Frieth

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.604962
longitude= -0.8483
official_name= Frieth
population=
civil_parish= Hambleden
shire_district= Wycombe
shire_county = Buckinghamshire
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Wycombe
post_town= Henley-on-Thames
postcode_district = RG9
postcode_area= RG
dial_code= 01494
os_grid_reference= SU797902
london_distance=

Frieth is a village in the parish of Hambleden, in Buckinghamshire, England. It lies on the top of 'Frieth Hill', which is part of the chalk escarpments of the Chiltern Hills.

Frieth lies at a height of around 550 feet, on the edge of a broad and deep winterbourne chalk valley in which are located the older settlements of the parish and adjacent parishes – Hambleden, Skirmett, Turville and Fingest. Because of the shortage of surface water and the relatively poor soils – heavy clay and flint overlaying the permeable chalk – Frieth did not develop into a village until well into Victorian times. However, there are a number of ancient properties and Frieth has all the symbols of a traditional English village. As well as the church, it has a village hall, a village green, two rural pubs, a village society, fine open hilly countryside and a small but thriving primary school. The village shop and dairy has closed.

Parmoor House

In the 12th century Parmoor House was owned by the Knights Templar. It was the birthplace of Sir Stafford Cripps, the post-war Chancellor of the Exchequer. During the war it was let to King Zog of Albania. In 1947 the Anglican Community of St Katharine of Alexandria moved to Parmoor House from Fulham to provide care for elderly ladies. Later the house became home for the Community of the Sue Ryder Prayer Fellowship. St Katharine's, Parmoor, Frieth, Henley-on-Thames is now a retreat home and conference centre welcoming all for day or residential visits.

King Zog

During the Second World War Frieth was home to King Zog of Albania. King Zog lived at Parmoor House with his wife Queen Geraldine, their son Crown Prince Leka (now King Leka), and the King's sisters, nephews and nieces. The King also had a group of bodyguards who lived nearby and some Ministers who lived at Lane End. After the war they left to go to Egypt but one nephew stayed in Frieth.

Frieth Church

Frieth Church was built in 1848 as a Chapel of Ease for Hambleden. It is now part of the parish of Hambleden with Frieth and Skirmett. Flint from the ruined wing of the Old Rectory (now Kenricks) at Hambleden was used for the new church built to the design of JP Harrison. The South aisle was added later, probably by Woodyer dated 1872 on the rainwater heads. The church is built of flint with stone mullions and edges, and has an attractive tiled roof but no tower or turret.

The church is noted for its Victorian stained glass and carved woodwork. Most of the furniture and carving in the church were made by the local firm of West and Collier. Most of the beautiful stained glass windows were the gift of the Cripps family. They date from 1880 and include St John the Evangelist, Abraham and Isaac, Moses and the Ten Commandments (North wall), Benjamin and Joseph, and King David on the south aisle.

The Church Aided school at Frieth is the school for the Hambleden Valley. The school holds services at Frieth Church each term. The Rector is an ex officio Governor of the school.

Frieth School

Frieth Church of England Combined School was established in 1865. The catchment area encompasses the many villages of the Hambleden Valley.

External links

* [http://www.frieth.bucks.sch.uk/ Frieth Church of England School]
* [http://www.hambleden-valley-churches.org.uk/FRIhistory.htm St John's Church, Frieth]
* [http://www.srpf.webspace.fish.co.uk/ St Katharine's Parmoor House]
* [http://www.barksfield.vispa.com/FriethHistory/ FriethHistory.org A site devoted to the local history of Frieth]