Editing Chesham (section)

==History==
[[File:Church Street, Chesham - geograph.org.uk - 111011.jpg|thumb|Church Street, Chesham]]There is archaeological evidence of the earliest settlement during the [[Mesolithic|Late Mesolithic]] period around 5000 BC in East Street, Chesham where a large quantity of [[flint tool]]s were found.<ref>{{cite book
  | last =Farley
  | first =Michael.
  | title =An Illustrated History of Early Buckinghamshire
  | page =23
  | year=2010
  | publisher =Buckinghamshire Archeological Society
  | location=England
  | isbn=978-0-9558158-4-3}}</ref> The earliest farming evidence from the [[Neolithic]] era around 2500 BC. [[Bronze Age]] tribes settled in the valley around 1800 BC and they were succeeded by [[Iron Age]] [[Belgae|Belgic]] people of the [[Catuvellauni]] tribe around 500 BC. Between 150 and 400 AD, there is evidence of [[Romano-British]] farming, and nearby at [[Latimer, Buckinghamshire|Latimer]], there is [[archaeological]] evidence of a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] [[villa]] and the planting of grapevines. However, the area was then deserted until the [[History of Anglo-Saxon England|Saxon period]] around the 7th century.<ref>{{cite journal
  | last =Branigan
  | first =Keith.
  | title =The distribution and development of Romano-British occupation in the Chess Valley
  | journal =Records of Buckinghamshire
  | volume =18
  | pages =136–49
  | year =1967}}</ref>

Contrary to popular belief, the town is not named after the river; rather, the river is named after the town. The first recorded reference to Chesham is under the [[Old English language|Old English]] name {{lang|ang|Cæstæleshamm}}, meaning "the river-meadow at the pile of stones"<ref name="Hunt 1977">{{cite book |last=Hunt|first=Julian|title=Chesham A Pictorial History|year=1977 |publisher=Phillimore & Co Ltd |location=England |isbn=1-86077-058-4}}</ref> around 970 in the will of Lady Ælfgifu, who has been identified with the former [[Ælfgifu, wife of Eadwig|wife of King Eadwig]]. She held an estate here which she bequeathed to [[Abingdon Abbey]].<ref>[http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=seek&query=S+1484 S 1484].</ref>

Prior to [[Norman conquest of England|1066]] there were three adjacent estates which comprised ''Caestreham'' which are briefly recorded in the [[Domesday Book]] as being of {{frac|1|1|2}}, 4 and {{frac|8|1|2}} [[Hide (unit)|hides]], having four mills. The most important of these manors was held by [[Edith of Wessex|Queen Edith]], the widow of [[Edward the Confessor]]. Other land having been returned to the Crown it was in the hands of [[Harold Godwinson]] and his brother [[Leofwine Godwinson]].<ref name="Hunt 1977" /> Part of these later became [[Chesham Bois]] parish.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hay |first=David and Joan |title=Hilltop Villages of the Chilterns|year=1994 |publisher=Phillimore & Co Ltd |location=England |isbn=0-85033-505-1}}
</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Hepple, Leslie &|first=Doggett, Alison|title=The Chilterns|year=1971|publisher=Phillimore & Co Ltd|location=England|isbn=0-85033-833-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/chilterns0000hepp}}</ref> After 1066 Edith kept her lands and [[William the Conqueror]] divided royal lands between his half-brother [[Odo, Bishop of Bayeux]] and Hugh de Bolbec.<ref name="Hunt 1977" />

===The land owners of Chesham===
The [[Domesday Book]] records that there were three [[manorialism|manor]]s in Cestreham and one at nearby Latimer. [[William the Conqueror]] shared out the estates between four of his dependants. The vast majority of land was granted to Hugh de Bolebec and smaller parcels to Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, Toustain Mantel and Alsi.<ref name="RoBVol3" />

