Don’t forget (p.12) 10th January: special meeting about Holywell Mead and The Rye. THE 14th January: Roman Wycombe. SOCIETY MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS newsletter CHRISTMAS

NUMBER 134 WINTER 2004/2005

As reported elsewhere in this Newsletter, a public inquiry was held from 30th November to 2nd December into objections to the Highways Agency’s proposals for modifications to Junction 4 of the M40 (Handy Cross).

The objections submitted had been primarily those of the landlord and tenant farmer with an interest in the agricultural land to be given up for the construction of additional slip roads to ease congestion at this large roundabout-configured junction. However, Transport Group member Chris Wallis had submitted an alternative scheme for access across the junction by non- motorised users (NMUs) – meaning cyclists and pedestrians.

The Wallis proposal, endorsed by the Transport Group and the Society, envisaged a safer route, using two dedicated subways and a “hung over” footbridge for NMUs, and was classified by the Highways Agency as an objection to their own plans, which involve repeated traversing of the main vehicular carriageways by NMUs at traffic-light controlled crossings: a somewhat “cheap and cheerful” set of plans.

So that is how Elsa Woodward, Chris Wallis and Chris Woodman came to be examined on their plans, before the Government Inspector on the final day of the Inquiry. Their presentation was well organised and professionally conducted. As a public gallery witness, I can confidently state that the team deserve our thanks and congratulations on their extensive preparation for explaining Chris Wallis’ inspired scheme, and their drawing upon the Government efforts to persuade UK citizens to take more exercise on foot and by cycling, for leisure and commuting.

The team were forthright in asserting that they were not objecting, on behalf of our Society, in any way, against the main purpose of the junction modifications, nor would they welcome any further delay to implementing the Highways Agency plans.

We now await the Inspector’s report, to be published during the first quarter of 2005. Roger Lawson

…caring about our town: past, present and future Registered Charity No. 257897

Honorary Secretary: Frances Presland, 61 Hicks Farm Rise, High Wycombe, Bucks. HP13 7SX. Tel: (01494) 523263 THE HIGH WYCOMBE SOCIETY 2 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2004/2005

Planning This Quarter

In the last Newsletter I referred to the lull before the storm. Well, I can now report that it has well and truly broken. From the middle of October to the end of November, Planning Group members will have attended some 20 meetings covering a variety of subjects, some of which I will try and cover here. Backland and Infill Development Chris the High Street. It would be wrong to build a Woodman and Trevor Carter represented the new inflexible building now in Bridge Street. Society at a meeting arranged by the District b. There should be planning obligations to Council on 14th October. It was well attended enable appropriate works to be undertaken once by some 100 people, including District and the A40 was moved and the River Wye could be County Councillors and the Leader of the District opened up. Council. Trevor reports that after a shaky start. the meeting split into groups of 8–10 c. The Society’s members had been participants. Penelope Tollitt, Head of Urban unanimous in disliking the proposed elevations Design at WDC, drew out the key issues in the and vertical features which were reminiscent of discussions, including: Eastern Europe in the 1950s and would not fit into the Wycombe street scene. The a) Increased Traffic (Noise, Congestion, Development Control Committee should express Pollution) a clear view now to ensure that when the b) Invasion of Privacy (Overlooking, Reduced developer put forward elevations for approval as Security for those on the Access Road) “reserved matters”, they were satisfactory. c) Overload of Services / Infrastructure d. The Society made representation for an increase in Open Spaces especially for people d) Quality of Life shopping to sit and relax and socialise, including e) Loss of Trees and Wildlife Habitat greater application of foliage and trees. All data amassed during the meeting was I am pleased to report that the Committee assessed and discussed at a further meeting on echoed many of our comments in debate, and a the 30th November, which Trevor attended while request was made to Officers and Benoy to Chris was busy with the Handy Cross Inquiry. review the elevations and vertical features of Local Development Framework The second their design within reserved matters. stage of consultation has now commenced with BCUC/TESCO An excellent presentation was the publication by Council of given by Mr Martin Briggs, a Director of the Information Pack ‘Imagine the Future – Part Chilterns University College 2’. The group was represented at two briefing (BCUC), to members of the Executive Committee meetings and two workshops covering and Planning and Transport Groups on their (a) Economy, Urban Capacity and Open Spaces plans to move to a new site (BroomWade) not far and (b) Retail/Town Centre Uses Study and High from Hughenden Road. This was followed by an Wycombe Town Master Plan. Subsequently the exhibition in the Octagon jointly by Tesco and Planning Group went through the Consultation BCUC. We have also received a proposal from Document in detail (see p.3) and submitted Tesco and BCUC jointly to present their plans to comments by the deadline of 6th December. We all members of the Society early in the New drew our affiliated associations’ attention to the Year. We look forward to this and will announce document by email in October and advised them the date as soon as possible. (See p.8.) to reply direct to the Council by the deadline. Millfield Farm, Four Ashes Road, Hughenden Town Centre Development Stannifer/Benoy This is an ongoing saga with applications to vary presented their updated planning application to conditions imposed following a public inquiry Development Control into matters relating to a proposed manège. Committee on the 15th September. Taking his The Society is supporting Hughenden and lead from the Society’s special meeting on Brands Hill Avenue residents in their objections. 9th September which was addressed by Guildmaster This site in Desborough Road is Stannifer and their architects, Benoy, Chris the subject of a new Planning Application. The Woodman presented the Society’s comments as Society will be making representations shortly to follows: the WDC Development Control Committee, in a. Concern still remained regarding the conjunction with Isaac Lord’s. positioning of the Bus Station in Bridge Street. Other applications in the offing include the Once Tesco had moved and Abbey Way was Bucks Free Press Site in Gomm Road, a down as envisaged in the Master Plan, a site backland/infill application in Kingsmead Road near the existing college would be far more and several applications concerning Wycombe suitable, serving also the old town centre and www.highwycombesociety.org.uk 3 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2004/2005

