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18th Century Universal British Directory description of Amersham.

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Amersham was included in the late 18th century Universal British Directory, the first to cover the whole country. This piece was probably written c.1793.

Amersham, Bucks is a borough town. It is 26 miles from London; has a market on Tuesdays; fairs Whitsun Monday for cattle, 19th of September for ditton and statute. The chief manufactures are lace, which is considerably large chiefly black lace; the sacking manufacture, which is but small; and a manufactory for cotton, by Messrs. Morris, Hailey, and Hailey, of all kinds of white cotton goods, by machinery of the newest, and some of it peculiar, construction. It lies in a vale between woody hills, near the river Colne, and has a free school, founded in the reign of queen Elizabeth. This little town consists of one long street, in the road from Uxbridge to Buckingham, divided about the middle by a shorter cross street; in the intersection of which stands the church; its town hall, or market house, is the handsomest in the county. The living is said to be the best in England. Here are three inns, at which are good accommodations: the Crown inn, Fowler; the Griffin inn, Loton; the King's Arms, Morgan. The post office, at the Crown inn, opens mornings at 7, and shuts at 9 o'clock in the evening. Aylesbury stage coach to London at 10 every day, except Saturday; and 2 o'clock in the afternoon from London every day, except Sunday; stops at the Griffin; inside fare 7s. outside 3s. 6d. - Amersham and Missenden stage coach, from the Crown inn, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at 8 in the morning; comes in Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, at 5 o'clock in the evening; fare as above. Waggon Mondays and Thursdays, at noon to London; comes in Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 6 o'clock in the evening.