After the Second World War the name of the game was modernisation. It was as if we wanted to forget everything before the war and start afresh. This could be seen in the houses and buildings we built. There were the 1950’s prefabricated houses that were easy to build during a housing shortage. Then in the 60’s we had to build upwards with the high rise flats and square box shaped buildings with flat roofs. Many of our ancient houses and buildings were demolished in the wake of the modern times. This applied very much to Newport Pagnell and in 1966 it was agreed by the Urban District Council to pull up the gravestones in our Churchyard and turn them into a path. With the exception of only people who objected because there were still family members in the town the whole area was re-landscaped. Now after 40 years the stones are fading fast and the words becoming more and more illegible. However with the kind permission from MK Local Studies Centre I have been able to type out the original list of the gravestones that were removed at the time. The compilers of the list could not read all the words on many of the stones so all we have is their findings. However it may be of use to the many genealogists around now and as an historical list of people who once lived in our town.

Don Hurst

Mar 2009