How a medieval royal stud farm transformed into the market town of Princes Risborough
In short: Princes Risborough was once a royal manor and stud farm, serving as a strategic asset for the English Crown. From its origins as a Saxon encampment to its long association with the Black Prince, this Buckinghamshire town holds a history defined by royal favor, horse breeding, and commercial evolution.
Princes Risborough, situated at the foot of the Chiltern Hills, has evolved significantly since its time as a Saxon village held by Edward the Confessor. By the 11th century, the Domesday Book recorded it as an extensive complex featuring a royal manor, a deer park, a fishery, and a stud farm. Following the Norman Conquest, the manor was granted to the Giffard family before eventually reverting to the Crown in 1164. It later became a key holding for the Earls of Cornwall and, most notably, the Black Prince, who held the manor for 32 years starting in 1344.
The manor served as a functional hub rather than a grand palace. While historical records describe a manor house and hall on the site of the present-day 'Mount' car park, it likely functioned more as a hunting lodge. The Black Prince’s council, established in 1346 to manage his estates, left detailed records of the manor's operations. These documents reveal the daily life of the estate, including the maintenance of warhorses, the management of the park, and the sale of timber and fish. The Prince himself rarely visited, preferring locations like Berkhamsted Castle.
The town's name reflects its royal history, shifting from Magna Risberge in the 13th century to Earls Risborough, and finally to Princes Risborough following the death of the Black Prince. The manor’s connection to the Crown persisted for over 600 years until 1628, when King Charles I sold it to the City of London to settle royal debts. Today, the town retains traces of its past, including the site of the former manor house and the 13th-century St Mary's Church, which has undergone numerous restorations and additions over the centuries.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Princes Risborough
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