Chesham was by far the largest and one of the most populous parishes in Buckinghamshire until the late 19th-century boundary changes. The bustling valley-bottom town, with its ancient market and varied industries, contrasts with the quiet agricultural hamlets on the surrounding hillsides, and it is also one of the most attractive towns in the Chilterns. "The text, comprehensive as usual, and the well-captioned illustrations of the highest standard ..." Origins