Museums, archives and heritage in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire, or Bucks, an inland county of England, bounded N. by Northamptonshire, E. by Bedfordshire, Herts, and Middlesex, S. by Surrey (for the distance of about 1 mile) and Berks, and W. by Oxfordshire; greatest length, N. and S., 50 miles; greatest breadth, E. and W., 24 miles; average breadth, 17 miles; area 477,151 acres, population 176,323. It is intersected by the chalk range of the Chiltern Hills, which extend NE. from Oxfordshire to Bedfordshire, the highest point being Wendover Hill, 905 ft. The country here is beautifully wooded, chiefly with oak and beech. To the S. there is much excellent grazing land. The fertile ‘Vale of Aylesbury’ lies in the centre of the county, verdant with rich meadows and pasturage. Further N. the heavy arable land is now being brought under steam cultivation, and excellent crops of wheat, beans, &c., are produced. Farms are generally of small size, and are leased on a yearly tenure. Pigs and calves are largely reared on the numerous dairy-farms, and great numbers of ducks are sent yearly to the metropolis from the neighbourhood of Aylesbury. The quantity of butter, besides cream cheese, &c., sent annually to the London market, averages between 4,000,000 and 5,000,000 lbs. The making of wooden spades, brush-handles, bowls, &c., from beech is a considerable industry. Numbers of the female population are employed in the manufacture of thread-lace and straw-plaiting. The county is traversed by the London and North-Western Railway and its branches; the Grand Junction Canal extends about 24 miles through the NE. B. comprises 8 hundreds, – those of Stoke, Burnham, and Desborough being called the ‘Chiltern Hundreds’; – 224 parishes; and the municipal boroughs of Buckingham and Chipping Wycombe. It is almost entirely in the diocese of Oxford.

– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)

Amersham Museum

49 High Street

Amersham HP7 0DP

01494 723700

www.AmershamMuseum.org

This award-winning museum is located in part of a 15th century timber-framed hall house in the centre of Old Amersham with a herb garden running down to the river.

Collections: The collection illustrates Amersham’s history from the Romans to the 20th century when the arrival of the railway created Metroland. There are displays on local crafts including chairmaking, lace making and straw plait, Amersham’s industries from Weller’s Brewery to World War II barrage balloons, local buildings and everyday objects.

Bletchley Park

The Mansion, Bletchley

Milton Keynes MK3 6EB

01908 640404

www.bletchleypark.org.uk

During WW2 the German armed forces top secret codes were broken at Bletchley Park, providing the allies with vital information towards their war effort. The world’s first programmable computer and other technologies we take for granted today were initiated at Bletchley Park.

Bradenham Village – National Trust

Nr High Wycombe HP14 4HF

01494 755573

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bradenham-village

The church and 17th-century manor house (not open) provide an impressive backdrop to the sloping village green. A network of paths provides easy access for walkers to explore the delightful surrounding countryside – which includes hills, farmland and classic Chilterns beech woods.

Buckingham Old Gaol Museum

Market Hill

Buckingham MK18 1JX

01280 823020

www.buckinghamoldgaol.org.uk

Located in the heart of historic market town of Buckingham, the iconic Old Gaol was built in 1748 in the style of a castle, with later additions in 1839 by the famous local architect George Gilbert Scott. The Old Gaol Museum tells the story of Buckingham and rural life, including the Flora Thompson Collection (Lark Rise to Candleford author) and Buckinghamshire Military Trust exhibits.

Buckinghamshire County Museum

Church Street

Aylesbury HP20 2QP

01296 337889

www.buckscc.gov.uk/museum

Our award winning County Museum is in the attractive old town area of Aylesbury in beautifully restored buildings, some dating from the 15th century. The museum showcases the County’s rich heritage alongside a changing programme of exhibitions in the Buckinghamshire Art Gallery and we also have the Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery. Our collections include Archaeology – all the prehistoric, Roman and medieval finds from Bucks and Milton Keynes; Wildlife – plants and animals, birds and insects; Fossils, rocks and minerals; Clothing from Georgian times right up to the 21st century; Textiles – lace, needlework, patchwork and quilts; Buckinghamshire social history of every shape and size; Contemporary studio pottery; Pictures – paintings, drawings and prints.

Buckinghamshire County Museum Resource Centre

Tring Road

Halton HP22 5PJ

01296 624519

www.buckscc.gov.uk/museum

Part of Buckinghamshire County Museum. The public galleries are in Aylesbury.

