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Deanshanger () is a village and civil parish in southwest Northamptonshire, near Milton Keynes. The population of the civil parish (including Puxley) at the 2011 census was 3,817. Deanshanger is northwest of London, northwest of Milton Keynes and southeast of Birmingham.
The original population centre of the parish was the hamlet of Passenham. However, from the late 18th century the coming of the Grand Union Canal to the east made Deanshanger an agricultural industrial centre causing it to grow quickly. This growth accelerated with the building of the London and Birmingham Railway in the first half of the 19th century which had stations nearby in Wolverton and Roade.
After a fall out with Henry II in 1170 AD, Thomas Becket is said to have sought refuge in the Gilbertine Monastery in Deanshanger (or Dinneshangra as it was then known). Although disguised as a peasant, he was nevertheless recognised by a farm labourer. At the time the only water supply in the village was foul and brackish, and having heard of the miracle that Becket was said to have performed at nearby Northampton, the farm labourer pleaded with Becket to repeat the performance. Becket is said to have looked towards Heaven, struck the ground with his staff, and immediately a fresh spring appeared. This is one of 703 miracles that is said to have led to his canonisation.David Saint. Most wanted man's miracle. Northampton Chronicle & Echo. 29 December 2008. Retrieved 8 November 2009
The first public school in Deanshanger was opened in 1833 in a converted Baptist chapel. In 1858, a new village school (dubbed 'The Big School' by locals) was opened for students up to the age of thirteen. This school would later go on to be named Deanshanger Primary School.
On 11 November 1948 the civil parish of "Passenham" was renamed "Deanshanger". The eastern part of the parish was ceded to the new parish of Old Stratford which was established on 1 April 1951, also taking in parts of the parishes of Furtho and Cosgrove. (1991). 9780861931279, Royal Historical Society. ISBN 9780861931279
In 1958, a century after the founding of the primary school, a secondary school was established in the village. Originally called Deanshanger School, it was later renamed Kingsbrook School, after the local river, Kings Brook (a tributary of the River Great Ouse). The school, a sports college, merged with former Roade school in September 2011, and was renamed The Elizabeth Woodville School.Northampton Chronicle & Echo, 13 June 2011
Since 2007, it shares the "Deanshanger ward" of West Northamptonshire Council with Wicken parish, returning two councillors.
There is a parish church (Holy Trinity, Church of England) and a Methodist chapel, a cafe, a post office, a pub and two members' clubs (sports and social, Conservative club), a pharmacy, a hairdresser, a pizza and kebab Take-out, a Chinese cuisine and fish and chips takeaway, a mobile takeaway, and other village stores.
In December 2015, The Co-operative Food opened a store on the High Street, where The Fox & Hounds Public House was situated. On the edge of the village on the A422, is a golf and country club, a hotel, an Indian restaurant and a petrol and service station. The village has a Parish Council office, which is a former school and Baptist Church, which was renovated in 2008.
Finally, there is the 83, a school service open to the public which runs from Deanshanger to Buckingham once a day (8:00AM), and Buckingham to Deanshanger (5:30PM). This bus also stops at Silverstone UTC, and is operated by a Stagecoach double decker. School bus services operate additionally between Deanshanger and Buckingham, stopping at Buckingham School and The Royal Latin School. This is the 943, operated by Bucks County Council. It leave Deanshanger in convoy at 8:10, and generally leave Buckingham (Via RLS) at about 15:45, arriving back at 16:00.
The nearest railway station is Wolverton for services to London Euston railway station, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Birmingham and north. Milton Keynes railway station (on the same line) is the nearest station to give access to fast trains to London (40 minutes), intercity and cross-country services. There are several private hire taxi services.
The A422 road used to pass through Deanshanger, curving sharply at the Beehive pub. As Milton Keynes expanded through the 1970s and 80s, traffic counts increased sharply through the village and calls for a bypass grew. In November 1991, local newspapers reported permission had been granted for a new bypass to be built. The new road opened in March 1993. The A422 now takes a more direct route past Deanshanger from Old Stratford towards Buckingham.
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