Wanderers Football Club. We shall also attend seems excessive, and reports to the several appeals. Development Control Committee have not always been timely and comprehensive. We are Finally the group have become concerned about in communication with the District Council on how the District Council has to meet the these issues. Government’s targets for turning around planning applications. Use of delegated powers Tony Fooks

Imagining the Future

OUT GO Local Plans, and in come the Wycombe Community Plan and the Wycombe Development Framework. Over the past six months and more, our District Council has been comprehensively briefing and consulting on these two documents. They are required to do this by the Local Government Act 2000 and the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 but all the evidence we have been able to glean from our friends in ANTAS (the Association of North Thames Amenity Societies) suggests that Wycombe District are way out ahead of the pack in the way they are involving the local community. Already, the series of meetings that the Society’s representatives have attended is becoming a bit of a blur!

The Council’s current case for one greenfield comprehensive consultation site (Park Mill Farm at document shows that the or first of these two Terriers Farm) to be documents, the Community released after 2011. Plan, will have a huge compass, responding to the The consultation docu- 2000 Act which requires ment also refers to the local authorities to improve “High Wycombe the “economic, social and Masterplan Vision”, environmental wellbeing” of which includes “redis- their areas. The emerging covering the River Wye” “themes” for the Plan deal and “diversion of with issues like safety through traffic to (crime), social equality and enable elevated sec- the economic prosperity of tions of Abbey Way to the district, as well as the be removed and new quality of our environment. public spaces to be The vision is that “by 2026 created”. On the left Wycombe District will be we reproduce a plan economically strong and a which shows how the good place to live, work and A40 might be diverted visit.” This may sound like Extract from map in the Consultation Document. to run from the Marlow motherhood and apple pie, The square dots show “line of possible improved Hill roundabout via but it has been thoroughly routes/new roads.” The circles are “line of existing Queen Alexandra Road, debated. A consultation routes for possible removal/reduction of traffic and the edge of the meeting roundly rejected an ‘reclaiming of streets’”. gasworks site, earlier draft which spoke of Wycombe being a Desborough Road and Bridge Street to the point on the Aylesbury-Thames Valley corridor junction of Road and Bellfield Road. The and which appeared to subordinate Wycombe move of BCUC to the CompAir BroomWade site District to wider regional interests. will require other road changes.

The Wycombe Development Framework will be a Finally, the consultation document contains a more concrete document. The current large number of “emerging options” some of consultation document describes how house- which are of great interest to us. Should the building is determined by regional diktat: controversial areas of “safeguarded land” (i.e. current projections are that 4,000-4,300 new safeguarded for future development) be deleted? dwellings may be needed by 2016, but the Should Easton Street become a “business South East Plan may increase this. Wycombe’s quarter” and Frogmoor a “café quarter”? What Urban Capacity Study suggests there is potential is to happen to the College’s Wellesbourne space for 4,300 dwellings, partly through “urban Campus? Should Causeway Stadium be intensification” (infill etc) but there is a marginal “removed from the Green Belt”? When Wycombe

THE HIGH WYCOMBE SOCIETY 4 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2004/2005

Sports Centre comes down, should the space be views and respond direct to the Council before used for housing or for business? Should there the deadline of 6 December. be a new business park north of the motorway at Abbey Barn North, and housing at Abbey Barn This exercise seems to be capable of knocking a South? Should there be a “coachway” (i.e. a good deal of order into what has become quite a long-distance coach stopping point) in the Green confused situation. The concrete ideas for Belt south of Handy Cross? Should Gomm demolition of the Abbey Way flyover are most Valley be added to the Green Belt? encouraging. But it is odd that some senior people are falling over themselves backwards to Following a long meeting of the Planning Group, emphasise that this is “for the long term” while Tony Fooks assembled a comprehensive re- we receive other information to the effect that sponse to the Council on many of these points. the current talks with Tesco about their We alerted our affiliated associations to these proposed new store are considering how these issues and encouraged them to tell us their changes can be facilitated. Not everyone seems to be on the same message!

