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THE SOCIETY MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS newsletter CHRISTMAS

NUMBER 142 WINTER 2006/2007 Knowing Our Roots

“DO WE want High Wycombe to be known for its shopping or do we want to be proud of our rich heritage?” That is the question posed by member Rub Suleman on page 11 of this issue. The answer, surely, is “both”. If our traders are to be prosperous and there are to be plenty of varied jobs for our young people, Eden must transform the High Wycombe shopping “experience” to keep and attract shoppers. However, knowledge of our heritage also has its part to play in raising our civic awareness. And, as Mr Suleman points out, young people, such as the growing numbers of students at our University College, are not born with this knowledge – they have to be told about it and it has to be pointed out to them. There are many aspects to this. Preserving our High Street and the wonderful variety of buildings in it is one. Treasuring our museum, with a constant series of fascinating exhibitions so enthusiastically managed by its dedicated staff is another. Striving to ensure the quality of new buildings in the town centre, whether it is the drama of Eden or simply new flats that do not clash with their immediate neighbours is also important. And how about questioning the need for the ever-growing plethora of traffic lights? Above all, our history must be cherished and even advertised. It is good to see that our mediaeval ruin, the St John’s Hospice, has at last been cleared of undergrowth. It was our Society that was instrumental in preserving the great wheel of the old Pann Mill and creating a new and sympathetic building around it. And now there is a modest but original contribution in the form of the “public art” at the Wycombe Marsh development (below) which celebrates High Wycombe’s long history of paper-making over two centuries. We need more like this. A sense of heritage is important to a sense of civic pride, and it does not come without an effort. Chris Woodman

“This sculpture is dedicated to the people who built, worked and passionately cared about the production of fine paper along the River Wye. 01 November 2006”

…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 2006/2007

Planning This Quarter

During 2006 the Planning Group and the Society will have been involved with major developments throughout the District. Requests by developers to discuss pre-application proposals have increased significantly throughout the year, which can only be a compliment to the Planning Group as a whole for their hard work. The remainder of the year will now be spent in debate on the major applications for the University sites and the Wycombe Marsh site. The new year will bring no relief as the Society will be fully involved with the South East Plan and the next round of the Local Development Framework discussions. Some of the activities to date are: Wellesbourne/BCUC Applications Recent meet- spaces and wildlife corridors that will be ings with developers to discuss the latest release enhanced and developed (see pp.10-11). With of amended drawings have been constructive regard to roads and access and egress, some of and far-reaching with regard to the overall the concerns appear to have been resolved, but design and layout. Taking Wellesbourne first, it this must depend on BCC and their contractors is clear in the opinion of the Group that this site putting in the appropriate traffic systems and should be developed as opposed to Terriers ensuring that traffic lights are fully synchronised Farm. However, there are a number of concerns and optimised. We look forward to this being regarding the layout in relationship to Brands debated by the Development Control Committee. Hill Avenue residents, the location of affordable South East Plan I am pleased to report that all housing, inner road widths and road access and the hard work that Trevor Carter and Chris egress on to Kingshill Road (including Green Woodman have put into the Society’s responses Road junction). There is also a concern with on various issues has resulted in the Society regard to services and water disposal. All these being invited to participate in the Examination in have been discussed in detail with the developer. Public. The areas that we have been selected to The BCUC town site proposals are for outline participate in are: application and cover the principle, design, bulk • Have the water supply and waste water and shape of the building. The Planning Group treatment, flood risk and transport have discussed this and have in principle agreed implications of the growth proposals been that the design is positive and forward-thinking. adequately considered? However, there is one view on which the Group have asked for further thinking to take place and • On “infrastructure and implementation”, are that is the North/South aspect from Paul’s Row. the proposals in the Implementation Plan With regard to the question as to whether the (including for social and green University should be in the town centre at all, infrastructure) clear, justified and well- the Group are clear that this is essential for the related to the spatial strategy? What are the success of the University, the vitality of the town priorities? and its impact on commercial and retail A small subgroup has been set up to collate our developments. A recent survey carried out inputs. We are liaising with other local groups amongst present and potential students fully including the Chiltern Society, Friends of the supports this view. Earth, the Marlow Society and ANTAS as well as The Planning Group are now compiling their with District Council officers. The Group would final statements on both applications prior to welcome any further comments on the Plan: their consideration by WDC’s Development these should be forwarded to me as Leader of Control Committee on 13 December. the Planning Group. Terriers Farm The application for this site was Launch of the South East Economic Strategy heard by DCC during this November and was Tony Fooks and Evelyn Roe represented the unanimously refused. The Society fully Society at the launch in Reading Town Hall supports this decision. However, discussions recently. Presentations made by SEEDA and continue with Officers as to the potential future SEERA were well-delivered, covering all aspects of this site. of the economy from housing to transport and the environment. Good connections were made Wycombe Marsh residential development The with SEEDA board members. Planning Group have held discussions with the St James Group regarding their amended Planning Applications A whole new set of application for residential development of this applications is now being considered, including site. We are pleased to report that we will be St John’s Church and hall in Desborough and All supporting this application on the basis that a Saints Church. There also appears to be an great deal of consideration has been given to the increase in the number of appeals recently number of units to be built, the layout and registered. design of the buildings, the amount of open Tony Fooks www.highwycombesociety.org.uk 3 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2006/2007

