Facts and places of interest in Amersham

Places of Interest in Amersham

Amersham Museum  

The low doorway at 49 High Street in Old Amersham leads directly into an original timber-framed, Tudor Hall House built over 500 years ago, the home of Amersham Museum . This fascinating museum tells the story of the town of Amersham from early times, with Roman artefacts from the villa at Mantles Green, through to the coming of the railway and the establishment of Amersham on the Hill, WW2 activities and 20th century industries.

Amersham Old Town

The view of Amersham Old Town is largely 17th and 18th century though, as Elmodesham, the town was mentioned in the Domesday Survey and was known to the Romans, a settlement being excavated at Mantles Green prior to completion of the bypass in 1987. There is also evidence that it was a Bronze Age settlement two thousand years before that.

The most striking feature of the Market Square is the fine red brick Market Hall standing on its rounded arches and surmounted by a wooden turret and clock-tower. It was a gift of the local Drake family in 1682 and on the flagstones of the open space beneath, the weekly market was held that had been granted by a charter of 1200 in the reign of King John. A two-day fair was also granted. Amersham Fair continues, as it has done for nearly 800 years, stretching the whole length of the town on the 19th and 20th of September, the patronal feast-days of the parish church.

Amersham 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.

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.

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.

Interesting Facts about Amersham

• The Beaconsfield Road is called Gore Hill and was reputedly the site of a bloody battle between the Saxons and the invading Danes in the ninth century.

• The highest point reached by London Underground trains is at Amersham on the Metropolitan Line at about 500 feet above sea level. 

• Amersham is the furthers station from central London on the London underground being 27 miles away to the west.