[1] In order to provide a level climb up to the first major hill of the long Chiltern Hills range to the east and northeast, this has embankments and cuttings, with thousands of tonnes of earth displaced perhaps in the Bronze Age in order to facilitate access by foot.

[3] The parish church of St John the Baptist dates architecturally to the 12th century, with later repairs and additions.

Replacing the original Georgian Mongewell House of Barrington, a large brick mansion in William and Mary style was built in 1890 for Alexander Frazer whose initials can be seen on the lodge gates (Pedgley and Pedgley, 1990).

In January 1944 it became the headquarters for No 2 Group RAF of Bomber Command led by Air Vice Marshal Basil Embry.

The school added several buildings, including its synagogue and the Julius Gottlieb Gallery and Boathouse, which were later listed.