Wolverton today
Today the Wolverton & Greenleys Town Council area comprises the original medieval settlement of Old Wolverton with 1960’s housing and industrial estate add-ons; the “new” Victorian and Edwardian railway town of Wolverton developed from 1838 and Greenleys, Hodge Lea & Stacey Bushes, 1970’s housing developments of rented and private houses built under the direction of Milton Keynes Development Corporation, together with newer houses for sale and nearby industrial estates.
The Victorian & Edwardian areas of Wolverton are now a Conservation Area which emphasises its importance as a planned railway town (a sort of Victorian Milton Keynes). It is the largest Conservation area in Milton Keynes and the recent Conservation Area review mentions how “it retains its own identity.”
Railcare now operates at the Railway Works continuing the tradition on the site, which has been in use since 1838, but with a much smaller workforce. Their move to the west-end of the site has freed up some of the historic buildings for re-use and development.
The Victorian & Edwardian areas of Wolverton are now a Conservation Area which emphasises its importance as a planned railway town (a sort of Victorian Milton Keynes). It is the largest Conservation area in Milton Keynes and the recent Conservation Area review mentions how “it retains its own identity.”
Railcare now operates at the Railway Works continuing the tradition on the site, which has been in use since 1838, but with a much smaller workforce. Their move to the west-end of the site has freed up some of the historic buildings for re-use and development.
Wolverton Park is a multi-award winning development by ‘Places for People’ built on the large former site of the Wolverton Park Sports Ground adjacent to the Station. It includes the listed buildings of the Former Royal Train shed/ Old Lifting Shop and The Triangle which includes the Locomotive shop and Reading Room together with some modern apartments. The site benefits from the location on the Grand Union Canal and green space of the former Sports Ground
Based alongside the Grand Union Canal, the Secret Garden combines a formal garden laid out on the foundations of the original Station Master’s and Railway Company Accountant’s villas together with natural woodland. It is maintained by local volunteers, who also raised money for its initial development. Every summer there are free Musical Concerts held here.
Sited on a former neglected allotment site, the Community Orchard includes a new Orchard area, Sensory Garden and an Allotment area for Wyvern School. One of the dominant features is a Victorian Railway Carriage used as a Refreshment facility. Several events are held every year including a themed Tea-party in June, Wolverton-on- Sea in July, Apple Day in October and a Christmas Celebration in December.
Milton Keynes Museum has a wonderfully varied collection including a parade of shops, a Transport Hall featuring a restored Wolverton & Stony Stratford Tram-car, Wolverton Works Board Room exhibition and an extensive interactive telephone exhibit. The Tea-room is always worth a visit for the home cooked refreshments.
Sited on a former neglected allotment site, the Community Orchard includes a new Orchard area, Sensory Garden and an Allotment area for Wyvern School. One of the dominant features is a Victorian Railway Carriage used as a Refreshment facility. Several events are held every year including a themed Tea-party in June, Wolverton-on- Sea in July, Apple Day in October and a Christmas Celebration in December.
Milton Keynes Museum has a wonderfully varied collection including a parade of shops, a Transport Hall featuring a restored Wolverton & Stony Stratford Tram-car, Wolverton Works Board Room exhibition and an extensive interactive telephone exhibit. The Tea-room is always worth a visit for the home cooked refreshments.
There is an extensive calendar of free Community events in Wolverton too.
The Lantern Festival was first celebrated in 1988 as part of the “WOLVERTON 150” celebrations to commemorate the founding of the Town by the London & Birmingham Railway Company in 1838. Since then it has been part of Wolverton’s Christmas celebrations. It consists of a street procession around the streets of Wolverton with a variety of specially constructed withie and tissue lanterns.
Where can you see mermaids and vicars, pirates and window cleaners, eccentric animals and Sci-fi legends? That will be the Wolverton Scarecrow Festival. When The Festival started in 2004, it was the first in our local area and quite unusual in an urban area.
The Lantern Festival was first celebrated in 1988 as part of the “WOLVERTON 150” celebrations to commemorate the founding of the Town by the London & Birmingham Railway Company in 1838. Since then it has been part of Wolverton’s Christmas celebrations. It consists of a street procession around the streets of Wolverton with a variety of specially constructed withie and tissue lanterns.
Where can you see mermaids and vicars, pirates and window cleaners, eccentric animals and Sci-fi legends? That will be the Wolverton Scarecrow Festival. When The Festival started in 2004, it was the first in our local area and quite unusual in an urban area.
Officially opened in May 2010, the 3-acre Urb Farm occupies a former disused tree nursery between Wolverton and Greenleys. Here Milton Keynes Christian Foundation run “Growing People” a horticultural training scheme for young people. The site includes poly-tunnels, open growing, chickens, bee-hives, trees and a wild-life pond.
Wolverton & Greenleys first entered Britain in Bloom in 2007 and are Silver-gilt winners. The area is an enthusiastic participant and likes to show that you do not have to be a classic picture postcard village or Georgian coaching town to get results. Since getting involved with Britain in Bloom there have been many environmental improvements carried out by enthusiastic local residents.
Wolverton & Greenleys first entered Britain in Bloom in 2007 and are Silver-gilt winners. The area is an enthusiastic participant and likes to show that you do not have to be a classic picture postcard village or Georgian coaching town to get results. Since getting involved with Britain in Bloom there have been many environmental improvements carried out by enthusiastic local residents.