In 1852 it became a Parish in its own Right & in 1896 the Oxon part of the Parish was transferred to Bucks. Cadmore End is a small quiet Hamlet between Lane End & Stokenchurch Parish to the West of High Wycombe. Unfortunately when the M40 was built it divided the Village into 2, but this does not seem to detract from the beauty around it.
The name Cademere was 1st noted in the Records in 1235. The origin is “Cada’s Boundary” Cada being the name of a person (probably a Saxon) & “maere” to mean the edge, possibly of his Landholding. The Manor of Cadmore End was 1st Recorded in the 16thC, when it was in the possession of the Husband of Ann Countess of Warwick, daughter of the Duke of Somerset.
The Manor passed through various hands, eventually being acquired by Thomas Taylor of Aston Rowant, Lord Parmoor of Frieth in 1860. He was the grandfather of Sir Stafford Cripps, who became Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government of Clement Atlee. Sir Stafford was born at Parmoor House (now St Katherine’s Retreat) in Frieth in 1889. The Hamlet is renowned for the interesting Characters who have lived there.
The most bizarre is John (Jack) Butler, who was known locally as “the Hermit” because he lived in a tiny Shack in the Woods made up of Tree-boughs, dried leaves & corrugated Iron Sheets. Ramblers through the Woods would sometimes come across him – Tall & Bearded with his hair down to his waist. Jack was born in Cadmore End & brought up by his grandmother who made sure he was educated by sending him to a Local School. For many years he earned a living doing odd-jobs, one of which was tying up bundles of wood. On reaching 65 people from the Village took his old age Pension to his Hovel in the Woods & often included small luxuries. He was at one time taken to the Workhouse at Saunderton, but he soon returned to his Shack. Jack Butler convinced himself that he would never die, he thought of himself as a Prophet, saying to Visitors “I am not as other men are”. Old Jack died in 1936s in his 88th yr & was buried in the Churchyard. His stooped, lean figure walking the paths that his own feet may 1st have marked across Pound Bottom Wood, Leygrove Wood & Cadmore End Common is seen no more.
Cadmore End Common has avoided the fate of many Villages & Hamlets & escaped the growth they experienced in the 20thC. The Hamlet remains small & dispersed, much of it being a Conservation Area. Modern Buildings are few as compared with older Buildings. The oldest building is Kensham Farmhouse, whose origins date back to the 15thC. The Farmhouse was altered in the 16thC & with Extensions dating from the 16th to 17thC & from the 20thC.
Kensham Farm, on Cadmore End Common, in the Southeast, dates probably from the 15thC, The farmhouse was altered in the 16th century and with extensions dating from the 16th to 17thC & from the 20thC.
Kensham Farmhouse: Single Storey & Attic, it is Built mostly of Brick, some Vitrified, some Flint & some Timber-framing. Chimney Shafts are set on the Diagonal. L-plan with Staircase projection in Rear Angle. Has 2-Gabled Bays, the Ground-Floor right Bay of Flint. Brick Band Course at 1st-Floor Level. 20thC paired barred Wooden Casements, those to Ground-Floor with Cambered Heads, those above with Segmental Heads. Central old board Door in 20thC Gabled Brick Porch with Arched entry. 19thC Hipped Extension of re-used narrow Brick to left, with similar Casement & later 19thC Lean-to at left end.
Interior: left Bay originally an Open Hall, the Ccentral base Cruck Truss with chamfered Arch-braces to Collar & stop-chamfered Aisle Plate with Curved Brace along West side; Chimney-Stack & Floor inserted 16thC, with massive Spine Beam & slightly chamfered Heavy Joists; early-Panelling in Front right Room; Winder Staircase.
There are a number of Areas in & around the Chilterns containing patches of Silty Clay, referred to as ‘Brick-earth’, which was used in small-scale Local Brickmaking. Such Brickmaking Works existed in Cadmore End Common, where it was the Primary Industry until 1939 when the Clay ran out.
Kensham Farm, Sadlers (once a Farm) & Huckenden Farm all show signs of having once been connected with Brickmaking. One Kiln remains & is a Grade-II Listed Building. A Recording Studio was set up in the Barn by the late Alvin Lee of British Blues-Rock band Ten Years After & oddly, it was particularly busy during its last 10-yrs. Although many other Buildings which were Associated with the Brickworks have disappeared, the Wage Office still exists & many small Ponds dot the Common indicating where Clay was extracted.
Huckenden Farm
Huckenden Farmhouse Bolters End Lane, Wheelers End is a late-16th to early-17thC Building with additions from various Periods. It Ranges from 1 to 2-Storeys & is of Brick & Flint, with some Timber-framing with Brick Infill to the rear Gable & Wall. It has Dentil Eaves & 20thC leaded Casements. The Barn was Built in the late-17thC to early-18thC of Timber-frame & Weatherboard on a Brick & Flint Plinth.
This Industry is the most likely influence on the growth of the Settlement. In addition to the Clay Pits, Residents recall that Chalk was also at Kensham Farm at the Western end of the conservation area extracted from Shafts dug on the Common. Some of these are small & dispersed. Modern Buildings are few as compared with older Buildings, although their grouping makes them more prominent than is desired. Enhancing the impression of remoteness is the M40 which cut through the area in 1978, severing Cadmore End Common from Cadmore End, leaving the Primary Access via Bolter End Lane. Nearby Wheeler End was home to a group of Mummers until the mid-1900s. The word Mummer is derived from an old French word meaning ‘Mask’ & refers to the Local Acting Group which travelled to surrounding Villages to perform Plays in Pubs or Homes. The Wheeler End Mummers performed in the Winter months & rehearsed in the Brick Kiln at Cadmore End Common
The Kiln was Built around 1830 & was used for Firing Tiles until 1939 when the Local Clay was Exhausted, although it may also have been Closed at the Outbreak of WW2 when updraught Kilns were Closed to prevent use as Targets or Beacons by Enemy Bombers. It is a Brick Structure with a shallow Dome & a Central Round Chimney.
Chequers Manor, at Cadmore End, sits in an Elevated position at the top end of the Hambleden Valley enjoying far reaching views to the South & West. Believed to date from the early-19thC, Chequers Manor is a Country House, approached via a long sweeping Driveway. The Property provides gracious accommodation including fine reception rooms, impressive Fireplaces & detailed Cornice work. It has undergone an extensive restoration project. Chequers Manor was once the home of Sir David Brown (1904-1993), an English Entrepreneur, MD of David Brown Limited & one time owner of Shipbuilders Vosper Thornycroft & Car Manufacturer Aston Martin.
The Church of St Mary-Le-Moor in Cadmore End is of relatively recent Origin, having been Built in 1851, but a Chapel of St Mary is known to have been in existence since 1247. The Roof tiles of the present Church were made locally at Cadmore End Kiln & the Building is today Grade-2 Listed.
Cadmore End has its own Church of England School, built to the North of the Marlow Road. When built the School would have had unbroken Countryside on its Northern side, but now it is located between the M40 & the Marlow Road.
Another Resident was Sir Mortimer Wheeler (1890-1976), the famous Archaeologist, being the Author of 24-Books on the subject, as well as a Director of the London Museum & the Museum of Wales. He was a Hero of WWI, being awarded the Military Cross for Action at Western Front.
Aston Rowant & Chilterns Spring Line Villages 