High Wycombe has had a long and colourful history. The town appears in the Domesday Book and is known to have been inhabited by the Romans, thanks to the remains of a Roman Villa (built 150–170 AD) unearthed at a site on what is now The Rye. There has been a market held in the High Street since at least medieval times which is still going strong today.
High Wycombe was originally a mill town, well known for the manufacture of lace and linen cloth. It was also used as a stopping point on the way from Oxford to London, with many travellers staying in the town's popular taverns and inns. The paper industry flourished during the 17th and 18th centuries, thanks to the waters of The Wye which were rich in chalk, and therefore ideal for bleaching the pulp.
Wycombe's most famous industry, furniture (particularly chairs) took hold in the 19th century, with furniture factories setting up all over the town. In 1875, it was estimated that there were 4,700 chairs made per day in High Wycombe. The town's population grew from 13,000 residents in 1881 to 29,000 in 1928. When Queen Victoria visited the town in 1877, the council organised an arch of chairs to be erected over the High Street, with the words "Long live the Queen" printed boldly across the arch for the Queen to pass under. As an offshoot of the furniture industry, High Wycombe also became known for the manufacture of matches – using the surplus wood.
From 1940 to 1968 High Wycombe was the seat of the RAF Bomber Command. During World War II from May 1942 to July 1945, the U.S. Army Air Force’s 8th Air Force Bomber Command, code-named "Pinetree", was based at a former girls' school at High Wycombe. Since 1968 all commands of the Royal Air Force are housed at RAF High Wycombe.
For more information visit: www.wycombe.gov.uk/council-services/leisure-and-culture/local-and-family-history.aspx
Unique to High Wycombe: Weighing the Mayor
A unique part of Wycombe’s cultural heritage is the curious tradition of ‘Weighing the Mayor’. This ceremony has been taking place in the town since medieval times and it is believed it was created to ensure the mayor did not “live off the fat of the land”. At the beginning and end of the mayor’s serving year, they are weighed in full view of the public to see if they have gained any weight at the taxpayers’ expense!
High Wycombe is the only town in the UK to carry out this custom, which still takes place today. The Town Crier announces "And no more!" if the Mayor has not put weight on or "And some more!" if they have. The actual weight of the Mayor is not declared! It is traditional for the crowd to jeer if there is a cry of "and some more" and for them to cheer if it is a cry of "and no more". The ceremony is held on a different date each year but usually towards the end of May.
To find out more about when Weighing the Mayor takes place this year, visit: www.wycombe.gov.uk Click on the News & Events Pages for more information.