Hon. Sec’s Cuttings Time to take “Heritage” back from the District councillor from 1987 to 1991. She also “experts”? The Civic Trust has written a timely found time to be a local historian and public article on the “identity crisis of the heritage speaker and wrote eight books. world”. There is much emphasis on including young people in heritage, but instead of finding A king’s ransom for the flint knappers? Flint ways to engage them in an appreciation of the knapping? Is this some crime carried out by past, decision-making experts seem to have bent geologists? And what sort of mysterious decided that the way to make heritage relevant folk are harlers and pargeters? In fact, they all to young people is by widening the definition of carry out ancient crafts, and in order to preserve the subject to “the living experiences of people these old skills, £4 million of lottery money is to and the personal interpretation of heritage.” be spent on training people in these and other This has resulted in such exercises as asking crafts such as heather thatching and gold young people who they would like to celebrate leafing. Pargeting, by the way, is a form of with a blue plaque and finding that the most ornamental plasterwork, harling is a method of common answer was their mothers. The experts applying render or plaster, and flint knapping is saw this not as a failure to communicate to the the production of flint tools, probably the oldest target audience what “heritage” is all about, but craft in the world. as an example of how the teaching of heritage Milestones A new book on the history and “must adapt”! significance of milestones has been published, An “integrated agency”! English Nature is to and this book lends strength to the argument become part of a single agency responsible for that milestones should qualify as historic nature conservation, landscape and access. One architecture. It traces their history from Roman can only hope that this integration will not dilute times, when they were route or distance markers its effectiveness. for the information of the traveller, to the 18th Heritage Protection Review The Government’s century, when they were used to accurately heritage protection review has resulted in major record distance so that road tolls could be changes in the way historic buildings in applied. Some milestones are very elaborate, will be protected. From April 2005, English and the book gives beautiful illustrations of Heritage adds to its responsibility for Ancient these. “Milestones” by Mervyn Benford, Shire Monuments the administration of Listed Publications, ISBN 0747805261, £4.99. Buildings. There is to be a new register of Frances Presland historic buildings and sites, but whether English Heritage will be sufficiently funded to carry out these new duties remains to be seen. Maurice Young Jean Archer The Amersham Society newsletter Members will be sad to hear of the recent death of contains a fitting tribute to Jean Archer, who Maurice Young, who gave such a beautifully illus- died in May aged 78. A tireless worker for the trated talk on “Wildlife of the Chilterns” following our Amersham community, she was President of the AGM in April. Maurice was a trustee of the Amersham Community Centre from 1982 to Wycombe Wildlife Group and a Voluntary Reserves 2000 and a founder member and Chairman of Coordinator for BBOWT, with special responsibility the Amersham Society. She became an for , Buttlers Hangings and Munday Amersham town councillor and was Mayor from Dean. Our condolences go to his widow, Ann, and 1984 to 1987, and she was elected as a Chiltern their family. www.highwycombesociety.org.uk 5 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2004/2005

“It isn’t Handy and it Makes Me Cross”

THUS SPOKE member Brian Honess in one of several lighter moments at the Public Inquiry into the Handy Cross road scheme which ran for three days from 30 November to 2 December. The full title was “The Public Inquiry into the M40/A404 Connecting Roads Scheme”.