“Public Access”

AVID READERS of Tony Fooks’ regular piece, “Planning This Quarter”, will have divined that one of the important jobs of the Planning Group is to comb through the monthly lists of new planning applications issued by Council, and then to examine those applications carefully to decide if the Society needs to make a formal objection and, if so, on what grounds. (There is an elaborate legal framework for this: basically, any objections will cut little ice with the Council, and none with an Inspector at an appeal, unless they are based firmly on policy statements in the Wycombe District Local Plan or in national Planning Policy Guidance and Statements.) Up until now, that has entailed our volunteers going down to the Planning Desk at the WDC offices, and asking to see the file for the application concerned. Any resident who receives a notification of a particular planning application that potentially affects them needs to do likewise. Now all that is changing. Under a process dictated by central the new “Wycombe Direct” central enquiry Government, all new planning applications and arrangements and, in the very near future, related documents (except any that are residents wishing to find out more about a confidential) have to be made available online, planning application affecting their home will be where they can be inspected by anybody with a encouraged, under the guidance of trained council computer and internet access. There are two officers, to find their information on the screen. underlying motivations for this. One is to At an introductory session to the new system improve public access to the planning recently laid on by Council officers for some of us machinery. The other is, ultimately, to reduce (and others), we heard with admiration about the the amount of paper and physical files that are capabilities of the new system, but pointed out circulated. WDC is making rapid headway that at least one really large monitor probably along this path. As your editor writes this needed to be made available, and we also raised piece, I can see on the Council’s website a the thorny question of printers. As for access to letter of objection that the Society submitted to paper records, all the Council officers will say to the Planning Department yesterday. Looking us is that this is at present under review. around, I can discover reams of documentation We applaud the Council for these developments, (such as an “illustrative landscape masterplan” but believe the public’s reaction needs to be – see pp.10-11) supporting the latest planning carefully monitored before further steps are application by St James Homes for the huge taken. This is undoubtedly the future, but new development on the Wycombe Marsh everybody needs to think hard about what is sewage works site. needed to ensure this revolution is publicly This is tremendous progress and WDC seems acceptable. to be well up with the leaders in introducing To receive your very own email planning alerts these changes. One of the miracles of the technology is that anyone with a computer can Go to www.bucksonline.gov.uk/BucksMaps/ (case now go to a related website called “Bucks sensitive). Click on “Start Bucks Maps with a Wizard”. Maps” and arrange to receive automatic emails Enter your full address and click on “Next”. Click on your address in the list. Click on “Choose Map Layers” alerting them to each new planning application and then on “Next”. Click “Finish” and a map will come within a specified distance of their own home. up with a star on your home. If using the “freehand (Detailed instructions in box.) polygon” option (see below) use the zoom buttons at But is there a downside? A computer gives you this stage to ensure the map includes all the area for which you want to be alerted. Click on “define your tremendous power to find documents, but how area” and a new square box appears on top of the map. does viewing plans on the screen compare with Fill in your email address and click on “Next”. Choose looking at them on a large piece of paper – the radius or click on the “freehand polygon” option. often as large as A2 size? I confess that when I The box unexpectedly disappears and you are returned assess a particular application, I am usually to the map. If you chose a radius, click on the centre of driven to printing off key documents – often at your desired circle; if you chose “freehand polygon”, much reduced size (though with good close click on all the corners of (e.g.) a rectangle and finally eyesight this causes me no problem) – so that I on the first corner again. A pink area appears on the can lay them out on a desk and compare map and the earlier box reappears but it is minimised. Click on the tile “Consult…” on the task bar at the different views side by side. bottom of your screen to view it. Click on “Finish”, and At home, this inconvenience does not, for me, a confirmation box, together with an option to withdraw outweigh the huge benefit of being able to see from the service, appears. Close it. (The system is fully the documents at my own desk without automated, so feel free to go through the whole process more than once. You’ll only get email alerts needing to visit WDC offices. But the Planning corresponding to the last data you entered.) Enquiry Desk is now being incorporated into

THE HIGH WYCOMBE SOCIETY 4 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2006/2007

