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Chesham

Chesham photos (63 available)

Old photo of Chesham

Chesham maps (2 available)

Old map of Chesham

Chesham books (7 available)

Chesham memories

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Buckinghamshire memories

UPDATE:Mystery solved!!

Amersham, St Mary's Church c1955

To Whom It May Concern:  
 I am an American living in the state of Maryland.  I've had a picture in my office for quite some time now, that I recently took a better look at.  Originally, I was told that this picture was of the city of Rockville, in Maryland, during the late 19th century.  Upon closer inspection though, the picture has a pub by the name of 'The Hand 'n' Hand Wellers' and below that the sign reads, 'Amersham Ales'.  That made me do some research and I'm now writing to this web site to find the answers to my questions concerning this picture.  What year was it taken?  Is that really St. Mary's in the background?  Finally, ...read more here
A memory of Amersham contributed by Myron Morrell

We're all grown up now

Amersham, High Street 1958

Amersham - we had such a wonderful time with you, my sister, my two cousins and I. We were young, so we played, we swam, we chatted. We're all grown up now, with children of our own - I wonder if we could get back to you - would we be young again? 1958 - the year my sister was born. My parents were in Amersham that year. They're gone now, but you're still here. I'm very glad.

A memory of Amersham contributed by Kelly Mitchell

living at latimer village

I lived in Hollytree Cottage during the sixties, and was christened at St. Mary Magdalen Latimer.  My father worked for Lord Chesham.  Our house used to be the Cavendish Arms, a pub at one time.  Many of the staff from the big house lived in the village after retiring at that time.  We had a good village shop and everyone was very friendly.
A memory of Latimer contributed by First name Last name

Whitethorn Morris dance at the Red Lion Coleshill

Coleshill, Red Lion c1965


For many years morris sides danced in the road in front of the pub garden of the Red Lion. This has been a popular venue to celebrate May Day morning at dawn. Whitethorn Morris and their Whitethorn Band made this a really exciting way to kick off the "dancing season" in the dark pre-dawn, with a slowly growing crowd of sleepy Coleshill villagers emerging from their cottages to come and watch.

I played my accordian and sometimes had to shelter under an umbrella to keep my keyboard dry! The jolly landlord came out and passed around a hipflask of strong liquor to encourage both the musicians and the dancers! As dawn broke the music and dancing became more ...read more here
A memory of Coleshill contributed by John Howard Norfolk

Extracts From Chesham & Buckinghamshire books

Chesham, Town Hall 1897

Chesham has been a market town since 1257 when Hugh, Earl of Oxford, obtained from King Henry III a grant of a weekly market and annual three- day fair. It is likely that the town was then laid out along the east side of the stream, with its market place and burgage plots High Street, the older settlement being along Church Street.
An extract from from"Amersham, Chesham And Rickmansworth Photographic Memories".

Chesham, High Street 1897

This view, looking north along the High Street which gently and picturesquely winds along rather than following a straight line, shows the George and Dragon inn on the left with its projecting sign reading ‘Commercial Hotel’ and to its left a bitter rival, the Dunlop Temperance Hotel. Note the shop awnings all along the sunny west side of the street and the ornate Victorian gas lamps.
An extract from from"Amersham, Chesham And Rickmansworth Photographic Memories".

Chesham, Town Bridge 1897

Leaving the town centre we move along Church Street to the Missenden Road, just past the junction with Pednor Road and Wey Lane. The railings in the foreground guard the chalk stream as it heads east into the town to become the River Chess, while the cottages beyond had just been rebuilt, replacing ramshackle older ones. On the left, only the far left - No 6 - survives, now rendered; the timber-framed ones beyond went in the 1950s, partly for road improvement.
An extract from from"Amersham, Chesham And Rickmansworth Photographic Memories".

Chesham, the Church 1897

St Mary’s Church is on rising ground west of the town, with Lowndes Park to its north and east and The Bury to its west. The large cruciform church dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries. The tower bell chamber and south porch were added in the 15th century and the leaded spire in the 18th. The church was heavily restored by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the 1860s. By the south transept is a celtic cross memorial to Thomas Harding of Dunsmore, a protestant martyr burnt in 1532.
An extract from from"Amersham, Chesham And Rickmansworth Photographic Memories".

Chesham, the Bury 1897

Immediately south of the church whose spire can be seen behind, is The Bury. It was built in 1712 for William Lowndes, Secretary to the Treasury, who came from Winslow in central Buckinghamshire where in 1700 he had built Winslow Hall. The south front faces a lake made by damming a chalk stream. Lowndes’ house is the central five bays only; the outer bays were added around 1800 as were the service ranges. The house and outbuildings are now offices.
An extract from from"Amersham, Chesham And Rickmansworth Photographic Memories".