Nostalgia: Memories of our four Bucks Free Press editors

William’s Early Life

William Butler was born in the Berkshire village of Aston Tirrold early in 1811, one of the six children of Thomas and Frances Butler.

When he was only five years old his father, a ‘grocer, dealer and chapman’ (travelling salesman) was declared bankrupt. His estate and effects were assigned to his creditors to pay off his debts, so at least he avoided the notorious debtors’ prison. Even so his bankruptcy must have had a profound effect on the family and would have adversely affected their standard of living.

Nothing more is known about William’s early life, but he must have been well-educated to follow his chosen professions. In his early 20’s William moved to Beaconsfield to work. Here he met his future wife, local girl Ann Harsant, whose father John Harsant was the Minister at the Bethesda Independent Chapel. After living in Beaconsfield for a few years William moved to Wycombe in around 1839 to work as a clerk in Wheeler’s Bank, to replace his elder brother James, who had died.

In early 1841 William moved once again, this time to Wootton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire. There he ran a Chemist and Druggist shop, with 16 year old Cowper Stapleton as his assistant. He was one of five ‘chymists and druggists’ in Long St, Wotton-under-Edge. In 1843 he married Anne Harsant at her father’s chapel in Beaconsfield and she then moved to be with him in Wootton. The couple went on to have eight children, all of whom were christened with Anne’s maiden name Harsant as their second name – Fanny born 1844 at Wootton-under-Edge, Marion born 1847, Annette born 1848, William born 1850, Thomas born 1851, John born 1854, Emily born 1858, and Kate born 1861. All except Fanny were born in High Wycombe.

In 1846 William, with his family, moved back to High Wycombe to take over the business of his relative Mr William Thomas Butler, following his retirement. The business was ‘Booksellers, Stationers, & Printers’ , located at No.5 Church Sq next to The Antelope public house. The same year he was appointed to the important office of Actuary of the High Wycombe and South Bucks Savings Bank, making a substantial contribution to the success of that organisation in the mid-1800s.

Over the next few years he diversified the business in Church Sq, becoming a stationer and publisher, and also ‘Agent for Atlas Insurance’’. Among his publications was the ‘Wycombe and South Bucks Almanack and Directory’. This was published annually from 1844 (although the early years were probably not published by William Butler). A copy of the Almanack for 1854 is held in Wycombe Library. It was used as a vehicle to advertise the diverse products sold by Butler, which included several ranges of books under the title of ‘Published by The Religious Tract Society, and sold by W. Butler’

• Shilling Books for Young Persons
• Presents for Little Girls and Boys
• Presents for Servants
• The Kitchen Library – 25 Volumes in a mahogany case.

There was also a section entitled ‘Works Published by W. Butler’.

Butler’s experience with these titles prepared him for the venture for which he is best remembered, as the publisher and printer of the South Bucks Free Press.

The South Bucks Free Press

Until 1856 ‘local’ newspapers in Buckinghamshire were mostly published in the county town Aylesbury and circulated throughout the county. Typically, the front page carried For Sale notices and advertisements and the papers were read mostly by the wealthier inhabitants of the county. This readership tended to be divided ideologically along political and religious lines.

William Butler sought to change this pattern, when on December 19th 1856 he published the first issue of the ‘South Bucks Free Press’, which later became the ‘Bucks Free Press’. He meant the paper to be read by all classes in the area of South Buckinghamshire around High Wycombe, so the price was set at one and a half pence per copy.

At launch in 1856 the full title of the newspaper was:

‘’The South Bucks Free Press and Weekly Advertiser, for the districts of the Wycombe Railway, the Wycombe, Cookham, Uxbridge, Amersham, and Thames Unions’’

The reference to ‘the districts of the Wycombe railway’ seems strange to us today, but must be seen in the context that a branch line had just been opened into Wycombe from the main line in Maidenhead, and hence to London (the main line from London through Wycombe had not yet been built). It seems that this was the catalyst which persuaded William Butler to launch the Free Press. So the railways brought more than passengers.

The paper’s ethos was set out from the beginning as ‘’We have not, and do not, intend to shackle ourselves with professions or promises; our columns will never become the echoes of a local oracle, or thunderbolts of a local demigod; our teaching will never assume the garb of a religious sect, or sustian the dogmas of a theological school. The Free Press will be free.’’

Back then the paper consisted of only four pages, advertisements covered the front page, and there were no photographs. Producing it was a laborious process. There were no typewriters, so all copy was handwritten, and the type was handset letter by letter. It was printed in the Little Market House in Church Sq, by hand-feeding single sheets into the massive, but slow-running, printer.

It must have been a memorable day for the newspaper when the first telegraph office opened in High Wycombe in 1861. The Editor commented ‘The speedy opening of the telegraph station will also give us the opportunity of publishing on a Friday morning in time for the market the latest news from the Metropolis’.

In 1864 William Butler decided to concentrate on his publishing interests, and therefore sold parts of his business to Mr William Judson. Five years later in 1869 he took over premises at 20 High St, High Wycombe, the family moved there, and the Free Press was compiled and printed there. The average circulation for the newspaper was stated to be 2,500 copies per week (stated in 1875), ‘giving on a moderate calculation nearly 10,000 readers weekly’.

As well as being the Proprietor of the newspaper, William Butler was also the Editor, being listed as the Publisher and Printer. This practice continued until his death, although in later years he was assisted by his son Thomas Harsant Butler. In 1871 Thomas was described as a reporter and printer, and from the edition of November 20, 1874, he was jointly listed with his father as the Publisher and Printer.

Work for the Community

William Butler worked tirelessly for the people of High Wycombe. He was a member of the Wycombe Corporation; of the Burial Board; a Commissioner of Income Tax; and took the office of Sub-Distributor of Stamps. His political persuasion was as a Liberal, and religious persuasion as a Congregational Non-Conformist, both reflecting his independent thinking. He was for many years a Deacon of the Congregational body in the town, and in this position he compiled the return of the ‘Independent or Congregational Dissenters Crendon Lane Meeting House’ for the Bucks Religious Census in 1851.

William Butler died on Tuesday September 15th 1885 so ending his nearly 29 years stewardship of the South Bucks Free Press. Apparently, he had been in good health when during the night of September 1 a ‘sudden seizure necessitated medical attendance’ and he passed away after 14 days of much suffering. His funeral was held on Saturday September 19 at the Crendon St Chapel, where he had worshipped for most of his time in High Wycombe.

Among the expressions of sorrow at his passing was this statement by his son Thomas, ‘The South Bucks Free Press under his guidance has always maintained a high standard of principle in dealing with public questions, and the strong integrity of character of its late chief, coupled with his shrewd practical common sense and ripe judgement, has contributed not a little to the successful position it occupies today.’

Both the Council of Wycombe Corporation and the Wycombe Liberal Association passed resolutions of condolences following his death.

His son Thomas Harsant Butler now became the Printer and Publisher of the South Bucks Free Press.