Hon. Sec’s Cuttings global warming on historic buildings, and one article describes the efforts being made to Trap Grounds victory Oxfordshire County measure moisture levels in buildings. Current Council’s Planning and Regulatory Committee methods are relatively crude and a new project have voted to allow Trap Grounds, an open is underway to examine the effects of moisture space in north Oxford, to be registered as a town on old buildings and also to improve ways of green. The Friends of Trap Grounds, assisted by measuring it. The study is being carried out as the Open Spaces Society, have been a collaboration between Glasgow Caledonian campaigning for many years to save the Open University and University College . They Space. have chosen two buildings to study, Brodick Castle, which is a nineteenth-century sandstone The case was very important because in a building, and Blickling Hall, a 17th century previous judgement it was ruled that if a brick-built manor. The project has been running landowner challenged the use as a town green at for two years, and the results will help to develop any time before the land was registered, the advanced methods of moisture measurement. application would fail. The Law Lords have now ruled that the Trap Grounds can be registered. “Flagship Project” a one man show The Open This is a triumph for the Friends of Trap Spaces Society has concerns over a new Grounds who worked so hard to protect it from initiative by Natural (established. on development, and their Appeal has removed a 1 October 2006 by bringing together English big obstacle in the registering of town greens. Nature, the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service). It appears that work on Buncefield one year on It doesn’t seem almost common land was to have been a major project. a year ago since the Buncefield explosion, does Unfortunately it appears that currently there is it? I remember being woken at about 6.00am on only one member of staff working on the project. Sunday December 11th 2005 by that terrific The Open Spaces Society are pressing for more explosion. It wasn’t so much the noise that funds and resources to be made available. conveyed its power, but the shockwave that rattled the windowpane. A new book on the English Heritage launch Education and Skills subject has recently been published, called “The Initiative EH’s Education and Skills Initiative Buncefield Explosion”. It tells the story from the has two main aims: to help people understand point of view of those people involved in the and learn from the historic environment by battle to control the situation. As an added raising awareness of the special character of our bonus, part of the profits from every book sold historic environment, and to train historic will be given to the National Fire Service environment professionals. As well as creating Benevolent Fund. training opportunities in building restoration, stained glass and parks and gardens skills, they “The Buncefield Explosion. The Disaster Story”, are also keen to engage those who can influence ISBN 9552 759-0-3, price £14.95 decisions about the management of historic Global warming and historic buildings The buildings and landscapes. Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings Frances Presland (SPAB) has a series of articles on the effects of

Climate Change – 2050

It’s been a busy quarter for climate change – and that’s without looking at the weather! Penelope Tollitt, Spatial Planning Manager at Wycombe District Council, gave a cracking talk to the ANTAS AGM in Buckingham in October, and there was the hard-hitting Stern Report. The Milton Keynes Energy Agency, who work in partnership with several local authorities around this way (and prompted by Lesley Stoner of WDC), have sent us a piece explaining the energy grading system which will become a compulsory part of the new Home Information Packs for house buyers from June 2007. Elsa Woodward has drawn our attention to the fact that analysis of transport projects now has to include year-by-year carbon assessments. Here is a piece that Tony Fooks put together after attending a conference run by BCC in May.

What does climate change really mean for the The two biggest contributors to man-made future? climate change are carbon dioxide and methane The climate changes for all sorts of reasons. – carbon dioxide being the biggest current Ocean currents shift, volcanoes shower the world culprit. in ash. The sun’s energy also slightly changes At present approximately seven billion tonnes of and for the past century it has been unusually carbon are emitted globally into the atmosphere active which has affected our climate. every year, mainly through the combustion of coal, oil and gas for energy. Scientists now www.highwycombesociety.org.uk 5 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2006/2007

