Great Kimble is a village between Princes Risborough and Aylesbury. The village has Saxon origins though there have been people living in the area since Roman times (there may be the remains of a Roman villa next to the parish church) and beforehand. The village was known as Chenebelle at the time of the Domesday Book and was owned by Walter Giffard, a Norman lord. Later it was granted to Hugh of Bolbec.
In later centuries Great Kimble became known for being where John Hampden refused to pay his ship money (a tax raised without parliament) to Charles I. Although others also refused to pay, John Hampden was chosen to be sued as a test case. The King won the case though not by a unanimous judgement which has been seen as a moral defeat for the King and a weakening of his authority.
The parish church of St Nicholas dates from the 12th century. The nearest station is in the adjacent village of Little Kimble and was opened in 1872.
