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General
The village of Heath and Reach was formerly two hamlets, Heath referring to the heathland of the area (from the Old English haeth) and Reach to a raised strip of land, land in a river bend or a promontory (from the Old English raec). The area is surrounded by woodland, open heath and sand-workings, the latter remaining as an important local industry. In the 2001 Census the parish population was 1,285.
On Heath Green stands the Victorian redbrick wellhouse and clock tower. On the Great Brickhill Road to the north of the village is the entrance to Stockgrove Country Park with car parking, picnic facilities and pleasant woodland and lakeside walks.
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Watling Street
The ghost of a former pig dealer named Adams haunts the area of the Garside sandpits at Heath and Reach. Adams committed suicide and was buried in a field beside the A5. Now he accosts people saying “I cannot rest because of my past misdeeds. Will you get a parson to pray for my soul?” Adams once approached an old, and somewhat crusty, retired gamekeeper who had spent a hard night drinking. He had never liked Adams when he was alive so, with the words “You old bastard. If the parson can't lay you I will”, he lunged at Adams with his stick. Unfortunately for him ‘Adams' turned out to be a horse that promptly kicked him in the stomach.
To view a map of the area click on the button below
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