Local History

GERRARDS CROSS 1906 - 2006 An event to celebrate the centenary of the arrival of the railway in Gerrards Cross

The Centenary Exhibition at the Memorial Centre on 29th and 30th April was very successful and visited by over 2500 people.

The last main line to be built in England, the Great Western and Great Central Joint Railway, was opened on 2nd April 1906. The new line serving Gerrards Cross offered Londoners the opportunity to live in “The Brighton of Bucks” and caused an explosion of development.

The Centenary Exhibition showed how distinguished architects and builders developed the 'new' town and featured railway memorabilia and elevations from around 100 original architect's drawings of the Arts and Crafts style houses built at Gerrards Cross for the early commuters. There were maps, plans and photographs of the residential and commercial areas and displays by the Schools and the Estate Agents.

The major aim of the exhibition was to celebrate the work of the architects, builders and estate agents whose drive and imagination shaped the new Community and to show the heritage and charm of Gerrards Cross.

GX2006 would like to acknowledge the generous support of our sponsors:

Gerrards Cross Parish Council

South Bucks District Council

Bucks County Council

The Frost Partnership

Hamptons International

Roberts Newby Partnership

GX2006 further acknowledge the Gerrards Cross Community Association, which hosted the Exhibition, and the enormous assistance provided by so many individuals and commercial organisations over the last two years to create this Exhibition, a once in a lifetime tribute to all the efforts of those who have made the “Village”.

If you didn’t see it (or would like to revisit it) visit our website http://www.gx2006.co.uk to see some of the images from the Exhibition.

Are you interested in who lived in your house, how was it named in the past, is there an original plan, who was the Architect and Builder? The website has information sources to help you.

A book on the history of Gerrards Cross has been written by Julian Hunt, formerly Heritage Manager, Buckinghamshire County Council, and David Thorpe, Hon Senior Research Fellow University College, London. A “Historical Atlas of Gerrards Cross” with detailed maps and analysis of the development and people of Gerrards Cross was also published at the Exhibition. The website explains where you can purchase copies of these publications.  

On the website, there is also a walk around Gerrards Cross looking at many of the buildings shown at the Exhibition and mentioned in the book.

If you would like more information about GX2006: