The Winter 2020 Edition of the High Wycombe Society Newsletter includes an article by Chris Woodman of the Society’s Planning Group analysing the main features of the recent Government White Paper “Planning for the Future” and other Planning system changes in the pipeline. Although the consultation periods have now ended, readers may wish to see the full text of the White Paper for … [Read more...]
Zipping and zooming in 2021
The Winter 2020 Newsletter is currently at the printers and expected back in time for distribution to High Wycombe Society members by Christmas. Zipp scooters appeared on the streets of High Wycombe just in time to get a front page mention alongside other new features in our town - but the return of HWBidCo's popular Christmas puddings in the High Street just missed our deadline! Inside the … [Read more...]
Brunel Shed progress
The sad sight of the historic Brunel Shed, stripped of its much-loved mural, ready and waiting for a transformation into a new role, has been improved a little recently by an informative display on the hoardings, giving passers-by hope for the future with an impression of its planned appearance. Robert Hutton, who took the above photograph, is a member of the Society's Planning Group, many of … [Read more...]
Wheelers of Easton Street
The story of the Wheeler family and their brewery trade in High Wycombe, from Robert Wheeler's arrival in town in 1808 through to the closure of the brewery on Easton Street in 1931, was the subject of a talk by High Wycombe Society Trustee, Jackie Kay, in October at the Buckinghamshire Local History Network (BLHN) annual conference hosted by the Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society (BAS). … [Read more...]
Fake News!
Amongst the archives of the High Wycombe Society are a number of items that have been used on exhibition boards over the past fifty years. One of these is a reproduction of a pamphlet announcing "A Glorious and Happy VICTORY" in 1642. Historians will immediately recognise this as a propaganda pamphlet of the period. There is no reason to believe that the events described within it … [Read more...]
The AGM is OFF!
Society members should by now have received notification from the Hon. Secretary confirming cancellation of the Annual General Meeting which was scheduled to have taken place on 19th June 2020. This was sent as an email bulletin on 28th May to all members who have provided email addresses to the Society, and by post to those who have not. Included with the above was a copy of the Accounts for … [Read more...]
High Street Chatter
A newly created "trial" edition of an Old Guide to Old Wycombe is available as a pdf via the link below. Incorporating material originally published in the Bucks Free Press, and illustrated with contemporary photographs drawn from the SWOP collection, Jackie Kay has updated the Guide to make it accessible to a modern reader. She invites you to imagine yourself strolling along the High … [Read more...]
CWGC – what does it do?
A new opportunity has arisen - following on from the Society meeting on Friday 18th November, when Peter Hewlett-Smith OBE spoke to us about the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission; our Treasurer, Colin Hingston, has arranged for a Group Outing in shared cars to Brookwood Cemetery (near Woking) pictured above, where Peter gives guided tours. Anyone interested in taking part in the … [Read more...]
New Activity Trail
Visitors to our Pann Mill Open Day in September may have noticed that we were giving away some new town trail leaflets at our stall. These have been designed by Mrs Jean James, a former primary school teacher, and are designed to help families with young children have fun together while learning about our town. If you would like to print your own town trail you can do so by … [Read more...]
Counting Down to Pann Mill
The Third and Final Open Day of the Year at Pann Mill is on Sunday 15th September from 11am until 5pm. All are welcome to come and watch the millers at work, indulge in home-made cakes and other refreshments and browse the various stalls. All being well the mill will be producing fine stoneground wholemeal flour as it used to for many years in the 1950s and back into history. You can then … [Read more...]