THE 19th century saw the glory days of the London furniture industry like Chippendale, Hepplewhite and Sheraton, whose chairs graced the country’s manor houses.

Thirty miles away stood High Wycombe, with its abundant stands of beech trees and some elm and oak. These timbers were ideally suited to make the simpler, less expensive chairs for kitchens, servants, lesser houses, inns and churches.

Indeed, in the oak room of High Wycombe town hall there is a stained glass window of the 20th century that records that the first chair factory was established in 1805 by Samuel Treacher and Thomas Widgington.

Perhaps we could learn some lessons from this entrepreneurial spirit and breathe some life back into the industries of High Wycombe?

M L Grey, West Wycombe Road, High Wycombe.