| Chesham | |
|---|---|
 The Chesham clock tower, located in the Market Square | |
  Chesham Location within Buckinghamshire | |
| Population | 23,088 (2021)[1] |
| OS grid reference | SP965015 |
| • London | 25.8 miles (41.5 km) SE |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CHESHAM |
| Postcode district | HP5 |
| Dialling code | 01494 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Buckinghamshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| UK Parliament | |
Chesham (/ˈtʃɛʃəm/ CHESH-əm, locally /ˈtʃɛsəm/ CHESS-əm or /ˈtʃɛzəm/ CHEZ-əm) is a market town and civil parish in Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom, 11 miles (18 km) south-east of the county town of Aylesbury, about 26 miles (42 km) north-west of central London, and part of the London commuter belt. It is in the Chess Valley,[2] surrounded by farmland. The earliest records of Chesham as a settlement are from the second half of the 10th century, although there is archaeological evidence of people in this area from around 8000 BC. Henry III granted a royal charter for a weekly market in 1257.[3]
Chesham is known for its five Bs — boots, beer, brushes, bricks and Baptists.[4] In the face of fierce competition from both home and abroad during the later 19th and early 20th centuries, the three traditional industries rapidly declined. The ready availability of skilled labour encouraged new industries to the town both before and after the Second World War. Today, employment in the town is provided mainly by small businesses engaged in light industry, technology and professional services.
From the early part of the 20th century, Chesham has experienced considerable expansion, with new housing developments and civic infrastructure. Chesham has become a commuter town with improved connection to London via the London Underground and road networks. The town centre has been progressively redeveloped since the 1960s and has been pedestrianised since the 1990s. The population at the 2021 census was 23,008.[1]
- ^ a b Neighbourhood statistics census 2011 Archived 22 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Accessed 1 February 2013
- ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 89.
- ^ Andrew, Martin (2001). Amersham, Chesham and Rickmansworth. England: Frith Book Company Limited. ISBN 1-85937-340-2.
- ^ Piggin, George (1993). Tales of Old Chesham. Highgate Publications (Beverley) Ltd. ISBN 0-948929-70-7.