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Chesham

Area Guides: Chesham
Location: Chesham
County:
Buckinghamshire

Telephone: .
eMail: .
Website: http://chilterns-stay.co.uk


Full Description: Chesham - Historical market town.
In Saxon times, Chesham was known as ‘Ceasteleshamm’ meaning the heap of stones by the watermeadow. The town was founded on the banks of the River Chess and the large ‘puddingstones’ in the foundations of St Mary’s Church are thought to have been part of a site of pre-Christian worship. The Buckinghamshire town of Chesham lies in a steep-sided valley, where the River Chess springs and beech trees grow in abundance on the Chiltern hillsides. With over 1,000 years of recorded history, the town has an ancient Parish Church, with surrounding buildings dating from the Middle Ages to the 21st-century. The pedestrianised High Street has shops to suit all tastes, from well-known national retailers to family-run specialist stores. There are excellent public amenities on offer: the refurbished Open Air Swimming Pool, the Elgiva Theatre and Cinema, and the magnificent 28-acre Lowndes Park. Whether you’re looking for a day out with the children, a quiet day walking in beautiful countryside, or aa wander around the shops of a country town – Chesham has it all!
There is a twice-weekly market on Wednesdays and Saturdays) held in the High Street, and on the last Wednesday of each month there is a Farmers’ Market, offering a wide range of products
from the country. There are also very popular French Markets visiting over occasional weekends. Chesham is full of hidden treasures – allow plenty of time to search out the unique specialist stores, antique shops and art galleries tucked away in all corners of the town. Church Street was the commercial hub of Chesham until the 19th century. Today, the rows of grocers’ stores and partisans’ workshops of the old town have been converted into picturesque cottages and yards, nestled between two public houses, an antiques shop and attractive allotment gardens. Notable buildings are St Mary’s Church, the earliest parts of which date back to the 12th century, and the Bury – a grand house with gardens and lake, occasionally opened to the public. Three chalk streams spring in the town and converge to form a clear, mineral-rich river. A riverside walk starts at the Queen’s Head in Church Street and follows the footpath along Water Lane to Townbridge, then across the road, along ‘Duck Alley’ to the Meades Water Gardens, a former watercress bed. Across the main road there is a tree-lined path along Moor Road to Kitty’s Bridge in Waterside, a popular spot for feeding the ducks and swans. Look out also for herons, kingfishers and grey wagtails. In Saxon times, the course of the river was diverted to form a head of water to power the local mills. This created a large ‘island’ known as The Moor, used today as playing fields and popular with dog walkers. There are waterfalls where the Lord’s Mill and Cannon Mill waterwheels once turned, and two large fishing lakes at the edge of The Moor.
Less than 30 miles from Central London and easily accessible from the M1, M25 and M40 motorways, with scenic drives through countryside to the town.
By public transport.
Only 40 minutes (approx.) by train
from London – Baker Street (Metropolitan Line) and Marylebone (Chiltern Line).
Change at Chalfont & Latimer for Chesham station, unless stated otherwise. There is a good local bus network. To plan your journey go to: www.chilternrailways.co.uk or www.buckscc.gov.uk/travelinfo.




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