The Bucks Free Press begins a campaign to persuade the authorities to finally implement a long-held ambition of many people in High Wycombe to see at least a section of the river Wye restored to the surface as it flows through the town-centre.

The article on the main Nostalgia page tells the story of how and why the river was banished underground in the first place. Here we show a selection of pictures taken around the town showing:

• before the river was culverted

• the work involved to construct the two large concrete culverts through which the river now flows

• an area of the town after the river was culverted but before redevelopment..

An elevated view looking towards the town centre from the then council offices along Oxford Rd after the culverting of the river Wye, 1969. Redevelopment of the cleared area south of the river has not yet begun:

An elevated view looking towards the town centre from the then council offices along Oxford Rd after the culverting of the river Wye, 1969. Redevelopment of the cleared area south of the river has not yet begun

An elevated view looking towards the town centre from the then council offices along Oxford Rd after the culverting of the river Wye, 1969. Redevelopment of the cleared area south of the river has not yet begun

One of the concrete culvert-sections used to banish the river Wye underground:

One of the concrete culvert-sections used to banish the river Wye underground

One of the concrete culvert-sections used to banish the river Wye underground

This view looking east along Oxford Rd towards the town centre is of the river Wye between Westbourne St and Brook St in 1955:

This view looking east along Oxford Rd towards the town centre is of the river Wye between Westbourne St and Brook St in 1955

This view looking east along Oxford Rd towards the town centre is of the river Wye between Westbourne St and Brook St in 1955

The twin culvert to carry the river Wye is under construction in the St Mary St area in May 1965. The Fire Station can be seen in the background to the right:

The twin culvert to carry the river Wye is under construction in the St Mary St area in May 1965. The Fire Station can be seen in the background to the right

The twin culvert to carry the river Wye is under construction in the St Mary St area in May 1965. The Fire Station can be seen in the background to the right

The river Wye and the footbridges across from the Oxford Rd to Remington Terrace, 1908:

The river Wye and the footbridges across from the Oxford Rd to Remington Terrace, 1908

The river Wye and the footbridges across from the Oxford Rd to Remington Terrace, 1908