agree that the human impact on the climate is Public transport provides a cheap and easy substantial. Every household in the UK creates alternative to the car. A bus or tram gets you to around six tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, the local station to take a train for the rest of most of which comes from the energy that is your journey. Mind you, this isn’t the clanking used to run our homes. train of olden days – the engine is driven by What can society do to improve our future life powerful magnets which levitate the train above and heritage? Here are 10 points that we should the track and shoot it along at some 300 mph at all consider: a fraction of the cost of electric or diesel engines, which were a waste of energy. • When replacing appliances look for the Energy Efficiency Logo. The highest property prices these days are for homes that are away from rivers and coasts and • If you need to change your boiler then make the risk of flooding, and are equipped with the sure it is a High-Efficiency Condensing latest features, like shading and natural Boiler. ventilation, to prevent overheating in the • Ensure where possible that you have cavity summer. wall and loft insulation. This picture of an energy-efficient future may • Investigate the various forms of double sound like a fantasy, but it’s all possible with glazing that are available. today’s technology if only we invested in the • Check that your hot water tank is effectively technology now. We all need to think of where insulated. we are going and what the future holds for the generations to come. • Use energy-efficient light bulbs. Tony Fooks • Turn down the thermostat by one degree. • Use the car less. Try to make one journey per week without it, by walking or cycling. ♫ I'm sitting in the railway station, • Think Solar – or an alternative form of Got a ticket for my destination… ♫ generating electricity – for your home Our Chairman has been informed, from what • Investigate your water usage and ways of he describes as a “reliable source”, that our saving it: it is becoming increasingly short. railway station has a little-known claim to Picture this scene in the year 2050. It’s a cold fame, due to the fact that the renowned and dark winter’s morning. You get up and American Songwriter and Musician, Paul switch on the light, powered by energy stored Simon (of the “Simon and Garfunkel” duo) had from solar electric cells and the mini-wind arrived, late one evening around 1970, at the turbine on the roof. The central heating comes station. on, using an energy-efficient ‘A’-rated He had been dropped off by a local musician, condensing boiler and heat pump, which turns who had accompanied him at a gig (musical waste heat into electric power. session–Yes we thought that’s what you The house soon becomes warm and snug, meant.–Ed.), so that he could catch a train to thanks also to the triple glazed windows fitted London. with special heat-insulating glass, draught-proof automatic doors, and thick insulation of walls Regrettably, he had missed the last train and and roof. the story goes that while he waited for the passenger service to recommence, he sat and The tiny amount of heat that leaks out into the composed his famous ballad “Homeward outside world will be picked up on a satellite in Bound”. space, monitoring any waste heat from homes, offices and factories. If you leak too much heat It is believed that there are two other railway it sends a message to the local energy office and stations in England that claim to have been the they’ll send you a bill for harming the location of this momentous song-writing event, environment! but our Chairman’s informant has insisted that the High Wycombe station is the genuine A computer chip in your kettle will buzz a article! warning if you overfill it and waste electricity. You sit down to watch the morning news on a Liverpool and low-energy flat-screen TV. You jump into your Widnes also lay electric car powered by a fuel cell that runs on claim to this methanol, a renewable fuel made from crops. distinction. Mr And as for the car itself, it’s made of soya oil! Simon himself The oil is converted into a strong plastic that (right) seems never rusts, and when the car is scrapped it can uncertain, which is be recycled like compost! just as well!–Ed.

THE HIGH WYCOMBE SOCIETY 6 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2006/2007

Shared Car Visit Fawley Hill Museum

Sunday 13th August dawned damp and dismal and the prospects for the visit by a group from the Society did not look very enthralling. However, by the time the group started to assemble in the museum’s car park, the weather was starting to perk up. Spirits were raised even more as we wandered down the drive to the museum itself: to the left there was a brightly arrayed line-up of vintage Triumph TR sports cars and to the right was a magnificent row of Rolls Royce Silver Ghosts. Both lots of cars belonged to other groups visiting that day. For those who have never been to Fawley it is was one of the lucky ones. For me it was an an experience not to be missed – even if you exhilarating experience! Although I can be are not a railway enthusiast like myself. Not quite blasé about footplate rides I must say only is there so much history, that storming up the 1 in 13 but also beautiful scenery and incline with the regulator wide lots of wildlife including open was something else. indigenous deer and more exotic Anyway, to return to the animals such as Ankoli cattle, museum railway, it abounds oryx from North Africa, and of with buildings and stonework course your visit will almost which have been saved for certainly be serenaded with the posterity, dismantled and shriek of the peacock. transported to the museum and re-built. The main station itself came from The museum is privately owned by the Hon. Somersham in Cambridgeshire, but of local Sir William McAlpine, Bt., but is supported by interest is the waiting room from the up a group of volunteer enthusiasts. The setting platform of Bourne End Station. Now called for the museum is the grounds of Sir William’s Bourne Again Junction, it resides in the valley estate surrounding his home, nestling in the at the bottom of the incline. Other items of Chilterns not far from Henley-on-Thames. It note are the façade from the long gone Broad must be the most comprehensive collection of Street Station in London and, on the hillside railway artefacts outside the National Railway facing Sir William’s house, the beautifully Museum. Items range from uniform buttons restored capital from the old Blackfriars Bridge and office paperweights to dining car silverware which was demolished in the 1960s. to wagons and coaches (including a Royal Saloon built at Wolverton in 1942). The site Not all items are railway-related. Below the has its own standard gauge railway on which main station is an artificial lake which has visitors may ride, either in the brake van or an been there for quite some time, but a recent open wagon. For each journey two visitors are addition is a lovely water feature created from permitted to travel on the footplate of the some very large power station electrical steam locomotive which operates the train. In insulators. Also near the station are the two the case of the Society’s group, names of those flagpoles from the twin towers of the old wishing to ride were drawn from a hat and I Wembley Stadium. The connection? www.highwycombesociety.org.uk 7 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2006/2007

