Buckingham

This pleasant town, the centre of which is contained in a loop of the River Ouse, dates back to Saxon times and was granted a charter by Alfred the Great. Although it became the county town in  AD888, when Alfred divided the shires, from an early date many of the functions of a county town were performed by the more centrally located Aylesbury.

Thanks to a disastrous fire in 1725, this lively little market town is characterised by a fine array of Georgian buildings, including Castle House in West Street, the impressive Old Gaol, one of the first purpose-built county gaols in England (built in 1748 in the style of a castle, with additions by George Gilbert Scott), and the Town Hall, located at either end of the Market Square. The Old Gaol Museum not only illustrates the building’s history, but also has displays on the town’s past and the county’s military exploits. A high-tech glass roof was added in 2000, spanning the original prisoners’ exercise yard to create a new light-filled area for special exhibits and an educational resource centre. The recently added exhibition about local author Flora Thompson has attracted visitors from all over the world. There is an annual craft fair, occasional talks, and children’s activity days are held throughout the year. One building that did survive the devastating fire of 1725 is the Buckingham Chantry Chapel (National Trust). The chapel was constructed in 1475 on the site of a Norman building whose doorway has been retained. Well worth a visit, the chapel was restored by George Gilbert Scott in 1875.

A more recent addition to this delightful town is the University of Buckingham, which was granted its charter in 1983.