The scheme to improve the Handy Cross consultation in November 2003, we discovered junction with additional slip roads to the south, they had come up with a far cheaper and less enabling drivers from the Marlow direction to satisfactory option. To avoid the very danger- join the M40 towards Oxford without using the ous on-slip to Oxford, they proposed that NMUs roundabout, has been mooted for many years. coming from the old Marlow Road would cross At the Highways Agency’s public the four lanes of the main consultation on the scheme in carriageway of the gyratory to the November 2002, Transport Group central island, cross the M40 on members Chris Wallis and Elsa that side (the eastern side) of the Woodward told the consultants they bridge, and then cross four lanes of seemed to have done nothing to the gyratory back again. We improve conditions for cyclists and protested, without success, that this pedestrians wishing to cross the would be terrifying, a strong junction. The Group believes the deterrent to NMU users even to junction is a major barrier to people attempt to cross the junction, and wanting to cycle between High very dangerous even though it was Wycombe and Marlow down the old proposed to have pedestrian control Marlow Road. With increasing of the lights to stop the traffic each awareness of global warming and time NMUs wanted to cross. the health dangers of obesity, and with the Government wanting to Our “objection” In April, the Highways Agency encourage greater use of bicycles The Handy Cross junction as and legs, that was very published their draft orders for the the Highways Agency wishes it scheme, still with their own unsatisfactory. Chris Wallis there- to become. The cycleway fore put a great deal of engineering winds its way across to the preferred NMU option, and the effort into designing a scheme to central island and back again. Society lodged a request that our allow non-motorised users (NMUs) Overhead gantries are also alternative facilities for NMUs be to transit the junction safely. shown. New lanes in black. considered. This was formally classified as an “objection”. The Society’s Scheme for NMUs The Handy Cross junction consists of a large Meeting with the Consultants roundabout (“gyratory”), with two bridges over When the Highways Agency’s consultants met the M40. Chris’ scheme envisaged an additional the Group in June at Elsa Woodward’s home, structure for NMUs which would be they acknowledged that our scheme offered “cantilevered” off the west side of the western better facilities for NMUs, but they said the bridge, plus two tunnels, one under the southern cantilever structure would put too much weight slip road to Oxford (the “on-slip”) and the other on the existing bridge parapet, and the overall under the northern slip road from Oxford (the cost would be much more than Chris Wallis had “off-slip”). This would segregate NMUs com- assessed, and prohibitive. In July, at our pletely from motorised traffic, all the way from request, we met Paul Goodman MP at the House John Hall Way to Wycombe Road (the “old of Commons. Mr Goodman said it was very Marlow Road”). With much practical bridge undesirable that anything should be done to engineering experience behind him, Chris used delay the scheme, which many people in High low-cost techniques to come up with a total cost Wycombe considered to be urgently needed. He of around £500,000, and put these proposals, also pointed out that the weakest part of our with full drawings, to the Highways Agency. In case was that we had no evidence for the the long run, the Group aims to get the County number of NMUs who would actually want to use Council to upgrade the Wycombe Road down to it, whether to cycle to Marlow or anywhere else. Marlow for cycling by incorporating a cycleway But he would help as far as he could by writing along the grass verge, which Chris showed could to the Minister for Transport. also be done very cheaply. Soul-searching Consternation! This led to much soul-searching by the Executive It was to our consternation, therefore, that when Committee. If we were the only objectors, and the Highways Agency held a further public an inquiry that could delay the scheme by about a year was held on our account alone, perhaps

THE HIGH WYCOMBE SOCIETY 6 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2004/2005

Rural interlude: the site visit. Two-legged creatures, from left to right: Chris Wallis, Phil Barnett (HA), A.N.Other, Brian Honess, Inspector Taylor and Farmer Morris. Background: Farmer Morris’ curious dairy herd. our wider duty to the people of High Wycombe Site Visit was to withdraw our objection. Day 2 provided light relief. In the morning, We need not have worried. Objections by the Brian Honess presented his scheme, quite landlord and tenant farmer affected by the independent of ours and best described as connecting roads – classified as “statutory “heroic”, for a new bridge soaring across the objectors” and able to force an inquiry – took up motorway east of the eastern bridge, leading to far more of the inquiry’s time than our own a proposed new cycleway beside the A404 representations. However, heeding Paul Marlow bypass to Maidenhead. In the afternoon Goodman’s point about lack of evidence as to we had a most entertaining site visit. Much of it usage, we focused in our evidence to the inquiry was spent sploshing through the mud of Handy on the safety issue, arguing that the proposed Cross Farm, looking up to the roundabout from crossings were too dangerous to be acceptable. various aspects, watched curiously by Farmer Even the current average of only 48 NMU Morris’ dairy herd. But we also donned transits of the junction per day, as measured by fluorescent jackets and made our way across the the Agency’s surveys, would build up to a total roundabout by the existing NMU “route”, of 350,000 crossings over 20 years, and serious involving a dodgy dash across the Oxford on-slip accidents were inevitable. when the lights were favourable. Finally we went past ASDA to the Holmer Farm underpass where The inquiry opened on 30 November in the WDC all seemed agreed that a route that way, Council Chamber. The Highways Agency was however pleasant it might be as part of a leisure represented by David Forsdick, QC, presenting facility, could be no substitute for good facilities four witnesses, including two engineers to rebut at the roundabout itself. our case. The Crunch An Entertaining Three Days Day 3 was the crunch. First on after the It was a thoroughly entertaining three days. In Highways Agency’s “rebuttal” evidence was Nigel the evening of Day 1, after the Highways Agency Coates representing the Cycle Touring Club. He presented their case, we had a detailed meeting laid into the details of the Agency’s proposed with their engineers to hammer out agreed costs cycle route, arguing that widths were inadequate for our alternative scheme, which they had and crossings of the smaller traffic islands costed at £2.5 million after substituting a poorly designed. conventional footbridge for our cantilever system, which they still regarded as technically The Highways Agency then presented their unacceptable despite work by Chris Wallis which rebuttal evidence against our proposals, and seemed to meet their original objections. The Chris Woodman cross-examined the Agency’s result of the negotiation was that by dropping a two engineering witnesses at some length. He possible bridge over John Hall Way, and by was able to drop the “bombshell” (a technical dropping (if the Inspector so wished) the expression, this, for public inquiry aficionados) northern of the two tunnels, that under the that the District Council is consulting on a Oxford “off-slip”, the cost could be reduced to “coachway” south of Handy Cross, which could almost exactly £1.0 million. lead to more demand from cyclists to cross the junction. On safety there was a stand-off. The Also on the first day, Farmer Morris’ Agency asserted that our statement that their representative presented evidence at great proposed solution was dangerous was length on issues including the temporary work “conjecture” but we pointed out that their “compound”, ransom strips and other arcane assertion that it was “safe” was conjecture too. matters understood only by property experts. www.highwycombesociety.org.uk 7 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2004/2005