Before the 13th century, the three Cestreham manors were known as Chesham Higham, Chesham Bury and Chesham Bois. In the 14th century they were first recorded as 'the manors of Great Chesham'. Collectively they extended beyond the current Chesham town boundary.<ref name="RoBVol3" /> Together with the manor at Latimer they were held by the [[Earl of Oxford|Earls of Oxford]] and [[Earl of Surrey|Surrey]]. During the 16th century Greater Chesham was owned by the [[Seymour family]] who disposed of it to the Cavendish family who were [[Earl of Devonshire|the Earls and later Dukes of Devonshire]]. It is from the 15th century that the earliest surviving properties survive and are to be found close by the church in an area called ''the Nap'', and along part of the present-day Church Street. Though gradually disposing of land the Cavendishes maintained an influence in the town until the 19th century. The Lowndes family started purchasing land from the 16th century. [[William Lowndes (British politician)|William Lowndes]] was an influential politician and [[Secretary to the Treasury]] during the reigns of [[Mary II of England|Mary II]], [[William III of England|William III]] and [[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|Queen Anne]]. He rebuilt the original Bury and [[manor house]] of Great Chesham in 1712. The Lowndes family settled in Chesham and over the next 200 years became equally influential both nationally through politics and the law and locally within the town as its principal benefactors.<ref name="Hunt 1977" />

===Ecclesiastical history===
No evidence remains of any church prior to the Norman Conquest. However, the siting of [[Hertfordshire puddingstone|puddingstones]] beneath the present-day church suggests a wooden church was constructed on the site during the Anglo-Saxon period. During the 12th century two families of Norman descent, the de Bolebecs and the Sifrewasts, each held a share of the [[advowson]] assigned to the adjacent manors of Chesham Higham and Chesham Bury respectively for the Church at Chesham which it is evidenced from about 1154 was dedicated to St Mary.<ref>{{Citation|first1=Shirley|last1=Foxell|first2=Clive|last2=Foxell|title=St Mary's Church, Chesham|year=2004|publisher=Clive Foxell|place=Chesham|isbn=0-9529184-4-7}}</ref> These moieties were subsequently given by the families to two [[monastery|monasteries]]. In 1194 the de Bolbecs bestowed their advowson to the abbot and monks of [[Woburn Abbey]] and henceforth the parish of Chesham Higham was renamed 'Chesham Woburn'. Meanwhile, and sometime before 1199, the Sifrewast family granted their advowson to the [[convent]] of St Mary's de Pré Leicester. As a consequence the advowson for the parish of Chesham Bury became known as 'Chesham Leicester'.<ref name="BHOChesham">[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42547 British History online Chesham], Retrieved 14 June 2013</ref> In 1536 [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] seized control of church property as part of the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]]. Subsequently, during [[Edward VI of England|Edward VI]] and [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]]'s reigns, first Chesham Woburn and then Chesham Leicester advowsons became part of the estates of the [[Dukes of Bedford]]. Though there were originally two vicars appointed to the [[St. Mary's Church, Chesham|parish church of St Mary's]], from the 17th century a single [[Incumbent (ecclesiastical)|incumbent]] was appointed. Jurisdiction was still shared between both advowsons and two parsonages, an 'upper' and 'lower', continued to be maintained until the 18th century when both were superseded by a single new parsonage.<ref name="BHOChesham" /> The Duke of Bedford subsequently consolidated the moieties by Act of Parliament in 1767.<ref name="RoBVol3">[https://books.google.com/books?id=FsMMAAAAYAAJ&dq=chesham&pg=PA63 Records Of Buckinghamshire Vol 3 1870], Retrieved 14 June 2013</ref> To accommodate the increasing population during the 19th century, a new parish church was built in 1867; Christ Church at Waterside, and further churches were built at Ashley Green and Bellingdon, which were at the time both within the civil parish of Chesham.<ref name="BHOChesham" /> [[File:Thomas Harding memorial.jpg|thumb|Thomas Harding memorial]]

===Religious dissent and nonconformity===
Chesham is noted for the religious dissent which dominated the town from the 15th century. In 1532 [[Thomas Harding]] was [[burnt at the stake]] in the town for being a [[Lollard]] and [[heresy|heretic]]. From the 17th century, Chesham was a focus for [[English Dissenters|those dissenting from mainstream religion]]. [[Quaker]]s met in the late 17th century in Chesham and in 1798 they built the current [[Friends meeting house|meeting house]]. The first [[Baptists]]' meeting dates back to about 1640 and a place was registered for services in 1706. The first chapel was opened in 1712, one of many to be built for the various Baptist groups during the 18th and 19th centuries. [[John Wesley]] preached in Chesham in the 1760s and a Wesleyan [[Methodist]] society existed in the town. In more recent time a [[Methodist Church of Great Britain|Wesleyan Methodist]] chapel was opened in 1897. The [[Christian Brethren]] which date back in Chesham to 1876, opened their Gospel Hall in 1895, which closed in December 2008.  Broadway Baptist church had congregations at the Vale, Hawridge, Ashley Green and Chartridge; only the one at Chartridge survives.  Trinity Baptist church had congregations at Hyde Heath, Ley Hill and Whelpley Hill; only the one at Hyde Heath survives.  The Congregational Church had congregations at Asheridge and Pond Park.

