Life in Amersham 1880-1930

Amersham Broadway in the late 1880’s, whilst the church tower was being renovated

Mr Ayres the blacksmith in 1883

Mr Stevens and Mr Pusey in their butchers' shop in 1922

Mr Hazell the gamekeeper with his dog in Cow Pastures

The gas company cart outside the Market Hall 1910

Improving the road surface in the High Street with a steam roller 1910

Digging the trench for the new gas main in Whielden Street, September 1910

George Ward Junior in his father's workshop c. 1895

Bessie Ward's shop c. 1895

By 1892 the band had been renamed The Amersham Town Band, as various members had broken their pledge! Here George Ward is in the centre of the back row

Bessie Eagles, the future Mrs Ward, at Elmodesham House

Children in Tan Yard, with the gasholder in the background 1910

Cornelius (known as Corrie) was George Ward's youngest son. Photo taken in about 1904 when small boys wore skirts!

A mother and daughter dressed in their best clothes c.1892

Mr Nichols the schoolmaster with his class of boys 1895

Clem Ford, the Manager of Weller's brewery, with his sporting trophies 1892

A studio portrait of Mr Randell (Butler at Coleshill House) and Annie Swaby in theatrical costume 1895

Mrs Toovey’s daughter in a formal pose in George Ward’s studio 1895

This view of Amersham clearly shows the tower of St. Mary’s Church before it was remodelled. The Rectory is on the hill behind.

The King's Arms in 1915 before the facade was "improved". Elmodesham House is at the right of the picture

After the 1890 fire at the Malthouse behind the Broadway in Amersham

Jubilee Celebrations at the Hare and Hounds included a troupe of black faced entertainers before that became politically incorrect 1895

The first recorded car accident in the High Street, Amersham about 1930

Sheep in Market Square with Mr Lillywhite, the policeman, in 1890

Town Mill with the Dower House in the background c.1895

The Hunt meet in Market Square 1901

Orient Express with George's wife and their three sons George, William & Cornelius c.1900

George Ward's two older sons on their motorbikes outside the Market Hall

Scaffolding surrounds the church during the works in 1890

The Church after the works showing the war memorial cross in the churchyard, which was constructed in 1919 after the First World War. It was moved to the Memorial Gardens after WWII.

The Union Workhouse was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott who also designed the Albert memorial in Hyde Park and St Pancras Station in London. It was built in 1838 and served a number of local parishes and provided basic care of the elderly and those unable to work. The building later became Amersham General Hospital and is now Gilbert Scott Court.

The infirmary building was a later addition to the workhouse complex. On this image the title was scratched into the negative by George Ward.

Wade’s Corner Shop run by George Ward’s friend Ebenezer King 1889

Wade’s window with price tags in shillings and pence 1889

Scott's the butcher in Whielden Street 1891

Mrs Aldridge’s toy shop with hoops and skipping ropes hung beside the door 1889

A grocery shop in Whielden Street next to the Saracen’s Head 1888

Weller’s brewery dray outside the Queen’s Head in Chesham 1899

Gurney’s butcher’s shop with oxen named Suet & Dumpling pulling a wagon advertising Atora suet 1918

Chesham Bois Dairy delivering milk. Milk was dispensed from the churn by a measuring ladle into your own jug 1921

J. Whiteside, Amersham’s baker delivered fresh bread daily 1920

The annual Charter Fair c. 1925

The Amersham Town Band lead the procession along the High Street towards the annual Flower Show c. 1901

The Old Berkeley Hunt meet outside The Gables, seen from Ward’s upstairs window 1901

A posed shot of children under the arches of the Market Hall, before the right hand arch was filled in by the second staircase. The rope attached to the fire bell can be seen hanging from the ceiling. 1899

Adults and children watching Mr Knight loading wool bales outside the Elephant & Castle 1891

A group of boys playing in the street outside the Crown Hotel 1899

A group photograph of the Amersham Baptist Sunday School with the Town Band 1893

The greasy pole competition at the Flower Show in Rectory Meadow. Dr Henderson in the trilby is judging. 1917

The start of the Amersham Marathon race at the Market Hall was photographed by more than one camera as we can see the leg of a tripod on the right hand side. 1922

Amersham Football Team in fancy dress c. 1896. The team was started in 1890 by the Rev. E B Cooper, Headmaster of Dr. Challoner’s Grammar School, standing on the left.

Amersham Flower Show in Dovecotes Meadow from the Broadway in 1894

An elderly lady in a bath chair with a young companion in 1895

The Ford family with children riding in a goat cart in 1895

Mrs Drake of Shardeloes, dressed in a riding habit and riding side saddle, poses on a hunter outside the stables 1889

Two young women in a donkey cart

Mrs Higham-Hunt of Hyde Heath with horse & cart

Weller's dray in the Broadway dressed for the Coronation in 1911

Harry Gilbert in pony and cart in Amersham High Street. Not much traffic! 1912

Sheep in the High Street near the Market Hall during the Whit Monday cattle fair 1905

A stranded biplane somewhere near Amersham c. 1915

Milk churns in the foreground at Amersham station c. 1925

Celebrating Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee outside the Post Office 1887

Oakfield Corner in Amersham-on-the-Hill in the 1920s before traffic increased

All aboard. Setting off on the annual Baptist Chapel outing. 1900

Frith House in the High Street decorated for Edward VII’s coronation 1901

Touring Preachers visit Amersham in 1896

Parade next to the Market Hall in WWI

More fund raising for the war effort

Parading with the Scouts in the High Street

Shock horror! Young women in uniform smoking in public.

Recruits on the left in Market Square

Amersham Museum

For information about the museum, see www.AmershamMuseum.org