Villages and towns in South Buckinghamshire

Amersham is located 27 miles north west of London. The streets of the Old Town have the same general appearance that they had during the 17th and 18th centuries. Amersham is split in two, Amersham Old town, the historic market town and Amersham-on-the-Hill. The reason that Amersham-on-the-Hill was established was mainly due to the Metropolitan Railway and that later became Metropolitan line of the London Underground.

Aylesbury is the County town of Buckinghamshire. It is a market town and although very much developed still retains a lot of its original character. Whenever Aylesbury is mentioned, what often first springs to mind is the famous breed of duck that originated in the town. The Aylesbury Duck is thought to have evolved during the early years of the 18 Century. The town has train connections to London and Birmingham.

Beaconsfield The beautiful town of Beaconsfield is located near the Chiltern Hills with the A40 London - Oxford running through the Old Town and the M40 bypassing it to one side. It has an historic Old Town and bustling New Town, surrounded by Green Belt and ancient woodland.

Like Amersham the town is divided. The original old town with All Saints Church in the centre and colourful hotels, pubs and shops and the "new town" like Gerrards Cross that developed after the London Marlylebone railway line was built. The new town is also home to another town/village, right in the heart of the town, that is well known - Bekonscot is the oldest and most well renowned model village in the world. At Forty Green a short drive away is The Royal Standard of England - the pub is reported to be the oldest Free House in England. Other Local Villages Jordans famous for the Quaker Meeting House, Seer Green and Knotty Green. Beaconsfield had a film industry when in 1922 the Beaconsfield Studios (located between old and new towns) were opened. It stayed as a film studio till 1964, but in 1993 became the National Film and Television School and one of its greatest successes came eight years later when a student completed his examination film and it was nominated for an Oscar. The student was Nick Park and the film was Wallace and Gromit's - A Grand Day Out.

Bourne End is a thriving town located by the River Thames between Marlow and Cookham in Berks. It has an excellent selection of shops, schools and restaurants and is well situated for M40, M4 and M25 road connections. Local villages Flackwell Heath.

Burnham is no longer a typical English village spreading out onto to the Slough Trading estate / Cippenham borders, the M4 and London Paddington - South Wales railway. Very close by is the forest area known as Burnham Beeches. There are about 500 acres of woodland owned by the Corporation of London. This forest area has been freequently used for filming (often in conjunction with Pinewood Studios at Iver Heath) and the area has "doubled" for the Malayan Jungle, Robin Hood's Sherwood Forest and Carry on films.

Chalfont St Peter is located on the main A413 between London and Aylesbury. It lies in a valley on the spur of the Chiltern Hills. The village street still retains most of its original character and although a new shopping centre was built in the 1960's the distinctive hill rising from the shopping centre with shops only on one side for the majority of the road looks very similar to it did in the 1950's.

Chalfont St Giles Lies about 3 miles south east of Amersham just off the A413. It is a picturesque village with church, pond, village green, shops and pubs. It's history goes back for nearly 2000 years with a Roman road running through it. It is well known for "Milton's Cottage" home of the poet John Milton. The village has expanded onto the main A413 towards Chalfont St Peter and up the hill towards Little Chalfont and that area houses some very large properties.

Gerrards Cross developed after the London Marlylebone railway came to the area.It was nicknamed a few years ago by local personality estate agent as "Tumbledown Tesco Town" after the supermarket that Tesco was building collapsed over the railway line below. iInitially there was the development of shops and houses was on the Chalfont St Peter side, but during the 1950's on the other side of the railway bridge the development continued and housing now spreads south (was the common intervening) across the A40 down towards Stoke Poges and Slough. Like Beaconsfield it is now amongst some of the most expensive areas to live in, in England

Farnham Common and Farnham Royal - Farnham Royal was the original village complete with village pump and pubs on the junction of the Slough - Beaconsfield - Stoke Poges Road. It is on the border of Burnham Beeches. Farnham Common is to the north and the shopping centre with pubs and restaurants is located along the road going towards Beaconsfield. Other villages close by include Hedgerley and Fulmer.

