The village name is Old English in origin, and is thought to mean 'Myrsa's woodland clearing'. In the Domesday Book of 1086 the village was recorded as Muselai, with the form Murselai being attested from the thirteenth century.[2]
The village was at one time a more important place; it was once a market town, by virtue of a royal charter granted in 1230, and the centre of the local deanery.[3]"The prosperity of the town continued until well into the 17th century" but around the middle of the 18th century, Mursley was described as having "dwindled into a neglected village', being 'small and depopulated', the parish having about 66 families and 258 souls."[3]
Actor David Tomlinson, who played George Banks in Mary Poppins and Mr. Emelius Browne in Bedknobs and Broomsticks, lived and raised his children in Mursley until his death on 24 June 2000. Tomlinson became notorious around the village for flying very low in his Tiger Moth and on one occasion, he crash landed in a field near his house and was tried for, but acquitted of, reckless flying.[6]
The Beechams estate in the village draws its name from Sir Thomas Beecham who resided in Mursley Hall which used to exist on the site of this estate.[citation needed]
There is also a grassroots cricket team called Mursley CC. They play on Sundays against other local villages with a huge array of local talent. TB the teams lower order batsman scored a match winning maiden 31 runs in 5 overs to beat Stoke Hammond CC.
