The Buildings of Wycombe: No. 28 High Street

I also enjoy hearing from the readers especially when comments are left asking me to feature their favourite buildings.

Last week a reader called “Mama36” asked me to feature “the building where Woody now resides in the High Street”. Naturally yours truly was more than happy to oblige.

The building question is number twenty eight near the far end of the High Street.

Its amazing how what may appear as a seemingly ordinary building can turn out to have a colourful or important past not to mention the story of the architect who designed it.

When Pevsner carried out his perambulation of Wycombe in the 1950's he walked right by No. 28 without a mention of the structure or its historical significance.

After conducting my own research it turns out this weeks featured building was designed in 1897 by the architect Arthur Vernon as the Wycombe Conservative Club.

Now, there's an interesting link here with the buildings political purpose and the architect because Arthur Vernon's first job after completing his training as an architect in 1870 was as the land agent to the Earl of Beaconsfield and former Prime Minster Benjamin Disraeli at Hughenden.

Over the years Arthur Vernon was Mayor of Wycombe no fewer than four times (1882, 1891, 1905, 1906).

If that wasn’t enough he was also president of Wycombe Chamber of Commerce, a Captain in the Wycombe Fire Brigade and President of the Surveyors Institution (now the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors).

During his time Arthur Vernon also worked on other notable buildings in Wycombe including the Grammar School in Easton Street and Priory Road School.

With such strong affiliations with political and municipal organisations surely it was fitting that he should be called upon to use his architectural skills to design the very building that housed the local Conservative Club?

Just look at the magnificent building he designed.

Constructed in red brick to a late Gothic style with a large, prominent decorated gable and barge boards this building literally shouts its importance to the passer by.

The large, tall, Gothic windows on the first floor are decorated with stone surrounds making this building look most regal indeed a balustrade below the right hand widow adds to the impressiveness of the structure.

You can image the local dignitaries, councillors, member of Parliament and party members visiting this impressive and prestigious building.

All too often old buildings are allowed to fall into disrepair however thankfully No. 28 is well maintained and today the general public can walk through door to pay a visit as the building is currently used as a tattoo studio.

What do you think?

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