A Brief History of the Village Links

After 1066 (and all that!), William bestowed the Manor of Newtone to a loyal Knight - Walter Giffard (from the old French word gife, meaning ‘fat cheeks’), the founder of the Abbey of Santa Fois at Longueville in Normandy. Hisson subsequently founded an Alien Priory in Newtone, subordinate to the Abbey in Longueville on condition French monks came to Buckinghamshire to build the church. Hence began the first twinning association between Newton Longville in Buckinghamshire and Longueville-sur-Scie in Normandy!

Our story skips time until 1986, when Newton Longville celebrated the 750th anniversary of the formation of the present village when it was proposed that the current Normans of Longueville-sur-Scie be invited to join in our celebrations. A small party, including the Mayor of Longville-sur-Scie, visited us for the weekend and close links, mainly founded on nods, gestures and speaking to them in 'loud English' were formed. Such was the warmth of feeling that a reciprocal invitation was extended for villagers to visit France in June 1987. Links were not only established on a community basis, but also between individual families.  

Not long before a visit by the French to Newton Longville in 1988, the question of official twinning was raised and the response of 'oui' was celebrated with the planting of a Normandy Apple Tree in the centre of the village during their visit - just like an engagement.

A Twinning Association was formally constituted in January 1989 and it set about the task of generating further enthusiasm and membership. 

It was also tasked with raising funds to entertain our French friends on their visits to us and to help with our trips to France.

By the time of the official twinning was held in Longueville-sur-Scie in May 1989, some 120 of our village were already members - and the majority travelled to France for three splendid days of formal and fun times.

(Our contribution to French culture was to take a caller for a barn dance – which ended sometime after 3 am.) After the official twinning, momentum gathered and children from the local primary school began exchanging correspondence and conducting a project on the differing weather patterns between the two locations.

 A native of Longueville-sur-Scie lives in our village and communication is not confined to official sources. Many families from both sides of the channel have visited their respective hosts outside the organised village visits. In July 1989, our village celebrated a Bastille Day - which lasted until the early hours of the following day, with monies raised going to returning hospitality when our French friends visited in 1990.

 Newton Longville may not be important in the overall scheme of twinning, but it has captured the imagination of many people within our community and given a sleepy village a fresh interest not only in the future but also in the historic past. A genuine warmth and friendship has quickly built up between ourselves and our French counterparts - and not because a privileged few like the odd trip abroad. It is because there is a sense of belonging and re-discovering our very close links in the past and making sure they grow even stronger for the future, uniting the two communities.