There is evidence of prehistoric settlement in Wigginton, possible dating from the Iron Age, in the form of Grim's Ditch, with a short length of the Chilterns Hills section remaining just south of the village settlement.
In the 11th century, Wigginton was under the control of a half-brother of William I, Robert, Count of Mortain. However, in 1086 the Domesday Book indicated that Wigginton had not been gifted to him but was probably acquired by force by Robert from two adjacent estates close to Tring, one of which had previously been in the hands of Edith of Wessex. During the 13th century Wigginton formed part of the estate at Little Gaddesden passing first to the de Broc family and then, through marriage to the de Lucys. After the death of Sir William Lucy in 1466 it was in the ownership of the Corbets for over 130 years. The manor was then the subject of successive legal challenges fought out in the Court of Chancery until it came into the possession of Sir Richard Anderson of the manor of Pendley during the 1650s. Elizabeth Spencer (née Anderson) inherited Wigginton and became the third wife of Simon Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt 1703. The manor remained in the Harcourt family until the 1860s. Wigginton Common was enclosed in 1854 and was subsequently incorporated into the Tring Park Estate owned at the time by the Rothschild Family
St Bartholomews Church, built of flint and stone, was first recorded in 1217 and is thought to have had connections with the Knights Hospitalers. Much of the main building dates from the 15th century and major restoration was undertaken in 1881
The cache is not at the coordinates which are for the church. The cache is at
N51 47.ABC W 00 38.DAF
Where On the Great War memorial ‘ A is the number of those with a surname beginning with F, C is the number of those with a surname beginning with D.
The Rector’s phone number is 01442 871BD7.
F is the total number of Dell’s remembered on the first ‘To the Honour’ plaque less the number of Dell’s who fell in the Great War.
The cache is a short walk away and there is very limited parking at GZ
I could not ascertain whether the Dell’s noted on the Great War memorial are the same as some of those on the ‘To the Honour’ plaque. If anyone knows the answer please let me know and I will add the information to this page.
Congratulations to smokeypugs on FTF
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