Buckinghamshire Family History Society

PO Box 403

Aylesbury HP21 7GU

www.bucksfhs.org.uk

Founded in 1976, we are a group of over 1,500 family historians who have been helping each other with their research. Have a look around and see if we can help with your genealogy.

Buckinghamshire Genealogical Society

Varneys, Rudds Lane

Haddenham HP17 8JP

01844 291631

www.bucksgs.org.uk

The BGS was founded in 1992 to assist members living outside the county with their Bucks research, and to help those living within the county with all aspects of their family history.

Buckinghamshire Military Museum

The Old Gaol, Market Hill

Buckingham MK18 1EW

01280 823 020

www.bmmt.co.uk

The Buckinghamshire Military Museum Trust preserves the heritage of the local military units raised in the historic county of Buckinghamshire in England from the 1500s onwards, including the Militia, Yeomanry, Volunteers, Territorials, and Home Guard.

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre

Quainton Road Station, Quainton

Aylesbury HP22 4BY

01296 655720

www.bucksrailcentre.org

Founded in 1969 by the London Railway Preservation Society, the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre is one of the leading steam museums in the country; covering 25 acres, the collection of steam locomotives and other railway vehicles is one of the largest outside the National Railway Museum.

Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies

County Hall, Walton Street

Aylesbury HP20 1UU

01296 382587

www.buckscc.gov.uk/archives

County Archives and Local Studies Library for Buckinghamshire offering a range of resources to support research in family, local and house history in the county.

Chesham Museum

15 Market Square

Chesham HP5 1HG

01494 792549

www.cheshammuseum.org.uk

Chesham is one of the largest towns in Buckinghamshire and has a unique history of industry and social reform. The museum is in the town’s historic Market Square and houses a collection of objects and photographs illustrating Chesham’s history and especially its various industries.

Collections: The permanent exhibition has five main themes: Made in Chesham, Remember Chesham, Chesham at War, Coming to Chesham and Digging up the Past.

Chiltern Open Air Museum

Newland Park, Gorelands Lane

Chalfont St Giles HP8 4AB

01494 871117

www.coam.org.uk

An outstanding collection of historic buildings, rescued from destruction and rebuilt in 45 acres of beautiful Chilterns landscape. Explore the buildings including a 1940s Prefab from Amersham, a Victorian Vicarage Room from Thame, and a 19th-century earth cottage from Haddenham.

Claydon – National Trust

Middle Claydon

Buckingham MK18 2EY

01296 730349

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/claydon

The extraordinary architecture of the house includes extravagant rococco and chinoiserie decoration, other features include the unique Chinese Room and parquetry Grand Stairs. In continuous occupation by the Verney family for over 380 years. All Saints Church (not NT) in the grounds, is also open to the public.

Collections: Mementoes of Florence Nightingale, a relation of the family who was a regular visitor.

Cowper & Newton Museum, The

The Cowper and Newton Museum, Orchard Side, Market Place

Olney MK46 4AJ

01234 711516

www.cowperandnewtonmuseum.org.uk

The museum celebrates two great men who lived in Olney: the leading 18th century poet and letter writer William Cowper and his friend, John Newton who wrote the hymn ‘Amazing Grace’. Newton was instrumental in persuading William Wilberforce to campaign in Parliament for the abolition of the slave trade.

Ford End Watermill

Station Road

Ivinghoe LU7 9EA

01442 825421

www.fordendwatermill.co.uk

This little mill, recorded in 1767 but certainly very much older, was in use until 1963. Restored by volunteers, and now maintained and run by Ford End Watermill Society, it is the only remaining working watermill in Buckinghamshire with original machinery.

Hughenden – National Trust

Thames and Solent Region, Hughenden Manor

High Wycombe HP14 4LA

01494 755573

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hughenden

Queen Victoria’s trusted prime minister Benjamin Disraeli lived here from 1848 until his death in 1881. Most of his pictures, furniture and books remain in this, his private retreat from the rigours of parliamentary life.

John Milton’s Cottage

Deanway

Chalfont St Giles HP8 4JH

01494 872313

www.miltonscottage.org

Milton’s Cottage is the only extant home of John Milton, the great English poet and parliamentarian, in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire.

Collections: The cottage contains one of the finest collections of 17th century and other early editions of Milton’s poetic and prose works.

King’s Head – National Trust

King’s Head Passage, Market Square

Aylesbury HP20 2RW

01296 381501

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kings-head

Set in the heart of this historic market town, the King’s Head is one of England’s best preserved coaching inns. Dating back to 1455, the building has many fascinating architectural features – including stained-glass windows, exposed wattle and daub and the original stabling for the inn.

