VILLAGE HISTORY

Finningley is a traditional village with reminders of the 19th century around the village green, pond and church.

The name Finiglei or Finningley, as it is now known, means clearing in the fen. In the Doomsday Book it appears that Gilbert Tison held the manor of Finglei, and had "there half a plough and fifteen villanes and four bordars, having five ploughs and a half, wood pasture two miles long and two broad...".

Sir Martin Frobisher, one of Queen Elizabeth's most noted admirals, drew his first breath in Finningley Grange, later known as Finningley Hall. In the 17th century, the Harvey family of lckwell, Bury, Bedfordshire took over the Finningley Manor and resided at the Hall until the late 19th century. At one time this residence was occupied by the Parker Rhodes family.

The village school (now the village hall) opened in 1855, transferring to the Silver Birch Grove premises in 1965.

Housing in the village formerly consisted mainly of old farm cottages and Council houses, built just after the Second World War, on Chapel Lane and Wroot Road. During the late 1950s Council houses were erected on Lindley Road. There was very little private housing development until the early 1960s, since when several small private estates have been built.

Finningley R.A.F. base opened before the second world war, and the annual open days of the sixties onwards were always characterised by massive crowds, bringing the village to a standstill. Possibly the most remembered aircraft which flew from this station were the noisy Vulcan bombers.

Local employment was formerly on the farms, in the building trade, the sand and gravel quarries, or as Civil Servants at the R.A.F. base. The latter also provided a number of village women with cleaning jobs. The R.A.F. base has now closed and the other industries have declined, such that Finningley is now mainly a dormitory village, residents commuting varying distances to their places of work. However, the former R.A.F. base is now being developed as an international airport, which will bring further job prospects back to the area, although many residents are concerned at the prospect of increased noise pollution and associated road traffic.