Chesham Society 60th Anniversary Timeline
Meeting held at Val Biro’s home, and decision made to form Chesham Society.
First committee meeting.
Society campaigns and wins victory preventing inappropriate lighting in High Street.
Permission granted to demolish Crown Hotel in High Street.
Proposals published for Chiltern Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The County Council’s Town Plan proposing prosing road-widening and widespread demolition of Old Town.
Decision made not to build relief road to which Society had strongly objected.
Society provides suggestions on relieving traffic congestion and saving Town Hall.
Old Town Hall in Market Square demolished.
Society organises and curates Picture Chesham exhibition.
Society supports Local Council’s suggestion of a one-way road system.
Demolition of 37-41 High Street against advice of Society.
Demolition of No.48-52 High Street and construction of original Waitrose store.
Conservation Areas for Chesham proposed by County Council.
County Council unveils plan for Chesham Bois bypass, known as the Link Road.
Society helps organise and participates in Millenary Festival to celebrate Chesham’s 1000 years of recorded history.
Conservation Areas adopted by County Council Planning Committee.
Mineral Cottage partly demolished.
Major clear-up of Captain’s Wood by Society and Natural History Society.
Chesham’s sole surviving building of Tudor origin, 35 High Street (Coral Fish Bar), demolished.
56-58 High Street (The Lamb) demolished.
Society issues first edition of newsletter Focus.
Non-listed part of Amy Mill demolished.
First of many members’ barbecues and barn dances.
Amy Mill partly demolished.
Society raises awareness of traffic problems, taking Councillors on tour of the Town.
Society successfully campaigns work to start rebuilding Town Bridge.
Chesham Urban District Council and Amersham Rural District Council combined to form Chiltern District Council.
Society restores ornamental ironwork above gateway leading to St Mary’s Church.
Society successfully requests listing of 1 Blucher Street (Climpsons’ Wine Merchants).
The formation of the Chesham Society’s Policy Statement.
First edition of the Town Trail published by Ray Payne and his Special Projects Group.
Public enquiry begins into Council’s Local Plan for widening and extending St Mary’s Way.
First application to develop old Co-op site at north end of High Street.
Report published accepting in principal widening St Mary’s Way.
Waitrose develops old Co-Op site at northern end of High Street.
The Chesham Town Centre and Waterside Local Plan becomes a reality thirteen years after first being proposed.
Lord’s Mill site largely demolished.
Society successfully appeals against extending Watermeadow carpark onto open space known as the Donkey Land.
Centenary of the Metropolitan Railway coming to Chesham.
High Street becomes part-pedestrianised.
Widened St Mary’s Way becomes operational.
Society organises exhibition of old photographs of Chesham.
Society conducts the Chesham Town Survey.
Society launches first of Chesham Society Awards.
Society successfully challenges extension to west front of St Mary’s Church and advises on interior refurbishment.
Society’s newsletter Focus upgraded and enlarged.
Sainsbury’s submits draft proposal for new superstore.
Society advises on H G Matthews’ conversion of former doctor’s surgery Ivy House, Red Lion Street, into three separate dwellings.
Society organises first Heritage Open Day in Chesham, opening The Bury to the public.
Sainsbury’s development, including The Elgiva and new Town Hall, completed.
Society supports application for purpose-built Mosque in Bellingdon Road.
Society supports permanent relocation of market to High Street.
Jennifer Moss writes history of Chesham Society based on its archive.
Society becomes a registered charity.
Society attempts to redevelop Market Square.
Government establishes High Speed 2 Ltd.
Secretary of State for Transport announces that HS2 would go ahead. Society begins campaign to protect Green Belt and AONB.
Community orchard planted.
Society sponsors an evening with Tony Hawks at The Elgiva.
Society picks up award at Civic Voice’s Civic Awards Day.
Society responds to HS2 Environmental Statement.
Society publishes eight Visions for Chesham in response to District Council’s Local Plan to 2036.
Change to the Constitution of the Chesham Society.
Jennifer Moss stands down as President of Chesham Society after more than 40 years work with the Society. Helen Salisbury elected new President.
MP Cheryl Gillan calls Society’s A Vision of Chesham “exciting”.
Intellectual property pertaining to A Vision of Chesham is passed to Chesham Community Interest Company.
Society organises Chesham Heritage Open Day. Twenty-one events attract 3450 visits.
Society joins London Green Belt Council in support of protecting Green Belt.
Launch of Chesham Renaissance Community Interest Company masterplan.
Society celebrates 60 years of Putting Chesham First.