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| Places
to Visit
The Markets |
Amersham has two ancient
markets.
The Charter Market, dating from King John’s reign
and in the benefit of the Shardeloes Estate, takes place
every Tuesday in Sycamore Road.
The other market, revived by the Town Council, is held
each Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. It consists of stalls
under the Market Hall in the Old Town. There are a variety
of stalls. A stall can be hired for £11 a day.
The Town Council sponsors the Annual Arts Festival in
the Market Hall each August which attracts the work of
a large number of artists from a wide area. |
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The
Parish Church |
The ancient Parish Church
of St. Mary was bestowed in 1140 A.D. by Geoffrey de Mandeville,
first Earl of Essex, in his foundation Charter, upon Walden
Abbey. The grant was confirmed by King Henry II.
The first resident Rector was appointed in 1222.
The main portion of the nave was built at the beginning
of the 12th century; the north and south aisles, the roof
and western bay of the nave in the 14th century and the
tower, lady chapel and south porch in the 15th century.
Various styles of architecture of each period can be seen.
On the exterior, the flints were added during the Victorian
restoration.
Since 1963, under the direction of Mr. Sebastian Comper,
F.R.I.B.A., much work has been done on the interior, including
removing the pews, repairing the floor, decorating the
walls, the chancel and south porch ceilings and adding
the dossal behind the altar, thus restoring the church
to its former medieval splendour.
The brasses relaid in the north transept date from 1430.
The Chapel of St. Catherine, destroyed by the Puritans
in 1662, was restored in 1971. The east window contains
fine 17th century glass.
Also worthy of note is the magnificent alabaster monument
on the north side of the chancel in memory of Henry Curwen
who died age 14 in 1636 when a pupil of the then Rector.
It was restored in 1980.
The Drake Chapel, off the chancel, used for services of
Holy Communion, (otherwise it is kept locked) contains
extremely fine monuments to the Tyrwhitt Drake family.
Since the time of Elizabeth I they have been Squires of
Amersham, representatives of the town in Parliament until
1832 and patrons of the living.
In the last few years as well as its use as a place of
worship, the church has increasingly been used for musical
concerts and recitals of the highest quality. |
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Amersham
Museum |
Amersham Museum of Local
History stands in the centre of the historic High Street
and occupies a part of a restored 15th century hall-house.
With the help of Heritage Lottery funding the Museum has
recently added an extension to the High Street frontage
providing additional exhibition space and a home for the
Museum’s records which visitors are welcome to consult
- by appointment please.
Run by volunteers of the Amersham Historic Buildings Trust,
a charitable organisation closely linked to the Amersham
Society, the Museum is a useful resource for local schools
and adult interest groups.
In the Museum you will be introduced to Amersham’s
history in a collection of exhibits from fossil and archaeological
finds to the town’s more recent past.
Discover the Amersham Martyrs and the Medieval wall paintings,
the coaching inns and attendant wheelwrights, old local
crafts of lace, strawplait and chairmaking.
There are personalities from the past, scenes of the annual
fair, and the story of a stately home, Shardeloes. The
brewery, fluctuations of the River Misbourne, and local
wildlife, reminders of wartime experience are all here
and much more.
There is a pleasant Herb Garden with a wide range of plants
labelled to indicate their culinary and medicinal uses
while seats on the terrace provide an agreeable resting
place.
Guided Walks around Amersham Old Town start from the Museum
every Sunday from Easter to the end of October at 2.30pm.
They last about 1-2 hours - Adults £1, Children
Free. |
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Opening Times From Easter - end of October
Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays 2pm - 4.30pm
Open at the same times on Wednesdays in June, July,
August
Group visits at other times by arrangement.
Wheelchair access to ground floor and garden terrace. |
Admission
Charges
Adults: £1 Children: free |
Woodrow
High House |
Set in the beautiful Chiltern Hills
at Woodrow near Amersham, and in its own 24 acres of grounds,
this lovely old 17th century Manor House, once occupied
by Oliver Cromwell’s family during the Civil War,
provides a kaleidoscope of training and activity opportunities
to some 4,000 young visitors who attend courses at the
House each year. For some it is their only break from
the ‘risks’ and confinement of city life. For
many who return year on year, it is a return journey of
opportunity and discovery. For all a visit to Woodrow
High House represents a unique and immensely rewarding
experience which will assist the passage along the often
difficult journey from childhood to adulthood.
The House is owned by the London Federation of Clubs for
Young People, a charity which provides dedicated support
and services to some 30,000 children and young people
through its member clubs which are often situated in the
poorest and most deprived areas of London.
The facilities are also made available to a wide range
of local community organisations and voluntary groups
at reasonable charges or in turn for some service. In
recent years, as well as the many schools and educational
bodies, the House has provided superb activity holidays
for chronically sick children. |
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