Since 1921 film companies have taken up residence in Beaconsfield. It is now the home of the National Film and Television School.
Filming crews are frequently seen in and around the Town. The television series Midsomer Murders is often filmed here. In the past Beaconsfield has had a number of famous residents.
Authors G. K. Chesterton, Enid Blyton and Alison Uttley lived in Beaconsfield, and for a short time, the American Poet Robert Frost lived here.
Film stars of a bygone age who also lived in Beaconsfield are Dame Wendy Hillier, Dirk Bogarde and Lionel Jeffries.
Today you are more likely to bump into pop stars, sportsmen and television stars making Beaconsfield a unique place to live.
In the past Beaconsfield has been home to Wiggins Teape, a paper making company and Perkin Elmer a scientific instrument company. There are now no major industrial businesses in Beaconsfield.
Beaconsfield, like most towns now accommodate mostly offices and companies in the service industry.
Farming and equestrian occupations can still be seen around the area. Beaconsfield has a good selection of shops and restaurants that attract people from adjacent towns and villages.
Beaconsfield is a market town in Buckinghamshire and is situated 23 miles west of London on the A40 between Gerrards Cross and High Wycombe by the M40 Motorway, junction 2 (see map for directions). It is in easy reach of the M25 and Heathrow Airport and has direct access to London via the Chiltern Line Railway. Journey time can vary between 35 and 45 minutes.
There are three main areas that make up Beaconsfield; Old Beaconsfield, New Beaconsfield and Holtspur - a village to the west of Beaconsfield. The total population is approximately 12,000 people.
Beaconsfield derives its name from the beech tree and this is why the Town has adopted the beech tree as its emblem. It was not the site of a signalling beacon, as many people believe.
A quarter of Beaconsfield was woodland consisting of beech trees. Bece is the old English name for a beech tree and it is from this that it is believed that Beaconsfield got its name as a clearing in the beeches. It was spelt and pronounced Beckenesfeld. Even today you will hear people pronounce Beaconsfield as Beckonsfield.
The Mayor of Beaconsfield carries out Mayoral duties for the Town. The Town Crier is also in attendance at important events. A new Mayor is elected by the Town Councillors every year. Mr Richard (Dick) Smith, the Town Crier has been in office for over 40 years and still is in good voice to attract people’s attention.
Since 1995 Beaconsfield has been twinned with Langres in France, a town near Dijon and on the southern border of the Champagne Region.
Like Beaconsfield it consists of an old and new town with a similar size population. Exchange visits are arranged between the towns by the Twinning Associations.
Beaconsfield boasts the oldest model village in the world - Bekonscot. Located in the New Town it was built by Roland Callingham in 1929 and has been visited by royalty and celebrities. Bekonscot is a non-profit organisation and is a registered charity.
Beaconsfield has its own local Nature Reserve – Holtspur Bank – an area of about 6.47 Hectares. Many different species of wild orchids, other plants and butterflies can be seen at Holtspur Bank. Volunteers – The Friends of Holtspur Bank help maintain the reserve and organise special visits for schools and other community organisations.
The Defence School of Languages has its home in Beaconsfield at The Wilton Park Estate adjacent to the Old Town. Many different languages are taught to Her Majesty’s forces. English is also taught to military personnel from other countries. It is famous for its tower block, believed to be the tallest brick built building in Europe, a landmark that can be seen from afar; but now no longer used due to safety reason.