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Amersham Spotlight – Our estate agents view

Friday, September 13, 2019

Spotlight on Amersham - Our estate agents view. Old Amersham is perhaps one of the most photogenic and most photographed towns in The Chilterns with its timbered coaching inns, Georgian tea rooms, antique shops and Market House. For centuries its location put it on the map as a market town on the much travelled coaching route heading west from London; more recently the newer part of Amersham has grown as a prime residential commuter town with both mainline and Underground stations. The new town’s popularity has increased over the years with demand associated with the grammar schools and private schools for both boys and girls, as well as a thriving, modern town centre with stores such as Waitrose and M & S.

Street events are an integral part of the social calendar particularly in the old town where the annual Charter Fair in September dates back to a charter granted in 1200 by King John. The fair itself has completely transformed over the centuries from minstrels, acrobats, and pedlars to laser lights, candy floss, dodgems and heart-stopping fairground rides.

Once again this year, Amersham was a finalist in the Britain in Bloom Awards and will be hoping for a 5th Gold award following the RHS Britain in Bloom judges’ visit in August prior to announcing the winners at an awards ceremony this autumn. These awards clearly demonstrate how the community works together to achieve great results; volunteers do an amazing job each year in keeping Amersham beautiful.

The town has a rich history and heritage; the Martyr’s Memorial, built in 1931, recalls how seven religious dissenters were burned at the stake in 1521 for their unorthodox religious beliefs. Award winning Amersham Museum provides further insight into the town’s history with exhibits spanning 2,000 years and a comprehensive programme of events. The 15th century museum building itself is the oldest domestic building in Amersham, part of a Tudor house with a wonderful garden full of herbs and plants. 

The Chilterns area plays frequent host to film crews and the Amersham area is no exception. The Midsomer Murders Trail winds its way through scenic towns and villages such as Amersham, Little Missenden, Chesham and Chenies. The TV series attracts fans in search of its film locations, to see where “murders were committed” or have a pint in DCI Barnaby’s favourite pub. 

Although better known for his association with Great Missenden, writer Roald Dahl lived in Amersham and drew inspiration from his surroundings for his children’s stories. The Roald Dahl Museum & Story Centre at Great Missenden, inspires young visitors with interactive fun-packed but educational galleries, craft activities, storytelling and Café Twit! Family events are held throughout the year such as Roald Dahl’s Day on Saturday 14th September 11am- 5pm. 

Tripadvisor lists some 49 restaurants and pubs in Amersham with The Artichoke top of the list, an award winning restaurant in the heart of beautiful old Amersham. Tom Yum in Amersham-on-the-Hill serves authentic cooked-to-order Thai street food while The Potters Arms at Winchmore Hill delights with a range of local cuisine, Indian and Thai in gastropub ambience. Both old and new town Amersham have plenty of lively cafes, pubs and restaurants as well as a variety of boutiques and high street stores.

Nearby Coleshill can trace its roots to Roman times when natural springs made it an ideal place for a hilltop encampment. In addition to its Roman heritage it houses two historic landmarks that can be seen for miles around. Coleshill Windmill was built in 1856, while the water tower dates back to the First World War. Local history suggests that German POWs were used to help construct the water tower which was decommissioned in the 1990s and sold as a private dwelling. The conversion of the tower and a contemporary single-storey living area was featured on TV’s 'Grand Designs'.

It’s easy to see why properties are in great demand; from windmills to water towers, the Amersham area boasts a wide variety of property, superb schools local amenities and attractive outdoor spaces whilst being a short hop from London and the motorway network. For more information about the area or to see our properties for sale or to let please contact our Amersham office.