The third and final article about local wildflowers and their historical heritage by Marieke Bosman is about the plant which flowers in late summer/early autumn and can be found only in the Chilterns – the Chiltern Gentian. The article was written for the Society’s September 2024 Newsletter. Her previous articles […]
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Wild Amersham is a group within Sustainable Amersham set up by local people who care about the natural world and want to act to make a difference. To know more about who they are and what they do to encourage others to enjoy, learn about and support local nature, read […]
Marieke Bosman, from Wild Amersham, continues her writing about some of the wildflowers growing in and around Amersham along with their historical heritage. Her first article was about three winter wildflowers – one for each month. For the second article published in the Society’s May 2024 Newsletter she chose just […]
A new A3 map leaflet for visitors to Amersham has been produced by Amersham Action Group volunteers which, for the first time, provides useful and interesting information for both parts of the Town. The front features the metroland-style designed map for Amersham-on-the-Hill and on the back is our Old Amersham […]
During 2024, Marieke Bosman, from Wild Amersham, will write about some of the wildflowers growing in and around Amersham along with their historical heritage. We hope this will encourage you to go out and enjoy them and perhaps look for ways to help protect this natural heritage for future generations. […]
The article “The rainforest on Amersham’s doorstep” by Marieke Bosman was written for the Society’s January 2022 Newsletter and underscores the importance of our local habitat. Marieke is an Old Amersham resident who is passionate about wildflowers and their protection and enjoyment. Her wildflower art is @mrsbloem on Instagram.
The recent article “An Heirloom Comes Home” by Barney Tyrwhitt-Drake published in the Society’s September 2019 Newsletter has sparked a lot of interest among our members. The fascinating story of his great great grandfather, William Tyrwhitt-Drake, a Cavalry officer at Waterloo, was told through the 200 year history of his […]
The Society’s 2018 heritage project was to design and install a new map for the Amersham Old Town. Keeping up with the tradition of producing maps and promoting walks in and around the town, the new map slogan reads: “Walk the paths and enjoy the town’s hidden corners”.
On 25 Sep we will welcome back Dr. Melanie Windridge, physicist, writer, lecturer and mountaineer. In the talk “Summiting the Science of Everest” she will tell us the story of her own summit attempt in 2018. Read more about Dr. Windridge and her passion for travelling under extreme conditions in […]
When the Amersham Society was formed the first item on the agenda of the first Committee meeting was to discuss the fate of Shardeloes House, the home of the Lords of the Manor of Amersham. It was decided that the Society should do all in their power to prevent its […]
The Amersham Society Talk on 30 Jan 2019, given by Edward Copisarow, was provocatively entitled “The Destruction of Shardeloes”. It illustrated how a change in public opinion with regards to Britain’s built heritage helped to protect this historic country house. The report below from our May Newsletter is enhanced by […]
Although the Amersham Society started originally as a historical society, very soon it became clear that it needed to deal with preservation of old buildings, signs, monuments, footpaths in and around the Town. One of the first heritage projects initiated and supported by the Society was a restoration of the […]
The Amersham Society Committee has decided to go ahead with conservation work on the Vagabond (or Vagrant) notice later this year. It has been 25 years since the previous restoration performed by the Society. Back in 1994 the work was carried out by Martin Cook, the local carver and expert […]
One of our guests, that we welcomed at the Society Recruitment Party on Wednesday, was Barney Tyrwhitt-Drake. He had previously given two well remembered talks to the Amersham Society back in 2000 and 2001 on the history of the Drake family.
The first town trail leaflet “Amersham: A Walk around the Old Town” was published in 1975 as a contribution to European Architectural Heritage Year. The Society joined the Council of Europe’s initiative to raise public awareness that architectural heritage consists not only of the most important monuments, it also includes […]
Archaeologist Michael Farley will be back at the Society meeting on 24 Apr with the talk “Moats, Mottes and Castles” about the history of conflict and defence in Medieval Buckinghamshire. The previous talk “Saxon Buckinghamshire”, which he gave on 24 Feb 2016, was very well received by members. Here is […]
Five years ago Sir John Johnson wrote two articles about spring and summer walks around Amersham. Both were published in the Society 2014 Newsletters under the common name ‘Amersham Country Diary’. Today we are releasing them online to share Sir John’s passion for the countryside and to encourage people to […]
The tribute to Sir John Johnson KCMG (1930 – 2018), a prominent member of the Society and much respected and liked figure in the Old Town, was originally published in the January 2019 Newsletter:
In Jan 1998 Newsletter Jean Archer recalled the first Society exhibition. It became an annual event which ran for seventeen years. THE FIRST AMERSHAM SOCIETY EXHIBITION Letter from the Chairman The first exhibition of the newly-formed Amersham Society took place in the Market Hall in 1957 and proved to be […]
In Nov 1987 Eric Corns outlined 30 years history of the Society and invited members to celebrate its achievements. The Anniversary Party took place on Sat 14 Nov at the Market Hall. Among the special guests at the party was Earl Howe. In his letter he thanked Mr Corns for […]
On becoming Chairman, Jean Archer shared her personal memories how the Society started 40 years earlier:
In 1982 the Society was authorised to reproduce Thomas King’s “History of Amersham” to raise funds for the Museum. Today we are publishing it online to promote an interest in the history of the town and the surrounding area.
A historical commemorative tablet on the north side wall of the Market Hall was erected by the Society in 1972. The inscription on the tablet gives the history of Amersham from Saxon times. We are transcribing it now as a part of our ongoing work of making all the Society […]
The booklet “50 years of The Amersham Society, Founders of the Amersham Museum” was written by Dr Michael Brooks, Christine Standring and Barbara Webber and published in 2006 to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Society. Today we are pleased to make the full text and illustrations available online.
Section I of the booklet “50 years of the Amersham Society” covers the following chapters: Foreword by Cheryl Gillan MP · Introduction · Setting up the Society · Early events and activities · Formalising the Society · Early plans for a museum · A Museum is established.
Section II of the booklet “50 years of the Amersham Society” covers the following chapters: Early Newsletters and publications · A permanent home for the Museum · Fund raising · Restoration of 49 High Street · A new curator and an unexpected artefact · The Official opening of the Museum.
Section III of the booklet “50 years of the Amersham Society” covers the following chapters: Society – and the future of the Fair · Committee changes · The Millennium project · The Martyrs of Amersham · Loyal supporters and unsung volunteers · Jean Archer.
Section IV of the booklet “50 years of the Amersham Society” covers the following chapters: The Society becomes a separate organisation · The Society moves forward in the new Millennium · The overall appearance of the town · Monitoring planning activities · Caring for the environment.
Section V of the booklet “50 years of the Amersham Society” covers the following chapters:The Newsletter and other communications to members · Traffic, litter and Licensing · Meetings, lectures and visits · Membership · 50th Anniversary · Summary · The Chairman writes · Acknowledgements.