===Emigration to the American colonies===
In 1630 Aquila Chase left Chesham to join the colony, settling first at Hampton (now New Hampshire), then [[Newbury, Massachusetts]]. Descendants of Aquila became influential in shaping political, legislative and commercial matters from the colonial period until after the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]]. For example, [[Salmon P. Chase]] was the United States Treasury Secretary and Chief Justice in the 1870s. The [[Chase Manhattan Bank]] is named after him (although Chase did not have any connection with the bank).<ref>[http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/JP-Morgan-Chase-amp;-Co-Company-History.html History of Chase Manhattan Bank], Retrieved 12 May 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.politicalfamilytree.com/samples%20content/members/chief_justices/Chase-OH-1.pdf Genealogy of Chase family], Retrieved 12 May 2009</ref>

===Industrial development===
The primary industries of the town in [[medieval]] times were flour production, woodworking and weaving of wool. There were four mills built along the Chess which was diverted to generate sufficient power. Surplus flour was supplied to London. The number of clothworkers, including spinners and those associated with dying ([[Fulling|fullers]]), grew rapidly between 1530 and 1730 and became the major industry in the town prior to a period of rapid decline. Between 1740 and 1798, mills were converted to produce paper (pulp), responding to London's insatiable demand for paper. However, technological developments in paper-making elsewhere rendered the mills unprofitable and they reverted to flour production in the 1850s.
[[File:Chesham Town picture.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Painting of Chesham town, circa 1750]]
New industries emerged from the 16th century onwards. The woodlands had been a source of firewood for London during the mediaeval period. A small-scale woodenware industry making shovels, brooms, spoons and chairs, began around 1538 and its expansion was accompanied by the planting of beechwoods between the 17th and 19th centuries.<ref name="Hunt 1977" /> [[Straw plaiting]] was seen as home-based work for the wives and daughters of labourers from the 18th century. Straw was also imported from Italy to produce the superior 'Tuscan plait' traded at a Saturday market for the [[Luton]] and [[Dunstable]] hat trade and remained the major cottage industry until around 1860, providing employment for women and girls, some of whom attended a 'plait-school' in [[Waterside, Buckinghamshire|Waterside]].<ref name="Hunt 1977" /> [[Lace]] making developed in the 16th century as a cottage industry and was valued for its quality. Chesham specialised in black lace. The industry declined in the 1850s due to mechanisation in [[Nottingham]].<ref name="Hunt 1977" /> Between 1838 and 1864 silk-spinning, powered by a steam-driven mill in Waterside, was started to make use of unemployed lace workers. This trend was relatively short-lived as changes in fashion and the growth of the railways resulted in competition from elsewhere for the valuable London markets.<ref name="Hunt 1977" /> However one exception was the firm of [[George Tutill]] which specialised in high-quality [[Banner-making|banners]] and was responsible for three-quarters of those made for trade unions. The firm is still a going concern, specialising in flags and banners.

Three of the four Bs that have shaped Chesham's history relate to its industries. Brush making was introduced around 1829 to make use of the off-cuts from woodworking. Boot and shoe making which started as a [[cottage industry]] later expanding through small workshops, thrived following the opening of [[tanneries]] around 1792 which also supplied leather for [[saddle]] making and [[glove]]s. By the mid-19th century both brushmaking and footwear manufacture became major industries in the town with production concentrated in large factories. The industry declined in the early-20th century as the market for heavy boots declined. Beer brewing grew rapidly around the town centre in the 19th century again declining at the start of the 20th century.<ref name="Hunt 1977" /> These traditional industries were succeeded by smaller but more commercial enterprises which took advantage of the available skilled labour. For example, in 1908 the Chiltern Toy Works was opened by Joseph Eisenmann on Bellingdon Road, later moving to the 'new' industrial estate in Waterside, making high quality [[teddy bears]]. The works finally closed in 1960.<ref>[http://www.luckybears.com/encyclopaedia_chiltern.asp Chiltern Teddy Bear factory]</ref> Post Second World War industry has ranged from the manufacture of glue ([[Adhesive|Industrial Adhesives]]) to aluminium-based packaging ([[Alcan]]), Aluminium Castings & Bronze Castings (Draycast Foundries Limited), [[balloon]]s (B-Loony) and [[Cleaning agent|household cleaning products]] (Kilrock).

