3:37pm Wednesday 14th October 2009
By Lawrence Dunhill
A BOOK shedding new light on the medieval origins of Beaconsfield will be launched in November.
‘Beaconsfield, a History’ charts the development of the town through the centuries and features newly discovered documents.
It traces the development of the new town and introduces the reader to men like Norman Gurney, Alfred Frost and Julian Burgess, who laid out the estates and set the architectural standards.
The book crowns five years of hard work by local historians Julian Hunt and David Thorpe, who previously teamed up to write 'Gerrards Cross: A History'.
Julian Hunt said the book contains over 100 photographs and includes drawings and plans of houses in Beaconsfield, many of which can be seen today.
The book explains why so many inns closed long before the coming of the railways and charts its development as the resort of prominent politicians, legal and medical men.
The book will be launched with a one-day exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Centre on Saturday, November 14.
The exhibition will showcase the development of Beaconsfield soon after opening of the Great Western and Great Central new main line railway through the town in 1906.
On display will be the original historic plans of some of the most significant houses, in both the Old and New Town, as well as shops and public buildings erected at the turn of last century - most of which are still very much part of the town today.
Mr Hunt said: “We welcome all local residents of Beaconsfield, and those who have moved away, to come along to the exhibition.
“For many residents they will discover the plans of their properties on display, or the original plans of properties on plots which may now be rebuilt.
"Beaconsfield holds such an interesting history, much of which we has been successfully recorded thanks to the preservation of the original drawings of the leading architects of the period, Julian Burgess and Walter Holden - whose successors, A&Q Partnership of Bourne End have kindly supported the exhibition.”
Another key supporter is The Frost Partnership, whose original founder Alfred C. Frost, a chartered surveyor, was a pioneer of the early 1900’s who helped to develop much of the town as it is today with the architects and builders of the time.
The Frost Partnership still occupy their original premises in Burke’s Parade, from which the independent estate agency family still operate today.
The exhibition and book launch will be held at the from 10.30am – 4.30pm. Signed books will be on sale for £18.99.
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