ABOUT

About Us

The journey to 25 High Street started with the search for commercial premises by local business The Bespoke Homes Company | M Glynn Builders Ltd. Unable to source a suitable office solution in the town centre, the team created their own unique and flexible office workspace that they could share with others. Co founders Matt & Gemma grew up in High Wycombe and are committed to being a part of the High Wycombe town centre community, making a difference and supporting the local economy. 25 High Street is proud to support other local businesses, charities and charitable ventures that benefit High Wycombe.

History of the building

25 High Street forms part of a terrace of Regency dwellings originally built by Cubitt of London in the mid nineteenth Century. The terrace is thought to have been built for Earl Carrington, Marquis of Lincolnshire, an aristocrat and Liberal politician representing High Wycombe. 25 High Street is a grade II listed townhouse with the original part of the property being built in c1840. No. 25 still retains many of its original features.

After the Great Fire of London in 1666 and subsequent introduction of the London Building Act 1774, attention was focussed on the quality and appearance of housing in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Photograph courtesy of Bucks Free Press
Photographs sourced thanks to www.swop.org.uk

Photograph courtesy of High Wycombe library. Photographs sourced thanks to www.swop.org.uk

According to the Act, which determined four types of building construction, graded by floor area and value , 25 High Street is classed “Third Rate”. 25 High Street was built from standard pattern books of plans and details, with most of the components out of the “catalogue” and ordered in bulk. The terrace (24-27 High Street) is an excellent example of a once familiar London building type. The similar properties in Easton Street were built about twenty years later, and while similar, carry the then Victorian interpretation of the later versions of the Building Act.

25 High Street has been a home or place of work to many over the years. 1861 was the beginning of a long sucession of solicitors residing at the property with John E Prestage moving in with his family. By 1881, Joseph Bliss, also a solicitor was living at the property. In 1901 Joseph Bliss and his family moved to a property on Amersham Hill and both of his sons are listed as solicitors. A scroll of legal letters dated from the early 1950’s was found at 25 High Street in 2020. All of these letters were addressed to Wilfred Bliss, of Bliss, Comfort & Sons solicitors. From the letters, it suggests that Wilfred was the son of Joseph Bliss who subsequently practised at 25 High Street.

About High Wycombe

High Wycombe is a town rich in history. It generated great wealth in the middle-ages initially through its role as a market-town. During medieval times, High Wycombe was known for lace and cloth making. In the nineteenth century, the most successful industry in High Wycombe was furniture manufacturing, particularly chairs. The history of the town and the building has been important in the restoration of 25 High Street. We have curated the walls of our shared spaces with a number of relics and curiosities from past times relating to our wonderful historic town.

Our aim was to restore 25 High Street to its former glory and create a unique and modern workspace in a traditional, historic setting.

Photograph courtesy of Bucks Free Press
Photographs sourced thanks to www.swop.org.uk