Mr Forsdick admitted that no statistical data officials and signed his decision on the existed on the safety, or otherwise, of their novel Inspector’s report, likely to be in February or solution. March, does the public get to see the report and Only then did we present our case. (This order the decision. of proceedings was slightly odd: it meant we Verdict of Hindsight? were arguing against their arguments against The Agency advised the Inquiry that construction our case, before presenting our case, but it was work on the scheme is likely to begin in the what the Inspector ordered!) After an opening summer or autumn of 2005. The final verdict statement by Chris Woodman, Elsa Woodward must depend on what happens after that, and on read out selected passages of her proof, hindsight. If the Inspector and the Secretary of emphasising how widespread cycling had been State back the Highways Agency, then a single in the past, how it was becoming even more tragic accident to a non-motorised user would widespread in continental Europe, and how prove our case, albeit sadly too late. Ministers had signed up to targets for growth of cycling which the Agency’s proposals would do nothing to fulfil. The evidence of Chris Wallis, Watch Out! who had devoted so much effort to driving our proposals forward, with engineering drawings Neighbourhood Watch is believed to be the and arguments and bills of quantities, was largest voluntary organisation in the country with “taken as read”, and he presented an impressive over 500 schemes in Wycombe District alone. It wooden model of the proposed cantilever encourages people to develop closer links with structure. Finally Chris Woodman suggested his their neighbours, the police and the local proof also should be “taken as read”. After authorities, to take an interest in what is being cross-examined, he made a closing happening in their locality and to note any statement covering our two main options (i.e. to suspicious vehicles or people who may be linked include, or not to include, the subway under the to crime. Oxford off-slip) and emphasising the safety and It is a proven fact that members of cycling policy arguments. Neighbourhood Watch are much less likely to Summing Up for the Inspector become the victims of crime. They have access Summing up the task for the Inspector, Chris to “Ringmaster”, which is an electronic said: messaging system enabling members to receive up-to-date information about incidents in their “In my view, therefore, you are left to weigh up area. Messages may include details of people or the safety arguments relying on your own vehicles that the police may be looking for. experience and instincts. I see no reason There may also be information on the latest whatever to accept the Highways Agency’s crime patterns or scams. All this helps presumption (it really is no more than that) that members avoid becoming the victims of these accident rates will be low and therefore crimes and encourages them to call the police if projected accident costs immaterial. But it they witness any incidents. must be for you to judge whether the complexity of the junction and the speed and impatience of There are many very simple and inexpensive the traffic in the rush hours when most NMU use things one can do to prevent crime, such as occurs (and we didn’t see the junction in the leaving a light on if you are out after dark and rush-hour on our site visit yesterday) are such using a time switch if you are away. Such that the accident risk if the Highways Agency’s measures can make a huge difference. NMU scheme were adopted would be unacceptable.” Membership of Neighbourhood Watch is free save for some minor costs to buy signs. On the Last of all, the Agency summed up their case, other hand, members may be able to get a saying their proposed solution was at least safer discount on their household insurance. than the existing “arrangements” (a real red herring, that!), and asserting that even allowing Anyone interested in joining should call the for Government policies to increase cycling, the Neighbourhood Watch office on 01494 736642 population within range of the junction likely to and details will be sent to them straight away. use any new arrangements was small. Geoff Pegg

Patience and Good Humour [One of the leaflets available from this office is about With that, Inspector Taylor closed the inquiry. how to set up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in He had impressed us all with his patience and your neighbourhood. If you see anyone acting good humour. He will take some two to four suspiciously, phone the police on 08458 505505 weeks to write his report which will then go to and let your neighbours know. And keep an eye out the Secretary of State for Transport. Only after for vulnerable elderly neighbours.–Ed.] the Secretary of State has taken the advice of his