Hazlemere and the surrounding villages are well-regarded in Buckinghamshire. Situated two miles north of High Wycombe in the heart of the Chiltern Hills. the villages benefit from all the necessary amenities including local shops. places of worship, restaurants, public houses and schools which cater for children of all ages.

Hazlemere is surrounded by a network of delightful and extremely popular villages including Penn, Tylers Green, Widmer End and Holmer Green. These villages are very accessible to British Rail stations at High Wycombe. Beaconsfield and also Amersham where the Metropolitan line is available. Three M40 junctions are within a fifteen minute drive giving access to the M4, M25 and beyond.

The Chiltern villages have always been highly sought after, mainly due to the easy access to London whilst still retaining its close proximity to open countryside, making it an ideal location for both families and the commuter.

Hazlemere and the. surrounding villages have many areas of 'Outstanding Natural Beauty' and open countryside is never more than a few minutes walk. Hazlemere has two recreational areas where many community activities take place including sports and annual village fetes. Hazlemere Golf & Country Club is situated to the east of the village.

The local schools are extremely popular due their high standing in the National League Tables and as Buckinghamshire still has the 11 + and Grammar School system, many young families find the area particularly attractive.

Hazlemere and surrounding villages are within the catchment area of a number of local Grammar Schools. All of these schools have excellent academic results, however, should private education be a requirement there are several private schools including Wycombe Abbey which has repeatedly topped the league tables.

The centre of Hazlemere and nearby villages offer an excellent choice of restaurants and pubs, many of the countryside pubs boast large gardens which are extremely popular during the Summer months. Local shopping facilities are available in most villages including Hazlemere Crossroads and the highly reputed Park Parade Centre. A wider range of shops can be found at High Wycombe, Beaconsfield or Amersham.

High Wycombe is a thriving market town surrounded by beautiful countryside and is the largest town In Buckinghamshire. It offers a complete mix of amenities including excellent retail facilities. landscaped gardens. theatres as well as sporting and leisure clubs.

Stretching along the Wye Valley from West Wycombe In the West to Loudwater and Wooburn In the East.

Left: Guildhall High Wycombe

High Wycombe was once a world renowned town for Its furniture industry which began In the 17th Century. Today High Wycombe Is better known for technology and business with large modern business parks nearby and successful local enterprises.

Taking time out is easy with a wide range of arts and entertainment facilities and events. Including:-

Iver, Iver Heath and Richings Park Iver - Iver Heath is the most northerly of the three villages. Located between Slough (Berks) and Uxbridge (Middx) it has become famous as the home of Pinewood film studios ( James Bond films amongst others filmed here) and has a church and small shopping area. Nearby Black Park has been used in numerous films - manyTransylvanian vampires have chased stagecoaches through the park and has seen life as East Germany, the Wild West and The Crimea.

Iver village still has the traditional High street that has not changed much in years with a pub and Church located on the road out to Uxbridge.

Richings Park is the most southerly, now bordered by the M4 and M25. It developed around Iver railway station after the First World War and has a few shops and like the other two "Ivers" apart from several new housing developments has not changed much in the last forty years. All three villages are very much commuter zones.

Richings Park lies at the tip of Bucks and is approximately 1.5 miles to the Middlesex border and West Drayton and similar distance the other way to Langley and the Berkshire Border. (Before county boundary changes last century Langley, Slough, Datchet and Eton were in Bucks and the River Thames formed the county boundary). You can therefore actually visit 3 counties in under 5 minutes!.

Marlow is located 30 miles west of the centre of London situated on the River Thames and surrounded by beautiful countryside, with the Chiltern Hills to the north. Marlow is in Buckinghamshire but is very near the Berkshire border (the River Thames) and about 6 miles from the Oxfordshire border. (below High Street)

.

Oxford about 25 miles to the north west and Reading about 15 miles to the south west. Marlow's closest towns are High Wycombe 5 miles to the north, Henley-on-Thames to the south west and Maidenhead, Slough and Windsor to the south east and Beaconsfield to the north east. Left: All Saints Church, W Tierney Clarke Suspension Bridge & River Thames

The town is very prosperous and is a big tourist base, either from the River Thames or the interesting town centre.

