The Wheatsheaf

The Wheatsheaf is a medieval timber-framed building situated in a prominent position on High Wycombe High Street. Dating from 1399, this is the oldest secular building in High Wycombe. It was a pub and coffee house for much of its history, before being converted into shops in the early 20th century. Since the 1990s, however, the building has been left mostly vacant. 

In 2017, Buckinghamshire Historic Buildings Trust identified The Wheatsheaf as a building at risk and took on the lease as part of their remit to preserve architectural heritage in the county. Taking a conservation-led approach, the Trust was open to a range of options for use of the fully restored building. In 2019, the AHF provided a Project Viability Grant for market testing and community consultation that helped develop plans for a flexible conversion, envisaging commercial use of the ground floor and venue/activity space on the first and second floor for hire by community groups. A Project Development Grant followed to help develop the business plan for operation of the building, and the AHF then awarded one of its largest Transformational Project Grants to support the repair and restoration, matching significant investment by the Trust. 

Completed in Spring 2022, the exemplary work undertaken by the Trust and their expert team of conservation professionals has protected and revealed the history and fabric of the building for the first time. This includes conserving and restoring the historic shopfront façade, exposing the building’s medieval floor timbers and wall paintings, and revealing the full extent of the spectacular beamed roof. Business development continues to bring this local gem back in use.

https://www.bucksheritage.org/the-wheatsheaf

AHF Funding

Project Viability Grant - £6,000 (2019)

Project Development Grant - £15,000 (2019)

Transformational Project Grant - £350,000 (2020)

Image Credits

Laura Williams

Buckinghamshire Historic Buildings Trust