McAlpine’s built the first Wembley Stadium. after a disastrous expedition. In 1973 he Also adjacent to the station is a fairground brought it back to the UK, restored it and “Galloper” merry-go-round complete with brought it back to life. fairground organ. This was operational and A relatively new attraction to the museum are visitors could have free rides. the ‘0’ gauge model railway layouts. The 0 After the train rides and wandering round the Gauge Guild have been given a home for their outside exhibits there was the museum itself to test track on the understanding that they will visit. The list of items to be found inside is too make personnel available to man this and the vast to set down here. I have been to this other layouts in the gallery on “open days”. I museum quite a few times before but there say “open days” but it must be stressed that always seems to be something new or they aren’t really open to the general public something I missed last time round. However, except by invitation, usually in organized the place I always make for is the picture groups. gallery. Although there are original paintings Departure from the museum was delayed a by other great artists, I like to pay my homage little by a short but very sharp shower. to the late great Terence Cuneo OBE. Sir William has at least three original works by Nevertheless, I felt that those leaving were him including one of Flying Scotsman more than satisfied with their afternoon at presented to Sir William in recognition of the Fawley. fact that he saved the locomotive when it was languishing derelict on the dockside in America David Abbott

Ancient Roads (III) – The Old Road

This is the third of Noreen Talbot’s series of articles which we began in the Summer issue.–Ed. Although the Strata de Dusteburg was the borough Industrial Estate. The point where main through route along the Wycombe Valley, the A40 bends south just north of Westbourne there was also a road along the northern side Street may indicate its presence again, too, directly linking and continuing via Oxford Street, Queen's Square, West Wycombe. But do you know where it ran Castle Street, Birdcage Walk (once the site of before the building of the Turnpike? Although some of Wycombe's Tudor Almshouses, it also ran on dry, well-drained land, it never removed in the 1960s). Possibly the Victorian attracted major traffic until the Turnpike and streets of Station Road, Queens Road, later the railway ran on the northern side of Clarendon and Guinions Roads continue its the valley. line. Just as the landowners forced people to use Noreen Talbot the Turnpike by constructing the Dyke on the section on the Rye so in the north the road was SWOP disrupted by the development of buildings In the autumn Newsletter we announced that along its course. Nevertheless it is possible to we hoped to be submitting the Society’s trace its remnants just south of the Turnpike photograph collection for inclusion in the or Oxford Road. SWOP (“Sharing Wycombe’s Old Photographs”) The easiest place to find the old road is Gilletts project being run by High Wycombe Library Lane, where the road from would have with National Lottery support. Having clarified come down the Pitch to join it. Gilletts Farm that there will be no weakening of our was in the Downley part of the West Wycombe copyright over our photographs, we are very Estate and the farmhouse, now extended and happy that this is now going ahead. In a largely redeveloped, stands at the junction of future issue of the Newsletter, when the Gilletts Lane and Mill End Road at its photographs are all catalogued and available to northwest corner. The farm has vanished view online, we shall include an article telling under housing and would have benefited from you all how the project works. In short, this the nearby fresh water well, now occupied by looks like being a magnificent local resource. Thames Water's property. The farm presum- Meanwhile, in the unlikely event that any ably ran west to the bottom of Copperfield, or member believes the Society may be in perhaps eastward towards Wycombe. possession of one of their photographs and On that side it ran through Fryers Recreation they do not want it to be made available for the Ground to where Fryers Lane enters, then public to view, then if they let the editor know became Nutfield Lane and veered slightly we will ensure it is excluded (or that that there northward, perhaps to keep on slightly drier is appropriate recognition of the original land. It passes unseen through the Marl- source).

THE HIGH WYCOMBE SOCIETY 8 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2006/2007

Quarterly Meeting Brunel – “The Man Behind the Icon”

