Though there is evidence of human habitation as early as the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age, the earliest records date back more than a thousand years to 1045, when Cranford was a Saxon settlement. The church is mentioned in the Domesday Book. In 1220 the estate divided into two parts, Cranford St. John and Cranford le Mote.

The manor house bearing the latter name, north-east of the church, belonged to the Abbot of Thame for 300 years and was demolished in 1540.

In the 13th and 14th centuries Cranford St. John was owned by two medieval knight societies, the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitallers, forerunners of the St. John Ambulance. Later, in 1604, the park was purchased by Sir Roger Aston who served King James I as Barber and Keeper of the Great Wardrobe.

For 300 years from 1618, the park was owned by the Earls of Berkeley who established an extensive house, entertaining royalty, landscaping the grounds and maintaining the horses and hounds of the Berkeley Hunt.

During the 1800s Mary Cole, later Countess of Berkeley, was a intriguing figure who was married twice to the Fifth Earl. In 1932 the park was sold to the local authority. Though the house was demolished in 1945, important historical features, such as the 18th century stables, cellars and river bridge, remain within this beautiful green space much loved by the local community.

Find a detailed description of the park here

History Timeline

1045Cranford is part of a settlement headed by Turstan, a chieftain of Edward the Confessor.

1086The manor of Cranford is given to William fitz Ansculf, a conquering baron.

1220-40Estate is divided into two parts: Cranford St John, owned by the Knights Templar and Cranford le Mote, owned by the Abbot of Thame.

1308Templar land (including Cranford) confiscated by King Edward II.

1310The first recorded rector, Walter de Sutton.

1363Cranford St John owned by the Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem.

1380Date of the oldest bell in St Dunstan’s Church.

1543Both manors presented to Andrew, Lord Windsor by Henry VIII.

1604Sir Roger Aston owns the two manors that form Cranford Park.

1618Lady Elizabeth Berkeley purchases the park for £7000.

1723Population of Cranford village 26 families.

1780Demolition of Cranford le Mote manor house.

1801Population of Cranford 212, with 27 houses in the village.

1918 Berkeley family move out of Cranford Park.

1949Cranford Park officially opened for public use.