Marlow Regatta is normally held in the third week of June on the Thames, (about ten days before Henley Regatta). It has an excellent variety of places to enjoy a drink, or meal or both either in the town centre or within minutes of the town centre. In the surrounding countryside there are many pubs where you can relax in a real English country atmosphere.

Neighbouring villages include Marlow Bottom, Little Marlow, Medenham and Bisham. Bisham is the home to Bisham Abbey - The National Sports Centre.

Prestwood and Great Missenden - Located high up on the Chiltern Hills, surrounded by delightful Buckinghamshire countryside, once a group of hamlets belonging to the parishes of Hughenden, Great Missenden and Stoke Mandeville. Lying approximately 7 miles north of High Wycombe, the largest town in Buckinghamshire. Whether for business or pleasure, entry onto the M40 may be made at High Wycombe providing easy and direct access by car to Oxford, the Midlands and the North in one direction and to the M25, Heathrow and the A40 into the centre of London in the other.

Also easily accessible is the ancient market town of Aylesbury lying approximately 12 miles to the northwest and the historic old town of Amersham approximately 7 miles to the southeast. The London Underground may be picked up at Amersham on the Hill with a frequent rush hour service to the city and approximately 1.5 miles distance from Prestwood is Great Missenden station where the Chiltern Line runs between Aylesbury and Marlylebone.

Prestwood village and surrounding area provides a range of homes to suit a variety of age groups and tastes. Modern properties ranging from one bedroom flats through to substantial executive and country homes. In addition to this for the elderly there are a number of self contained flats and bungalows, as well as a development of purpose built, warden controlled flats in the heart of the village. Older character properties abound from small brick and flint cottages through to rambling detached period homes boasting many historical features, with the oldest building in the village thought to date back to the early 15th Century. The Prime Minister's country home, Chequers, is only a few minutes drive away and en route one passes the monument to John Hampden, the local landowner who famously resisted the King's Claim to ship money in 1635.

The area is very popular with cyclists and joggers whilst walkers, ramblers and horse riders enjoy the network of footpaths, bridleways and minor roads which criss-cross the surrounding farm, wood and common lands.

The area is well placed for excellent road and rail links to London and to the North. The village itself offers a large number of community activities for a range of ages and interests. There are toddler and playgroups, Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. Sporting and leisure pursuits include football, karate and gym clubs. The recently opened sports centre boasts, gym, football, cricket, tennis etc, Prestwood Society, Prestwood Theatre Club, WI Groups, Gardening Society and many more.

Buckinghamshire schools have a reputation for providing an excellent standard of education; Prestwood has a separate infant and junior school, whilst neighbouring Great Missenden, Great Kingshill and Little Kingshill all have combined schools. Buckinghamshire children transfer to junior school at the age of 7 and to secondary upper school at the age of 11. Currently Buckinghamshire children are allocated places at Grammar or upper schools according to the outcome of the secondary schools allocation procedure and the schools reserved area.

Day to day amenities for this popular village include a dairy farm shop (including pick your own), butchers, baker, supermarket, newsagents and sub-post office, banking facilities, chemist, florist, hairdressers, off license, take-away and a plentiful supply of excellent local pubs and restaurants!

Princes Risborough lies on a broad gap in the Western slopes of the Chiltern Hills to which, it probably owes its existence. The chalk downland and clear springs also made this area particularly favourable to early settlement. A Romano British villa at Saunderton, was excavated and reburied in 1937. Roman control officially ended in 41OAD and the Danes and Saxons moved in, to their 'wicks' and 'hams'.

As late as 871AD., a Danish army marched along the Upper lcknield Way and soon after in 903AD, we find the first reference to Risborough by name, ' Hrisebyrgan be cilternes efese " which translated means 'the brush covered hills by the Chiltern eaves'. The Norman Conquest is the next landmark in our history, and the Doomsday Book contains several references to 'Riseburg', In 1343 the manor passed to Edward, the Black Prince and the site was located where the Stratton Road car park is today. The population of Princes Risborough has grown from 2,418 to approximately 8,500 today.

