Photographic Collection

The Museum’s wide range of photographs includes glass plate negatives, film negatives and photographic prints. They document a broad range of views and subjects relating to Wycombe district, including a strong collection of images of the furniture industry and trade. The bulk of our photographic collection is from the 20th century, with smaller selections showing earlier views from the 19th century, as well as modern 21st century examples.

Highlights from the Photographic Collection

Chair Arch, 1884

The Chair Arch across the High Street, High Wycombe, in celebration of the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Wycombe Abbey in November 1884. This is probably the most impressive. The first was in 1877 to celebrate Queen Victoria passing through High Wycombe, and the most recent ...

The Rolling Stones in Wycombe

Inside the Town Hall, girls with members of the Rolling Stones group including Mike Jagger and Brian Jones. Taken in Queen Victoria Rd, High Wycombe, 1963.[MHW 01881] ...

Church Street, 1895

A view of man clearing snow into a cart on Church St, High Wycombe, looking north-east. The Black Boy Public House can be seen in the background. Taken about 1895. MHW 01741 ...

Bodger in Hampden Woods

Owen Dean, a ‘bodger’, outside of his work shed in Hampden Woods, Great Hampden. Taken December 1949. Bodgers were also known as turners. They worked in the woods around Wycombe district and produced all the parts of chairs that were turned on pole-lathes – including the legs and stretchers. Here ...

Churchill and the Red Lion

Winston Churchill gave a speech in support of the local Tory candidate from the portico of the Red Lion Hotel, on the High Street, High Wycombe in June 1945. A red lion still stands on the High Street in High Wycombe even though the Red Lion Hotel closed in 1969 ...

Diving at Handy Cross Pool

Three girls posing on a diving board at the main pool in the Sports Centre at Handy Cross, High Wycombe. Taken about 1980 ...

Burnham Beeches, c1900

Group of 12 men and 6 women posed in/around a large old tree, two at top of tree are indicated as members of the Glenisters family. Possibly taken in Burnham Beeches, circa 1900. [MHW 01455] ...

Glenister’s chair factory, Bellfield Road

The interior of Glenister’s chair factory on Bellfield Road, High Wycombe, taken in September 1902. The image shows a team of workers who would fit seats into chair frames – you can also see a little dog sat on a chair amidst the workers. Some of the workers look very ...

Polishing an Ercol table

A polisher giving a large desk a final buff up, before despatch, in Ercol’s furniture factory at Spring Gardens, nr Wycombe Marsh. Taken in 1995. [MHW 12477] ...

Framers at Glenisters

Chair framers at their benches in the factory of Thomas Glenister in Temple End, High Wycombe. Taken in 1907. [MHW : 01434] ...

Jack Goodchild in his workshop

Jack Goodchild posing with a finished Windsor chair at his workshop at Naphill, circa 1940. [MHW:12495] ...

Want to browse through Wycombe’s photographic history yourself?

Visit SWOP – Sharing Wycombe’s Old Photographs. SWOP is a fantastic resource of tens of thousands of images, many owned by us here at the Museum, alongside those from High Wycombe Library, The Bucks Free Press, the High Wycombe Society and private individuals. You can use SWOP’s search features to sort through over 33,000 photographs of the history of High Wycombe and the surrounding area.

Take a note of the SWOP number – Wycombe Museum’s images all start with MHW.

Visit SWOP

Want to use one of our pictures?

Have you seen one of our pictures that you would like a copy of? Our images are available to be purchased or licensed for private and public reproductions in print and media.

Take a look at our Licensing Information page to find out more.

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