Have You Seen These
The Downley Local History Group was set up in the summer of 2018, although the website itself did not go live until early 2020. The DLHG made the decision that any donated material relating to history of Downley would be added to the website as soon as practicable, and we have continuously adopted this approach. It does however mean that those who have previously looked through the website at an early stage of its life may not have realised what material has been added subsequently.
We have therefore set up this new page identifying when new material has been added, with the addition of a brief summary of the content, together with a direct link as to where it is to be found. Just click on the blue, underlined text.
We hope you find it useful.
2020
Memories of a Near Miss A lucky escape from an errant V1 Buzz Bomb.
Secret Hillside Hughenden Manor was host to a secret, war-time military establishment where one of Downley’s subsequent inhabitants was billeted.
2022
Bricks and West Wycombe How the bricks from Downley transformed West Wycombe.
Memories of a Young Lad A young Jim Cross recalls the destruction caused by the V1 Buzz Bomb.
Tank Testing Tank tracks across Downley and Naphill Commons (1939 – 1945).
2023
Dickie Gray The Donkeyman remembered.
Golf on the Common A nine-hole golf course promoted by Sir Francis Dashwood and friends existed from 1893 to 1904 before the club moved to Flackwell Heath. The locals however carried on the tradition until 1939 when the course was obliterated by tank tracks.
Pigs, Bombs and Handstands Jeff Wheeler is the link that joins these three topics. Here you can also listen to his description of taking pigs to the abattoir adjacent to Mountjoy’s Retreat.
Strong Women How the women of Downley took over from their dead husbands to run farms, shops and factories.
Triggering a Crisis Increased work opportunities led to a rapid growth in the number of Downley inhabitant. A subsequent dispute over workers’ pay eventually led to lock out of union labour.
2024
The Prims The Primitive Methodist Chapel on Church Street, built in 1864 survives, as a private dwelling. It closed in September 1964 although the last wedding was held there, with special dispensation, a week later.
Death of Young Daisy How the death in 1891 of a 14-Year-old girl, living in abject poverty, shocked the establishment.
2025
The Wrath of Lady Dashwood Why there is no road, only a track, between Downley and Naphill