Left: High Street

Princes Risborough is located approximately 9 miles north of High Wycombe, the largest town in Buckinghamshire. Whether for business or pleasure purpose entry onto the M40 may be made at High Wycombe providing easy and direct access by car to Oxford, London and the M25 or via Chinnor.

Also easily accessible is the market town of Aylesbury lying approximately 8 miles to the north and the historic old town of Amersham approximately 16 miles to the southeast. The London Underground may be picked up at Amersham on the Hill with a frequent rush hour service to the city as well as the excellent Chiltern line main rail link, Birmingham to Marlylebone.

Buckinghamshire schools are perceived as providing an excellent standard of education; In Princes Risborough and Monks Risborough there are two Primary (Combined) Schools both taking pupils aged 4+ 11 years, and one Upper School for pupils aged 11 - 18 years. There is also an Independent School.

Left: corner of High Street and Market Square

The area is well placed for excellent road and rail links to London and to the North, and the town itself offers a large number of community activities for a range of ages. The town boasts many sports clubs and residents can choose from Badminton, Bowls, Cricket, Football, Golf, Netball and Tennis. There is also a leisure centre with indoor swimming pool.

The town and surrounding area has an excellent selection of pubs and restaurants to suit all tastes. There is a weekly market on a Thursday and a Farmers market once a month.

Speen is located 600ft up in the Chiltern Hills. Formerly a village woodworkers - "Bodgers" making chairs for the High Wycombe furniture trade, it is now very much a commuter village being 5 miles from High Wycombe and 4 from Princes Risborough. Neighbouring villages include Naphill, North Dean, Hughenden Valley (With Hughenden Manor — The Home of Benjamin Disraeli),Naphil, Walters Ash, Loosley Row, Lacey Green and Bradenham.

Stewkley is described as the longest village in England. Its main street runs for nearly two miles. It is located in the Vale of Aylesbury - ten miles south east of Buckingham and eight miles north of Aylesbury. Life has changed over the years - one hundred years ago there were ten pubs and in 1970 it was in the way of the third London airport. Today it has survived as a picturesque mid Buckinghamshire village.

Stoke Poges is situated between Slough and Gerrards Cross. It was originally made up of several scattered hamlets and in the 21st century, many are still not joined up. It has a famous Church and churchyard where the poet Thomas Gray is buried ( Grays Elergy written in a Country Churchyard). It is now very much a commuter town. (Nearest railway stations Gerrards Cross or Slough) Other local villages are Wexham.

Taplow - Although a small village, it has been in existence since the Stone Age. It is still a village with church, school, pub houses around the green. It borders the A4 (London - Slough - Burnham - Maidenhead - Reading) road, the London Paddington - South Wales railway line and a short distance to the M4 at Slough West. Although a supermarket and small out of town shopping centre has been built the area retains its character. It is very close to Maidenhead. Moving further north the Cliveden estate is located and then Burnham Beeches.

Wendover is situated at the foot of the escarpment on the edge of the Vale of Aylesbury. The High Street that still retains a lot of its character from older times lies along a fragment of the ancient Icknield Way. A by pass has been built in recent years taking traffic between Amersham and Aylesbury. The town is located on the London Marlylebone - Aylesbury - Birmingham railway line.

Wendover is only a short distance to Ellesborough where the Prime Minister's official country residence Chequers is located.There are a wide variety of fine houses, some dating back several centuries, others to the Victorian and Edwardian era. There is an excellent selection of restaurants and a number of pubs. There are craft and antiques shops and a street market every Thursday with stalls selling fruit and vegetables, fish and cheeses. On the third Saturday each month there is a farmers market. If you are thinking of walking in the area there is a fantastic network of walks including the disused arm of the Grand union Canal which is a nature sanctuary.The famous Ridgeway passes through the village.

The above selection only represents a small selection of villages in towns in the area. Enjoy your visit to Buckinghamshire, England

N.B. This information should not be relied on for accuracy and is presented here without the responsibility of jml Property Service and the website it is being displayed at. ©jml property Services 11-05