Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire, one of the central counties of England, has a population or around 620,000, and covers 727 square miles (1,883 sq km). The county seat is Aylesbury. The county name is commonly abbreviated to Bucks.

In Buckinghamshire there are the popular towns of Leighton Buzzard, Buckingham, Milton Keynes, High Wycombe, Aylesbury and Olney.

 

Geography

The Thames River forms the southern boundary of the county. In Southern Buckinghamshire are the chalky Chiltern Hills with their lovely beech forests. The county is very wooded on the hills and the countryside is rolling.

Industry

Furniture made from beech wood is still one of the county's most notable products. The area is largely agricultural; barley, wheat, oats, and beans are the chief crops of the fertile Vale of Aylesbury in North Buckinghamshire. Cattle, pigs, sheep, and poultry (including the famous Aylesbury Duck) are raised farther south. Industries, including high tech products, have developed in Aylesbury, High Wycombe, and Wolverton.

History

During the 10th century, the Kings of Wessex needed to raise money to equip a new castle at Buckingham to defend against the invading Danes. More than 200 communities and estates were grouped together, from what was the eastern edge of the Saxon Kingdom of Wessex and created a county measuring 50 miles long and 10 miles wide. After the Danes were driven out of the area, the castle in Buckingham became disused. In the early 17th century, the heavily forested woodland surrounding the Chiltern Hills was cleared - mainly for access to London. Cottage industries such as lace making, straw plaiting and chair making developed in the county during the 18th century. In the late 19th century, more than 100 furniture factories existed in the town of High Wycombe alone. Icknield Street and Watling Street cross the county, and there are extensive Roman and pre-Roman remains. Also in Buckinghamshire are Eton College, England's most famous public school and Checquers, a historic Tudor mansion and residence of British Prime Minister.