OUR MEETING on 25 October meeting attracted a record audience of nearly 80. Uniquely it had been advertised that afternoon on BBC Three Counties Radio when the speaker, Julia Elton, was interviewed and gave an excellent introduction to the evening’s talk. However, when our Chairman asked the audience how many had been influenced to come by the broadcast, none would admit to it! Roger Lawson introduced Miss Elton with a on the tunnel for 7 years) Brunel was injured brief CV. An antiquarian bookseller, she rescuing his men. He went to Bristol to specialises in historic books, prints recuperate and, whilst there, entered and drawings relating to the history of the competition to build the Clifton engineering. She is currently the Bridge. He showed a strong artistic president of the Newcomen Society, talent and submitted four designs. All the world's oldest learned society were rejected but subsequently devoted to the study of the history of another of his designs won. Money engineering and technology. With ran out on building the abutments and regard to Brunel, she has catalogued it was only finished after his death. the collection of his papers at Bristol Miss Elton’s ancestors were amongst University and is Brunel “advisor” to those who lost money on the venture. Bristol University and to the Thames This work brought him to the attention Tunnel Museum. of the Great Western Railway who We were reminded that this year is the appointed him chief engineer in 1833. Other bicentenary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom railway engineers had followed mining tradition Brunel which has resulted in a “Brunel fever” and adopted a gauge of 4ft 8½ inches but capturing the country to the detriment, in the Brunel took a fresh look and decided that a public mind, of the many broader gauge of 7ft would other excellent engineers of give a smoother ride, higher that age. It had not always speed and greater fuel been so: Miss Elton quoted economy and built his an 1887 text referring to railway accordingly. Whilst him as “a destructive force – national standardisation deplorable error by GWR in later changed the gauge, the appointing an Great Western Railway inexperienced theorist remains remarkably intact, enamoured by novelty and including the Bristol and a seeker of difficulties”, and Paddington termini. There another as “a little man have been moves for smoking a cigar spending Two of a set of six commemorative stamps selected parts of the GWR other people’s money”. This issued in 2006 depicted the Maidenhead between Paddington and Railway Bridge, with its broad brick arches has now disappeared in a which broke new ground in structural Bristol to be declared a blur of mythology. engineering, and the remarkable wrought- UNESCO World Heritage Site. I K Brunel was born in iron Royal Albert Bridge across the Tamar at Saltash. 1806. His father was Meanwhile Brunel had a French and Isambard was educated vision to extend travel to America partly in France, where there was a and started building a ship. The greater concentration on science Great Western was bigger than any and maths than in English previous ship. It was in timber with engineers’ training of the day. In paddles and sailed in 1838, proving 1822 he came back to England to the practicality of such travel. He help his father Marc Isambard later planned an even bigger second Brunel (later Sir Marc) on the ship, Great Britain. This was in iron Thames tunnel, probably the most and adopted the new screw demanding civil engineering project propellers. Brunel decided to build of the day and the first underwater his own engine and propellers and tunnel in the world in soft ground. problems with this ultimately Marc invented the concept of the bankrupted the owners. tunnelling shield. In those days, Repeatedly his engineering engineering was full of risks and in In front of the chains outstripped what was possible. He a flood in 1828 (which stopped work that launched the Great Eastern, 1857. attempted to build an Atmospheric www.highwycombesociety.org.uk 9 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2006/2007

Railway in South Devon. In theory this gives a saw the completion of the Saltash Bridge on quiet smooth ride of 40-50 mph and had the Cornwall railway. This was completed worked on a short length (1½ miles) in Ireland without accident and, like the GWR, remains in but Brunel tried 50 miles. This was too big a use today. step and it failed. Answering questions from the audience, Julia Another failure was the Great Eastern which at Elton noted that engineering in that age was 692 feet long was twice the size of full of risk and occasional major the Great Britain and only failures were accepted as the exceeded by Lusitania in 1912. price of progress. The meeting His idea was the Australia run concluded with a vote of thanks with just one coaling stop. by David Abbot, the son of a Unfortunately the public had only railwayman. just got used to the idea of going Our local connection with Brunel to the seaside and this was too is the original Train Shed big a step. With not enough (currently a tyre depot) at the passengers, the project failed. railway station. After the talk, However, the ship eventually David Lane, who was achieved fame as the only ship instrumental in getting the One of two commemorative £2 big enough and manoeuvrable building listed in 2000, displayed coins issued in 2006. (The enough to lay the first plans of how it once looked. transatlantic telegraph cable. other showed Paddington Railway Station.) Trevor Carter Just before his death in 1859 he

Local Book Heroes By David Kidd-Hewitt

We are grateful to our Vice-President, John Gore, for supplying this extended review of a new local book. OUR AUTHOR has selected as his ‘heroes’ just ten Buckinghamshire people and one organisation which was based in Buckinghamshire. He acknowledges that this is a very personal selection, and he invites readers to agree or disagree with his choice. Just three of his heroes are historical figures are in the public entertainment business: Sir in the traditional ‘hero’ sense: John John Mills of Denham, best known for his many Hampden, of Hampden and MP for successful films; Roald Dahl of Great in the mid-17th century, whose refusal to pay Missenden, a man of many talents, not just a Ship Money tax to King Charles I without well-loved children’s author; Geoffrey Palmer Parliamentary approval eventually led to the OBE, also of , television actor in English Civil War and the execution of the many a popular series and supporter of local King; John Newton, a former slave-ship charities; and Ken ‘Snakehips’ Johnson, born in captain who repented of his evil ways and British Guiana and an Old Borlasian from became a curate at Olney, where he wrote the Marlow, whose promising career as a jazz-band famous hymn Amazing Grace; and Florence leader was cut short by a WW2 bomb. Nightingale, who, apart from her reputation High Wycombe is represented by Dame Frances as the ‘Lady of the Lamp’ in the Crimean War, Dove (1847-1942). Not content with founding lived for many years at Horwood House near Wycombe Abbey School in 1896 and serving as Winslow, where she wrote and campaigned its first headmistress, Frances became, in 1907, strongly for the improvement of health and the first woman to be elected as a Councillor on hygiene standards particularly amongst the High Wycombe Borough Council. She worked poor of north Bucks, collaborating with Dr. tirelessly on local health, welfare and De’ath, a local doctor. educational projects. There is a commemorative One chapter is devoted to ‘The Hidden Heroes WDC plaque on her house in Priory Avenue. of Bletchley Park’ (mostly anonymous) who Our author has clearly researched his subjects cracked German communication codes during in depth and has produced some excellent WW2 and are considered thereby to have narratives…and a good read. significantly shortened the duration of the (Buckinghamshire Heroes Countryside Books war. 128pp ISBN 1853069299 RRP £7-99) Four more of our author’s heroes were or still John Gore

