Hundreds attend exhibition on history of Beaconsfield

The exhibition of original plans of houses in Beaconsfield built between 1906 and 1920 was attended by many residents keen to find out what their home used to look like, what it was worth, who lived there and what they did for a living.
The exhibition, at the Fitzwilliam Centre, Windsor End, also celebrated the launch of the latest book compiled by Julian Hunt and David Thorpe, Beaconsfield a History, which sheds new light on the medieval origins of Beaconsfield and its development as the resort of prominent politicians, legal and medical men.
The book features newly discovered documents listing the contents of the town's coaching inns and explains why so many inns closed long before the coming of the railways. 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. Over 200 copies of the book were sold on Saturday.
Julian Hunt said: "We are hugely grateful to A & Q Architects, the successors of Burgess, Holdon & Watson, the premier architects in Beaconsfield in the early 1900's. They kindly loaned over 100 original architectural plans."
David Thorpe said that more information on early property deeds that has surfaced as a result of the exhibition will be published in an Atlas of Beaconsfield early next year.
The Frost Partnership, which opened its doors in Burkes Parade, Beaconsfield in 1908, supplied a property sales ledger dating back to the first property sales through the A.C.Frost & Co as well as maps and sales particulars of plots of land belonging to the Burkes Estate, dating back to 1907, courtesy of the Gurney Trust.
Managing Director John Frost said: " It was lovely to meet so many current and past residents, all of whom have a close connection to Beaconsfield - many dating back through many generations."
If you have further information or property deeds on established properties that would like to put forward to David Thorpe please e-mail them to thorpeds@hotmail.com.
Copies of 'Beaconsfield, a history' can be purchased at local bookshops or contact the publishers, Phillmore & Co, www.publishing@phillimore.co.uk

This article will be published with photographs in The Guide section of The Advertiser on November 26.