THE HIGH WYCOMBE SOCIETY 8 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2004/2005

Affiliated Residents’ Associations BCUC/Tesco – The Latest (see p.2) We invited eleven of our affiliated associations to BCUC and Tesco are now revising their proposals meet us on 29th October, so that we could and discussing the changes with WDC. discuss issues of mutual interest, and also to They anticipate further public consultation in declare our continuing interest and involvement February 2005, and we hope it will be possible to in the Western Sector town redevelopment, and arrange a liaison meeting for members. the BCUC plans to relocate to the CompAir- BroomWade site. on wheels” priorities. [With the notable exception We were somewhat disappointed that only three of Handy Cross–Ed.] associations were represented on that evening, You could also help to decide on a suitable title but we made good use of the time available to for the Group! discuss the intended topics, and also to air our disquiet over (non-elected) regional bodies such (b) A revived Heritage Group to undertake as SEEDA (South-East England Development varied research and exhibitions on the history of Agency) and SEERA ( our town and surrounding areas. If delving into Regional Assembly) which are the forerunners of lifestyles and historical events is your interest – the Deputy Prime Minister’s intentions on let’s hear from you. elected regional assemblies. This is a complex issue which is certainly exercising the minds of As announced at the last Quarterly Meeting, politicians, local government officers, voluntary Pauline Cauvain is pursuing, with Society bodies such as ours, and leaders of commerce members’ support, her own project into previous and industry seeking to understand the new residents and businesses established within framework within which to operate. town streets. However, we are seeking a revitalised group with a much wider brief, and a We also exchanged information on Village desire to bring the past history of High Wycombe Design Statements, which, if established by any vividly to life, for local folk and visitors to the local community, stand a good chance of being town. adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance by the District Council. If you think you have time to contribute ideas or time to the work of either of these groups, To summarise, all those attending considered please call me on 01494 528047. that the evening’s review was very informative Roger Lawson and we now have to consider how we can improve our liaison with all those associations, which affiliate to us by subscription. We must, Chairman Plans evidently, compose any future agenda to More Decisive Action encourage wider participation, by associations Losing patience with recalcitrant affiliated who are not currently involving themselves or associations who don’t come to the meetings that their members, in appraising the new developments which are now shaping the future he lays on for them, and members who don’t of our town and community. volunteer for the Society’s groups, Roger has recently been seen taking steps to equip himself Roger Lawson with the appropriate tools of persuasion.

More Hands Required

Do you consider you might be able to participate in one of these enterprises?

(a) A new subgroup of the Transport and Planning Groups, concentrating on transport infrastructure policies, viz. new road developments, impact of new residential construction on existing roads/ forward planning at district, county and sub-regional levels.

These items seem to fall between the Planning Group brief and that of the Transport Group, which has hitherto concentrated on “transport www.highwycombesociety.org.uk 9 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2004/2005

Not Just Ruins

AS A very frequent visitor to the Pann Mill site for horticultural purposes, Margaret Simmons has been taking an increasing interest in the state of the remains of the St John’s Hospice on the far side of Easton Street. Margaret tells us that when the building behind it was owned by Hyundai, they had maintained the ancient monument well, even floodlighting it, but since then new owners have let it go downhill. Ivy, “the worst thing for masonry”, she says, Meanwhile, autumn leaves have been was deliberately planted, and elder was allowed mechanically blown into the centre of the to grow up and blur the outlines. After Dick monument, to rot along with the litter of many Hoare had written to English Heritage over the years. past three to four years “without effect”, she When Margaret wrote to the Bucks Free Press took the matter up when the EH team came to about this sorry state of affairs, the neglect, as give their talk to the Society in the Guildhall on she describes it, of what must be, with the 28 July and she offered to organise a work church, the oldest building in High Wycombe, party to keep the ruins looking good. her letter was spotted by Three Counties Radio, EH however promised that the matter was who interviewed her on air. The presenter now under control and our services were not intends to visit the site after Christmas to take needed. It seems that the groundsmen have pictures and make recordings for a campaign. done some minor work to cut back hedging Congratulations to Margaret, who has now and remove thistles, but the owners said they added “media star” to her many other did not want the “screen” of bushes removed. qualifications.

Snaps from the Attic

Member Bill Page has an extensive collection of postcards and other photographs of the town. Here is a gem which, judging by the hemline, is from quite a few years ago. Bill says it was somewhere near where the Marlow Hill roundabout is now. Senior members of the Society, he is sure, will remember it.

THE HIGH WYCOMBE SOCIETY 10 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2004/2005

Historical Notes

Member and architect Tony Mealing has been prompted by some recent articles in the Newsletter to send us the following fascinating paragraphs.–Ed.