THE HIGH WYCOMBE SOCIETY 10 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2006/2007

The Chilterns: Then and Now

Photo Exhibition

TO CELEBRATE the fortieth year of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Chilterns Conservation Board had the idea to retake the photographs from a 1940s book entitled “Face of Britain – Chiltern Country” by H. J. Massingham (price 10s.6d). The resulting photos and the corresponding originals formed the basis of the exhibition that was held at the Guildhall between 19th and 24th October. The exhibition was officially opened by Cllr. preserving our beautiful Chilterns countryside. Jean Teesdale with Mayor Darren Hayday in In her opening speech, Cllr Jean Teesdale said, attendance. It comprised around 30 pairs of “We will protect our Green Belt at all costs.” photos displayed next to each other for Let’s hope that proves to be true. comparison, covering High Wycombe, West The primary purpose of the Chiltern Conserva- Wycombe, Whiteleaf, , tion Board is to conserve Amersham and right up and enhance the to Ivinghoe Beacon, and Chilterns AONB. It also surrounding areas. The aims to increase aware- comparison shows two ness and understanding things: that where of the Chilterns and to development has been foster the social and allowed it has urbanised economic well-being of the countryside, but that local communities. They where it has not, the produce the newsletter countryside and villages ‘Chalk and Trees’ and have remained virtually ‘What’s On in the unchanged in the seven Chilterns’. decades since the original 12a The Mustograph Agency 12b Michael Bowker photos were taken,

Green Waterways…

ONE OF the encouraging documents supporting St James Homes’ latest planning application for 465 dwellings and commercial properties at Wycombe Marsh is the “Illustrative Landscape Masterplan”. This includes plans for preserving the habitats of the two waterways – the River Wye and the Back Stream – that flow through the site, a “Green” near the western “Citygrove” entrance, a “linear park” and a “green link”. This can all be inspected in the planning application at the District Council planning office, or now (see p.3) on-line at the Council’s website. Here we reproduce (with their permission) the panels describing the developers’ intentions for the waterways.

Backstream

Creation of informal, naturalistic Green Corridor (on both sides of the stream). Local bank re-grading to allow closer access to the water to wildlife and River Wye: to people. Rear garden fences to be screened with native shrubs / hedgerows. Removal of existing chain-link fence and widening of the green corridor to accentuate formal, naturalistic layout. Cleaning of former water-cress pond and silt management to enhance natural springs and water quality. Removal of hard river edging and regrading with naturalistic contours and soft landscaping with native vegetation only (trees, shrubs, Establishment of naturalistic shallow berms within the channel of meadow, marginal aquatics). stream to increase habitat diversity. Ecological management of existing trees and shrubs (selective pol- Ecological management of existing trees and shrubs (selective larding, coppicing) to increase natural light levels and encourage the pollarding, coppicing) to encourage the growth of chalk stream specific growth of chalk stream specific vegetation along the river. vegetation (as for the river Wye). Planting of widened corridors with native vegetation only. www.highwycombesociety.org.uk 11 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2006/2007

Boosting the Economy (but losing our roots?)

