At the Crucifixion, Christ is said to have been helped to carry the Cross to Calvary by Joseph of Aramithea, who, according to legend, came to England bearing the Holy Grail. At Glastonbury he planted his staff in the ground, which grew into a hawthorn bush and supposedly flowers every Christmas Eve.

It seems someone planted a cutting at Shenley, and a row of village dwellings were named Glastonbury Cottages.

With the arrival of the new city the bush has achieved even greater prominence, for not only has the name been taken for a nearby road, but protection is now afforded by a railed enclosure.

STERLING ASSETS: SHENLEY'S SILVER LINING

The former Crown Inn. During much of World War Two, Alan Turing, of Bletchley Park code breaking fame, was billeted here,

Dating from around 1850, the Crown Inn, of Shenley Brook End, closed in early 1959 since the brewery did not consider the £300 needed to modernise the toilets to be a justified expense. During World War Two a figure far removed from any agricultural employ would be associated with the pub - Alan Turing.

He spent much of the war at the Crown, while playing a vital role in the code breaking activities at Bletchley Park.

To here he would cycle every day in all weathers, spurning the use of an official car.

A remnant of his route may still be seen today. In 1940 Britain faced the imminent possibility of invasion, and, being aware that during World War One only silver had appreciably increased in value, Alan devised a plan to convert his savings into two silver bars (worth some £250) and hide them in the countryside.

He loaded the ingots; an old pram, and set off suitable locations.

Choosing a wood to bury one bar, he next proceeded to a nearby bridge, and sank other in the stream.

Having written down locations in code, he resumed his wartime work.

His subsequent achievement would prove to be vital, but the strains began to tell.

Mrs Ramshaw, his landlady became so concerned at his mumblings that she contacted the medical authorities.

After the war he tried to retrieve his hidden treasure, but this failed as did two further attempts using firstly a home made metal detector and later a commercial metal detector. Shenley has yet to reveal her silvery secret to this day.

ACCOMMODATING A NEED: THE STAFFORD ALMSHOUSES

The Stafford Almshouses were for people who did not indulge in 'riotous living'

Dating from 1615, the Stafford Almshouses, of Shenley Church End, carry a greatly weathered plaque. Its inscription reads:

'THIS ALMSHOUSE WAS CAUSED TO BE ERECTED BY THOMAS STAFFORD ESQ,
DECEASED, AND WAS BUILT BY THOMAS STAFFORD HIS SON, ANNO DOMINI 1614'.

Sir Thomas had died in 1607 and his will left instructions for the almshouses to be built for the accommodation of four unmarried, impoverished men and two women, all of whom had not only to regularly attend Shenley church, but to refrain from any 'riotous living.'

A daily payment of 3d was to be made to each of the men, and 2d to the women. By the provisions of the will the trustees would purchase 70 acres of land at Great Linford, and with this being rented to William Hopkins the income, of £30 per annum, was to be expended on 'The Poor People of Stafford's Hospital in Shenley', thereby providing not only the necessary finance to maintain the building, but also to pay the pensions.

However, since the passage of time devalued the worth of the rent, in 1882 the Charity Commissioners agreed that three of the tenements could be let, with the income applied to the benefit of the three remaining occupants.

Today, the almshouses have been converted into private accommodation. Their founder is commemorated in the church by an impressive monument.