Hen and Chickens: This was a Mutual or colour. Manila, well that was where the Friendly Society set up to cater in the pre- Admiralty obtained the best quality hemp for Trade Union days for the welfare of the their rope-making. furniture trade workers. Hence the name, the mother Hen who looks after her Chickens. As Easton St again: the name was originally East the wealth of the town’s furniture trade grew so Town St. It was a dead end, and as a distant did the wealth and influence of the various memory of this the street numbers still go Friendly Societies. I remember my grand- down one side and up the other. mother and father telling me about these back in the fifties and how they helped and hindered The street ended at the town fence/pale. The their furniture factories’ business. slope the other side was Saffron Platt: the Saffron Flats were where the locally grown Before the days of sickness or disability saffron was laid out to dry before being sent up benefits, if you were sick or became disabled at to London. work that was it, “no work, no pay,” and if there was no pay the rent did not get paid and London Rd was the product of Thomas Telford you were out. No labour laws then. There and his new road-building program. It was he were also strikes and lockouts, wage cuts and who knocked down the Chapel attached to on-the-spot dismissals with no notice. what had been the Hospital of St John. The However if you were a participating member of wall we see with the two windows is the inside a Friendly Society they helped pay the rent, view. and, for a time, with the essentials of life. The Town’s Leper Hospital: The hospital of My family had a large number of tied cottages St John is often confused with the Town’s for their employees. Any one remember Leper Hospital, the foundation of Sts. Margaret Remington Terrace, Denmark St, Baker St, and Giles. This was on the other side of the Mendy St as they were? All these were river outside the Town Pale in the "Foreigns" on predominantly cottages tied to the various the old London Rd, now known as Wendover furniture factories in the town. A friend of my Way, I think roughly where the lake in the daughter who recently purchased a house as Abbey School grounds is. far out as Kitchener Rd found my family name on the original deeds. It was a foundation established in the reign of Rope: Easton St, “money for old rope”, etc, Henry III (1216-1272) to cater for the large Ropewalk Easton St. Well, some of it is still number of travelling lepers/beggars on the old there, the passage between the Curry Centre London Rd, and keep them out of the town! At and the Loan Shop. It once went down to the that time, the official language of government river. Before what was left of it was tarmacked was still Norman French. Thus the hospital over, it was cobbled and you could clearly see was referred to colloquially as "Loques" or, the ruts worn in the stone surface by the iron translated, Rags, hence the name Loke's Park shod wagon wheels. I tried to get the road as it became known post-reformation. surface listed but failed. Mills and Milling: during the medieval period, The last Rope maker in Wycombe was G. J. Wycombe was a thriving centre of the wool Young & Co. Back in the pre-first world war trade, and the guilds of the Fullers, Weavers, days they had a works at No.7 Paul's Row and Dyers and Tailors made extensive use of the a rope and canvas works at the bottom of river, so much so that there were complaints Hatters Lane, and were purchasers of old about pollution - the phrase used was "noxious Admiralty Rope which was used in the making outpourings". The worst of them were of new rope. The river played an important banished to the downstream side of the town. part in the rope-making process. As the mill The guilds of Fullers, Weavers, Dyers and trade moved over from wool to paper, old rope Tailors were all connected with the closed became an important commodity. semi-religious Guild of the "Blessed Mary of Wycombe" but that is another long and very Ever wondered why we call brown paper strange story. [Go on, Tony, don’t keep us in envelopes "Manila Envelopes"? The leftovers suspense!–Ed.] from the rope-making salvage were mashed up and sold to the paper mills, hence the brown Tony Mealing www.highwycombesociety.org.uk 11 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2004/2005

Quarterly Meeting “Grandpa’s Wheel”