===The town in times of war===
[[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] imposed a tax on the town to pay for his wars against Scotland and France.

In common with the majority of communities in Buckinghamshire, Chesham's [[Lollard]] heritage and [[puritan]] traditions ensured it would vehemently resist [[King Charles I of England|King Charles I]]'s demand for [[Ship Money]]; a tax on tradesmen and landowners. In 1635 the townsfolk of Chesham protested to the Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, Sir Peter Temple, who was reluctantly enforcing a writ requiring payment of a levy to the King. Not surprisingly given the local allegiances to [[John Hampden]], the towns' people largely sided with the [[Roundheads|Parliamentarians]] at the outbreak of the [[English Civil War]]. During 1642 the influential Parliamentarians [[John Pym]] and [[Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick|Earl of Warwick]] were headquartered in the town along with large numbers of troops. There are records of skirmishes in the area during 1643 when [[Prince Rupert]] was stationed near Aylesbury and dispatched [[Robert Dormer, 1st Earl of Carnarvon]] to pillage nearby towns, such as [[Wendover]]. Heading toward Chesham a company of horse of the Parliamentary Army from the town met them outside Great Missenden where a skirmish took place ending with the Parliamentary force being driven back.<ref name="RoBVol3" />

The records of the [[Posse comitatus (common law)|Posse Comitatus]] for Chesham in 1798 recorded over 800 men between the ages of 16 and 60 enrolled in a militia to defend the town in the event of invasion by [[Napoleon I]] or to deal with civil unrest. Less than 50 years later, in 1846, a similar register of 22 able-bodied men had been assembled to form the Chesham troop of the [[Royal Buckinghamshire Yeomanry]] which coincided with the billeting of troops from the [[7th Queen's Own Hussars]] passing through the town on their way to Ireland.<ref name="Birch 1997">{{cite book |last=Birch|first=Clive|title=The Book of Chesham |year=1997 |publisher=Quotes Limited |location=England |isbn=0-86023-641-2}}</ref>

During the [[First World War]], 188 servicemen from Chesham lost their lives (see Landmarks). [[Alfred Alexander Burt|Alfred Burt]], a corporal in the [[Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment]] from Chesham, received the [[Victoria Cross]] for his actions in September 1915. The town provided temporary quarters for several regiments including the [[King's Royal Rifle Corps|Kings Royal Rifles]] and the [[Royal Engineers]] honed their bridge building skills in local parks. In 1919, two 'Victory Oaks' were planted in the town: one was planted by Margot Cavendish, [[Baron Chesham|Lady Chesham]] of [[Latimer House]], [[Latimer, Buckinghamshire]], and Major [[Lionel de Rothschild]]; the other by Mr. and Mrs. Lowndes (former owners of Lowndes Park), and Mr. and Mrs. Byrne (the chairman of Chesham Urban District Council and his wife).<ref>{{cite web |title=Fascinating history of Chesham's famous 'Victory Oaks' |url=https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/18652433.fascinating-history-cheshams-famous-victory-oaks/ |website=Bucks Free Press |access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref>

Over the duration of the [[Second World War]], 80 servicemen lost their lives. Air raid shelters were built by the Council in 1940, although the official view was that the town was unlikely to be targeted since its was not a strategic location. In fact at the end of the war it was estimated that 45 bombs fell in the Chesham area, killing at least nine people.<ref>{{cite book |last=Baines, Arnold &|first=Birch, Clive|title=Chesham Century |year=1994 |publisher=Quotes Limited |location=England |isbn=0-86023-549-1}}</ref>

===Social history===
A Chesham [[workhouse]] for 90 paupers was operating in Germain Street as early as 1777. New legislation transferred the control of the Chesham institution to Amersham [[Poor Law Union]] in 1835. However, there were long-standing rivalries between the locals of both towns and in July that year violence broke out when an order was given to remove the paupers to Amersham. The [[Riot Act]] was read out to an angry crowd of 500 and arrests followed.<ref>[http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?Amersham/Amersham.shtml Times reports riots outside Chesham Workhouse]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605224359/http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?Amersham%2FAmersham.shtml |date=5 June 2011 }}</ref>