Marlow Museum

Court Garden, Pound Lane

Marlow SL7 2AE

marlowmuseum.wordpress.com

After an absence of some sixty years, Marlow has its own Museum again. It is located outside Court Garden Leisure Centre in Marlow, but serves the communities of Bisham, Great Marlow, Little Marlow, Marlow Bottom, Marlow Town and Medmemham.

Milton Keynes Museum

McConnell Drive, Wolverton

Milton Keynes MK12 5EL

01908 316222

www.mkmuseum.org.uk

Welcome to Milton Keynes Museum, where we preserve the history of Britain’s newest city. Housed in a beautiful Victorian farmstead, our large and constantly changing selection of displays have something for all the family.

Newport Pagnell Historical Society

Chandos Hall, Silver Street

Newport Pagnell MK16 0EW

www.mkheritage.co.uk/nphs

Newport Pagnell Historical Society was founded in 1984 by a small group interested in the buildings and people of the town and surrounding area and concerned in preserving the past for the future.By the 1990s the thriving society, by its own fund raising efforts and with the generous help of the Harry Middleton Gift, was able to purchase and refurbish Chandos Hall and open it both as a Museum and the society’s headquarters.

Pitstone Green Museum

Vicarage Road, Pitstone

Leighton Buzzard LU7 9EY

01582 605464

www.pitstonemuseum.co.uk

Set in the Buckinghamshire countryside and housed in the buildings of a 1831 farm, the museum offers a fascinating and inexpensive day out for the family with many interesting displays and artefacts to see. The museum is run by volunteers from the Pitstone & Ivinghoe Museum Society.

Projected Picture Trust

Enigma Cinema

Sherwood Drive MK3 6EB

07747 193447

www.ppttrust.org

The wanton destruction of projectors and related professional film equipment prompted a few like minded preservationists to form The Projected Picture Trust (PPT) in 1978. The aims were to not only locate the equipment being destroyed, but to renovate, preserve and exhibit it for the enjoyment of the public.

Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery

Church Street

Aylesbury HP20 2QP

01296 331 441

goo.gl/myB9M

Step into the magical world of Roald Dahl with a visit to this exciting hands-on gallery for children.

Roald Dahl Museum & Story Centre, The

Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, 81-83 High Street

Great Missenden HP16 0AL

01494 892192

www.roalddahlmuseum.org

This great little Museum has two fun and fact-packed biographical galleries and a fantabulous Story Centre. In Boy and Solo, visitors can learn about the events that shaped Roald Dahl as a writer, from his illicit motorbike outings at school to his time as a World War Two fighter pilot.

Stowe – National Trust

Stowe Landscape Gardens

Buckingham MK18 5EH

01280 822850

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stowe

Stowe is a 100ha (250 acre) work of art, both beautiful and full of meaning. With its ornamental lakes, glorious open spaces and wooded valleys, adorned with over 40 temples and monuments, it is one of the supreme creations of the Georgian era.

Stowe House

Stowe House Preservation Trust, Stowe House

Buckingham MK18 5EH

01280 818229

www.shpt.org

Since the 18th century, Stowe has welcomed monarchs, poets, politicians and high society to delight in its Neo-classical splendour. The house is now part of a major public school, since 1923 and has been owned by Stowe House Preservation Trust since 2000.

Telephone Museum

Milton Keynes Museum, McConnell Drive, Wolverton

Milton Keynes MK12 5EL

01525 237676

www.mkheritage.co.uk/ttm

The Telephone Museum houses an extensive collection of telephones, exchanges, switchboards, and associated items & equipment. Many working displays enable the visitor to try things out for themselves.

Waddesdon Manor – National Trust

Waddesdon

Nr Aylesbury HP18 0JH

01296 653226

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/waddesdon-manor

Waddesdon Manor is a magnificent French Renaissance-style château housing the Rothschild Collection of art treasures. The garden is renowned for its seasonal displays, colourful shrubs and mature trees.

West Wycombe Park – National Trust

West Wycombe Park

West Wycombe HP14 3AJ

01494 513569

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/west-wycombe-park

Perfectly preserved rococo landscape garden surrounding a neo-classical mansion. The garden was created in the mid-18th century by Sir Francis Dashwood, founder of the Dilettanti Society and the Hellfire Club.

Wycombe Museum

Priory Avenue

High Wycombe HP13 6PX

01494 421895

www.wycombe.gov.uk/museum

Friendly local museum set in an 18th century house with attractive grounds. Collections include historic Windsor chairs from the Chilterns traditional furniture industry, local history objects from Wycombe District and an art collection including oils, watercolours and sculpture.