1998 Olney Lineup

"You Tube" Video Olney Pancake Race 2008

"You Tube" Video Liberal Pancake Race 2008

Olneys around the World

Have a look at these other towns with the name of Olney. 

Let me know if you find any more ! Unofficial Olney Page Author 

Olney in Maryland was named after Olney England! Maryland, one of the eastern states of the United States. Maryland is bordered by Pennsylvania on the north, Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Virginia on the south, and West Virginia on the southwest and west. Washington, D.C., the national capital, is an enclave along the Virginia border. 

Milestones in Olney (Maryland) History 

Olney in Texas is situated between Fort Worth and Witchita Falls. Its population is approximately 3,500. Texas is one of the West South Central states of the United States. It borders Mexico on the southwest and the Gulf of Mexico on the southeast. To the west is New Mexico, to the north and northeast lie Oklahoma and Arkansas, and Louisiana bounds Texas on the east. Austin is the capital of Texas. Houston is the largest city. 

Olney Illinois, a city of 9,000 residents is located in Southeastern, Illinois. Noted for their white squirrels, Olney is also the home of Olney Central College and has a diverse economic base of agriculture, the oil industry and manufacturing.Illinois, state in the north central United States, in the heart of the Midwest. Illinois was little more than a vast wilderness 200 years ago. Since entering the Union on December 3, 1818, as the 21st state, the economy of Illinois has expanded until today Illinois is one of the most productive agricultural and industrial states in the Union, and its economic influence now extends far beyond the Midwest. 

This is an area of Philadelphia , largest city of Pennsylvania and the fifth largest city in the United States. Philadelphia is located in the southeastern corner of the state, at the junction of the Delaware River and Schuylkill River. A major port, the city lies about 160 km (about 100 mi) inland from the Atlantic Ocean and is situated approximately halfway between New York City and Washington, D.C. The birthplace of the nation-both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were drafted here-Philadelphia has been an important commercial, industrial, and cultural center of the United States throughout its history. 

• Olney Oregon USA

There is another Olney Abroad:Olney, Oregon, USA.Oregon is on the West Coast of the U.S.,bordered by California on the south,Washington on the north,the Pacific Ocean on the west,and Idaho on the east.My family is descended from one Thomas Olney,who sailed from Olney, Englandto Springfield, Massachusetts, USA in the year 1635.(Of course, at the time,there was no such thing as the U.S.A...!)

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If anyone discovers any more World Wide Web links on Olney related information whilst surfing the net (or if you want to contribute an article) please e-mail me.

Thanks!

olney@sideburn.demon.co.uk

The Unofficial Olney Page Author

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Page created January 25, 1997 Page last updated  26 August, 2008--> Photographs Copyright © Ian Burnside

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