Aylesbury

Aylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire in south central England. It has a population in the 2001 census of 65,173 and is part of the London commuter belt.

Trade and industry

Traditionally the town was a commercial centre with a market dating back to the Saxon period. This is because it was established on the main Akeman Street which became an established trade route linking London to the south west. In 1180 a gaol was established in the town (it is still there though has moved locations two or three times) which only really happened in main towns across the country.

Related Topics:
Market - Trade route - London - 1180 - Gaol

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By 1477 flour was being ground in the town for surrounding parishes. By the modern period this had grown into a huge established industry: the last mill in Aylesbury was closed in the 1970s. By 1560 the manufacture of needles had become a huge industry in Aylesbury, and was the only place in the country where needles were made.

Related Topics:
1477 - Flour - Parishes - Mill - 1970s - 1560 - Needles

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In 1672 poor children in Buckinghamshire were taught to make lace as a way to make a living. Bucks lace as it became known quickly became very sought after and production boomed as the lace was mainly made by poor women and children. The lace-making industry had died out by Victorian times, however, as new machine-made lace became preferable.

Related Topics:
1672 - Lace - Victorian

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In 1764 Euclid Neale opened his clockmaking workshop in Aylesbury. In the 18th century he was one of the best clock makers in the country.

Related Topics:
1764 - 18th century

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In 1814 the Aylesbury arm of the Grand Union Canal was opened bringing major industry to the town for the first time.

Related Topics:
1814 - Grand Union Canal

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The railway came to Aylesbury in 1839 when the Aylesbury Railway opened from Cheddington on Robert Stephenson's London and Birmingham Railway. The Wycombe Railway arrived via Princes Risborough on 1st October 1863, and on 23rd September 1868 the Aylesbury and Buckingham Railway was opened from Verney Junction, to make an end-on junction with the Wycombe Railway. The Metropolitan Railway from Baker Street arrived via Amersham in 1892. The Aylesbury Railway closed in 1953, and there are now no regular passenger services north of Aylesbury. The other lines from London remain in service and are heavily used.

Related Topics:
1839 - Cheddington - Robert Stephenson - London - Birmingham - Princes Risborough - 1st October - 1863 - 23rd September - 1868 - Verney Junction - Metropolitan Railway - Baker Street - Amersham - 1892 - 1953

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By the late 19th century the printers and bookbinders Hazell, Watson and Viney and the Nestlé dairy were the two main employers in the town, employing more than half the total population.

Related Topics:
19th century - Nestlé - Dairy

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Today the town is still a major commercial centre and the market still meets on the cobbles of the old Market Square four days a week. Nestle and Hazell, Watson and Viney have both gone, though three major industrial centres make sure the town has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.

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