THE EDEN development will breathe some life back into an economy that has been suffering since the rapid decline in furniture manufacturing began in the late 80s. With the bus station completed and the flagship stores due to open in Spring 2008, High Wycombe is set to move into the Top 50 shopping destinations in the UK. The Eden project is part of an ongoing Are we losing touch with our heritage? My regeneration programme for High Wycombe, father has worked in the furniture trade in which has seen the construction of a new High Wycombe since the mid-60s. Visiting the Morrisons store in the mid-90s, the demolition sawmills, cloth stores and furniture factories in of factories along London Road and the the early 80s has made a lasting impression on construction of housing estates, to name but a me. A bustling and vibrant furniture town that few. provided employment for all is what I remember High Wycombe as. The decline in With all this regeneration going on in front of furniture manufacturing has hit this area our eyes does anyone remember what High hard: a once-bustling manufacturing town is Wycombe was famous for? We may remember fast becoming a shopping centre, with little the glory years when there was a furniture emphasis placed on ensuring that generations factory on every other street turning out come to realise that there is more to Wycombe beautifully-crafted pieces of furniture, but do then shopping. youngsters know what High Wycombe is famous for? The Wycombe Museum and other attractions are outside the town centre but provide an Do we want High Wycombe to be known for its insight into the glorious past of High Wycombe. shopping or do we want to be proud of our rich Encouraging more local schools and societies heritage? I recently asked a number of my to visit the museum and attractions may be a younger brother’s friends if they knew what step towards helping the future people of High High Wycombe was famous for: the response I Wycombe realise that there is more to this received was shocking. The majority of them town than meets the eye. We will benefit from said that High Wycombe was famous for a wonderful shopping experience but what if a nothing and of the few who said High Wycombe few years down the line we ask someone what is famous it was either for the football club or is Wycombe famous for? Would you be happy the chaos of recent months!! if the response was “Eden”? Do the younger generations not realise that Rub Suleman High Wycombe was once a furniture centre?

… and everything else at Wycombe Marsh!

THE HIGH WYCOMBE SOCIETY 12 NEWSLETTER WINTER 2006/2007

Notices New Members start. Come in a team of up to six or join one of ours. We warmly welcome the following bumper crop of new members: Tickets (in advance, please) £8-00 per person which includes a fish-and-chip supper. Phone Mr & Mrs A Taylor of Bowden Lane, HW. me on 01494 528106 for tickets or information. Mr R Highnam of Marlow Hill, HW. Mr & Mrs G Payne of Lane End Road, Sands. (And the answer’s Tashkent.–Ed.) Mrs P Oaten-Wareham of Allen Dr, . Mary Woodman

Mrs D Bryant of Cherry Tree Close, . Mr S G Cole of Coombe Gdns, Hughenden Valley. Calling All Sound Handypersons Mr S Colley of Lodge Lane, Prestwood. No, you don’t need to be a sound freak, but if Mrs A Elliot of Lime Tree Close, Gt Kingshill. you have ever worked successfully with those Mr R Cooper of Kingsmead Rd, HW. sound boxes they have at public events, or even Mrs E A Howes of The Orchard, . if you just feel like having a go, please contact Dr Sadd and Ms Hinkins of Wordsworth Rd, HW. the Editor who would love to be relieved of this Mr Tordoff of Plomer Green Ave, Downley. duty at our quarterly meetings. Mr & Mrs M Shepherd of Westover Rd, Downley.

Marriage Erratum We congratulate Paul and Judy Taylor on their We all make mistakes! But at least we don’t all recent marriage. blame the computer, which just follows orders.

The address of the Windmill

website, where you can still, as we go to print, Obituaries see a full obituary of the late Christopher Wallis, We regret to announce the death of: is www.laceygreenwindmill.org.uk (and not Mr E J Perfect .co.uk).

We extend our condolences to Patricia Perfect and their sons and relations. Variety is the Spice…

The Capital of Uzbekistan? Once again, we love to have lots of different names contributing to this Newsletter. This No, this is not one of the questions for the High Newsletter is only as good as its excellent Wycombe Society Quiz Night, but come anyway contributors make it. Material for the next issue and show off your knowledge or learn something should reach me at 29 Maybrook Gardens High new at a sociable evening to be held at the Wycombe HP13 6PJ (01494 528106) by Environment Centre on Holywell Mead (entrance 20 February, please. by the road across the Mead from Bassetsbury Lane) on Friday 23 February, 7.15pm for a 7.30 Chris Woodman (Hon Editor)

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

2007 Friday 12th January Quarterly Meeting: The Wye Valley and Mills Before Chairs. 7.30pm, Guildhall Speaker: Marc Meltonville, Experimental Archaeologist, Hampton Court Palace. With seasonal refreshments for the New Year. Friday 23rd February, 7.00pm for Quiz Evening with Fish-and-Chip Supper. See above. 7.30pm, Environment Centre Friday 13th April Annual General Meeting, followed by reports from the Society's 7.30pm, Guildhall Groups. Also the annual Grand Book Swap. Sunday 13th May Pann Mill Open Day. Pann Mill turns again (water permitting) and 11.00am–5.00pm mills flour. Refreshments, plants, bric-a-brac, sale of flour. 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 26th May Wycombe Arts Festival Meeting: “National Trust and Archaeology in 7.30pm, Guildhall the High Wycombe Area”. Speaker: Gary Marshall, National Trust Archaeologist for the Thames and Solent Region.