City Discovery Centre

The City Discovery Centre was set up in 1987 and adopted the heritage site of Bradwell Abbey as its permanent base in 1992. Bradwell Abbey is the site of a 12th century Benedictine Priory. Of that priory, several buildings including a magnificent Cruck Barn survive, and have been incorporated into later farm buildings. The small 14th century chapel of St Mary still stands and its walls portray some unique paintings of medieval pilgrims. The main farm buildings are 17th century, and in the grounds are a herb garden, a small copse and the original medieval fishpond.


The establishment of Bradwell Abbey in 1154 was, like the establishment of Milton Keynes New Town, a concerted effort to create an ideal living space. Nowadays, the site of the Abbey functions as an ideal point from which to consider ancient and modem approaches to planning and design.

City Discovery Centre is a registered charity and provides information and educational services to promote a greater appreciation and understanding of the historical, natural and built environments of the new city of Milton Keynes.

The charity performs the following activities:

• Organising study tours of Milton Keynes for professional planners, architects and policy makers from the UK and from overseas, including Korea, Japan, Sweden, Indonesia and Holland, as well as schools, universities and special interest groups.
  
• Managing the heritage site of Bradwell Abbey as a place of recreation and information for the visitor and for local residents alike.
  
• Managing and developing the only publicly accessible archive on the planning and development of Milton Keynes.
• Rental of rooms for functions, meetings and training courses.
  

Learning Opportunities

• Human & Economic Geography in Milton Keynes
  
• Environment, Planning and Urban Studies
  
• Discover Milton Keynes the last and largest of the new towns.
  

Illustrated talks, guided tours and field work brings this vibrant city to life. There’s something for everyone, from Key Stage One to postgraduate research as well as professional groups.

Milton Keynes is an ideal location to study:

• Contrasting Localities
  
• Urban Design
  
• Commercial and Retail Issues
  
• Energy Conservation
  
• Town Planning
  
• Strategic location
  
• Pre-existing settlements: Roman, Medieval, Victorian
  
• Huge potential markets
  
• Built for the car, using the grid system developed in Los Angeles
  
• Decentralised plan
  
• Landscape transformed by balancing lakes to prevent flooding
  
• High emphasis on parkland with 40% of the area as open space
  
• Initial residents from London's housing waiting lists
  
• Architectural competitions
  
• Green city - energy efficiency and recycling policies
  
• Aggressive marketing policy at home and abroad
  
• Young population
  
• Very high percentage of jobs in services
  
• Local, district and regional shopping centres
  

Explore Bradwell Abbey:

• Medieval fishponds
  
• Herb garden
  
• Stream
  
• Specially planted woodland
  
• Variety of habitats
  

Consider environmental issues:

• Milton Keynes has a strong green policy
  
• 40% of the land area is open space
  
• 30% of rubbish is recycled
  
• 300km cycle and walk ways
  
• Energy efficient housing
  
• Challenging traffic and public transport issues
  
• Activity sessions
  
• Practical fieldwork
  
• Guided tours of the city
  
• Environmental assessment
  
• Special visits can be arranged (eg factories, offices, waste recycling plants)
  

City Discovery Centre has produced a pack to enable teachers to use Milton Keynes as a Contrasting Locality. Call for details.

City Discovery Centre
Bradwell Abbey
Milton Keynes
MK13 9AP
Tel: 01908 227229
Fax: 01908 222235
Web site: www.mkcdc.org.uk

Milton Keynes Education and Training Home Page

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