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Picture source: Hania Franek

The Buckingham Arms was situated at 81-83 High Street. This old coaching inn dates from the 17th century and is grade-II listed. The pub was present by 1830 when the publican was John Wilkins. The pub was up for sale in 1996 and was bought for the Roald Dahl Museum, which it now houses

The Buckingham Arms occupied a much larger site than is apparent from the High Street frontage at 81-83 High Street. Historic site plans show the original covered carriage arch giving access to a rear yard, with old stables opposite the archway and workshops and service buildings on the sides. One surviving plan identifies the premises as the Buckingham Arms Hotel and also shows a building described as a hall connected with the inn by a private roadway used in connection with both properties. This hall later became known locally as Gerhardy Hall. During the twentieth century, parts of the Buckingham Arms complex were occupied by Gerhardy Bros, a Great Missenden metal-finishing company specialising in stove enamelling and electroplating, who rented the premises from the bank. Family records identify a building opposite the former stables as the Gerhardy Bros barrelling shop. In this context, "barrelling" refers to the barrel-plating process used for electroplating large quantities of small metal components such as screws and fittings. Historic plans show that the carriage arch, rear yard, stables, hall and associated workshops formed an integrated complex behind the High Street frontage. The layout corresponds closely with the present-day Roald Dahl Museum site, which now occupies the former Buckingham Arms premises.

Vic Gerhardi (October 2026)

Listed building details:

C17 refronted early C19. Rendered and painted; old tiled roof. Two storeys, carriage arch in centre with sash window in gable over. Door to No 81 on left with pilasters and cornice, modern casement on left, sash on right and three sash windows to first floor. Plain door to No 83 on right. Modern window on left of it, sash window on right and two sash windows to first floor. Timber-framing visible within carriage arch. Formerly Buckingham Arms Inn.

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