On Wednesday, October 27th, at the Guildhall, members of the High Wycombe Society met to hear a talk on Pann Mill. The Pann Mill Group meets on the first and third Sunday of each month to maintain and improve the working of the mill. At least three times a year the mill is open to the public and grinds corn. Mr John Mumford, a member of the group for visitors volunteer their own personal family ten years, gave a very comprehensive history of connections with the mill, as when a lady said the mill, with slides, starting with a page from she knew that her grandfather, Mr Heather, the Domesday Book which stated that there lived there in 1890, because she had his were three mills in , six in marriage certificate giving that as his address. Wycombe and eight in Green. In 1899, Wycombe Corporation bought the mill Although not stated it is fairly conclusive that for road widening and in 1900 a Mr Ware Pann Mill was one of the six. During the bought it from the Corporation. During this following years, on the eleven miles of the Wye, summer a lady came into the garden, and said there have been over thirty mills, making the HER grandfather owned the mill – Mr Ware! Wye the most densely populated stretch of river She is living in now. The last owner, in the country. Mr Jarvis Snr, bought it in 1921 for £2,200, with added expenses of horses, ponies, wagons There has been much conjecture over the and machinery. Mr Jarvis Jnr joined his father deriving of the name, possibly from the Pinel in partnership in 1946, and in 1967 the family, to whom the mill was given for their council bought it before knocking it down in service during the Crusades, or La Panalle. In 1971. 1235, Richard of Croyedene, from whom the name Crendon Lane may be derived, owned the In 1984, Marks and Spencer donated the mill, and the Knights Templars were the money to build the timber frame which covers landlords until Henry VIII confiscated it. The the mill now: only the back wall, one side, the river did not always stay in its course. Many water wheel, pit wheel and its connected lay millers tried to improve the flow of water by shaft are original. Mr Jarvis was very helpful altering the river, and in the 18th century Mr when the mill machinery was being Pearce was sued four times for interfering with reassembled with additions from other mills, the river – trespassing! Then William Allen but unfortunately he died two months before succeeded – but was also sued! In 1759, Isaac we ground our first flour in May 2000. King became miller and his family had it for Chris Woodman gave the vote of thanks, saying 100 years. In 1771, the miller built stables – it was refreshing that the Pann Mill Group the building renowned in the 1960s for its made a positive contribution to the town, cigarette posters – and a better millhouse. In whereas the Society so often, in their efforts to 1859 the present iron wheel was installed by a restrain unworthy building projects, were Lane End firm. forced to take negative action. John said that on open days it is nice when Margaret Simmons

THE HIGH WYCOMBE SOCIETY 12 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2004/2005

Notices New Members Holywell Mead and The Rye We warmly welcome: We know from your comments that last issue’s Mr C R Twitchen of St Anne’s Court, Loudwater editorial on the current usage of the Rye struck a chord with many of you. After a totally as a new member and unsatisfactory reply from Wycombe District Mr B R Honess of Magpie Lane, Loudwater, who Council in response to a letter from the Hon. has rejoined. Secretary addressing these concerns, and the

recent issuing of a draft car parking plan for Obituaries Holywell Mead, the Executive Committee has decided to hold a meeting on 10th January (see We regret to announce the death of: below). Mr J L Langley The first half of the meeting will discuss the new We extend our condolences to his family and car park. The plans are to be submitted after friends. Christmas and this will be your opportunity to

see the plans and then submit your comments. Roman Wycombe We also hope to have a representative from Wycombe District Council to explain the plans. Marc Meltonville (see below) is an excellent speaker, having regaled us in the past about the The second half of the meeting will deal with goings-on in Henry VIII’s kitchen (well, some of general concerns, such as noise, permanent them). His talk on 14 January is sure to be good fixtures etc. value, and those of you who attended the recent Frances Presland excellent exhibition in the Museum will be able to ask well-informed questions.

Contributors’ Corner Grand Book Swap Once again, thank you to all those who have provided us with material for this Newsletter. Please bring unwanted books (paperbacks and You don’t have to be able to write – just an hardbacks) to the April meeting (and take them interesting photograph is enough to get us back home with you if unsold!) This is the latest going. Material should reach me at brainwave from the Programme and 29 Maybrook Gardens High Wycombe HP13 6PJ Membership Group to help finance our events. (01494 528106) by 20 February, please. Prices fixed at 50p for paperbacks, £1 for hardbacks, unless the owner thinks otherwise. Chris Woodman (Hon Editor)

Put these dates in your diary now!!! DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Monday 10th January Special Public Meeting: Holywell Mead and The Rye (see above). 7.30pm, The Guildhall Friday 14th January Quarterly Meeting: “Roman Wycombe”. Speaker: Marc Meltonville, 7.30pm, The Guildhall Experimental Archaeologist, Hampton Court Palace. With drinks and mince pies for the New Year. Friday 15th April Quarterly Meeting: Annual General Meeting followed by Reports 7.30pm, The Guildhall from the Society’s Groups. First Grand Book swap (see above). Sunday 8th May National Mills Day. Pann Mill turns again and mills flour. Bric-a- 11.00am-5.00pm brac, plants, teas, cakes. Also Water Trail at 2.30pm, start and finish at Pann Mill. Town Trail, meet 2.30pm at the Parish Church, finish at Pann Mill. Friday 20th May Wycombe Arts Festival Meeting: “Chenies Manor, its History and 7.30pm, The Guildhall Garden”. Speaker: Mrs V Edwards. Friday, 10th June, 7.00-9.00pm New members’ cheese and wine get-together. Langham, Park Farm Road June, date to be decided Visit for Society Members (car-share): Chenies Manor. Saturday 2nd July, 8.00am-noon Charity Market Stall. Little Market House