Publicly funded education started with the opening of a [[British and Foreign School Society|British School]] in 1825 followed by a [[national school (England and Wales)|National School]] in 1845, an [[Infant school|Infants' Schoo]]l in 1851 and the first Elementary School for girls in 1864. [[Chesham Building Society]] opened for business in 1845 and continued to operate until June 2010, when it was taken over by the [[Skipton Building Society]]. Other public institutions also started at this time, with a [[Fire Brigade]] being established in 1846, the first cemetery in 1858 and a police station built in 1861.<ref name="Birch 1997" />

Chesham [[cottage hospital]], built for £865 17s 11d on land provided by [[Baron Chesham|Lord Chesham]], opened in October 1869, just ahead of an outbreak of [[typhoid]] in 1871. Despite a local campaign to save the hospital it closed in 2005.<ref>[http://www.cheshamhospital.com/index.htm Chesham Hospital – History ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050429175545/http://www.cheshamhospital.com/index.htm |date=29 April 2005 }}</ref> In September 2010 the derelict hospital building was severely damaged by a fire caused by arsonists, according to police reports.<ref>[http://www.buckinghamshireexaminer.co.uk/south-bucks-news/local-buckinghamshire-examiner-news/2010/09/16/arsonists-hunted-after-hospital-fire-114018-27282423/ Arsonists hunted after hospital fire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911095506/http://www.buckinghamshireexaminer.co.uk/south-bucks-news/local-buckinghamshire-examiner-news/2010/09/16/arsonists-hunted-after-hospital-fire-114018-27282423/ |date=11 September 2011 }}, Bucks Examiner, Accessed 30 October 2010</ref> The Council commissioned a [[waterworks]] to be built in 1875 in Alma Road and [[Sewage collection and disposal|mains drainage]] in the town and a [[Sewage treatment|sewage works]] was opened adjacent to the Chess, downstream in 1887. A [[gasworks]] was constructed on the southern part of the town in 1847. Bathing in the Chess at Waterside was an old tradition which became increasingly popular in the 19th century. Complaints that it had become a nuisance led to the Urban District Council surrounding the site with a concrete wall. This further increased its popularity and an open-air pool was built by the council in 1912.<ref>{{cite news |title=Editorial |url=http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1wnak/yourCheshamissue28/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffree.yudu.com%2Fitem%2Fdetails%2F518107%2FyourChesham-issue-28%3Frefid%3D44057  |newspaper=yourChesham |date=May 2012 |access-date=7 May 2012}}</ref>

Transport connections have always come late to the town. The [[Metropolitan Railway]] eventually reached Chesham in July 1889. Electrification was not to come until the 1960s. Between the two world wars and in the 1950s and 60s there was much expansion in the town with new public housing developments along the Missenden Road, at [[Pond Park]] and at [[Botley, Buckinghamshire|Botley]].<ref name="BHOChesham" /><ref>[http://www.cheshammuseum.org.uk/cm_timeline.php Chesham Timeline Chesham Museum ]  {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130624213809/http://www.cheshammuseum.org.uk/cm_timeline.php |date=24 June 2013 }}</ref>

The first public viewings of cinema films in Chesham were provided by travelling showmen around 1900 and attracted large crowds. The first purpose-built cinema, ''The Empire Picture Hall'', opened in Station Road in 1912 and in 1914 ''The Chesham Palace'' started up in The Broadway. Both showed silent films. By 1920 the Empire had closed. In 1930 the Chesham Palace was refurbished to show the new 'talkies' and reopened as ''The Astoria'' which remained in business until 1959 when the arrival of television forced it to close. ''The Embassy'' in Germain Street opened in 1935 and survived until 1982, closing due to competition from cinemas in nearby towns. ''The Elgiva Theatre'', completed in 1976 beside St Mary's Way, was equipped to show films and on moving to a new site just across the road in 1998 state of the art projection equipment was installed in the new theatre (see image below).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Foxell|first=Clive |title=The Ten Cinemas of Chesham|year=2010 |publisher=Clive Foxell |location=Chesham England |isbn=978-0-9564178-0-0}}</ref>