Monument record 0851700000 - Site of Guildmaster Works, Desborough Road

Site of Guildmaster Works demolished in 2004 for redevelopment as residential flats. Previously the furniture factory of Wm Keen & Sons, a firm established in 1860 according to the Cabinet Maker & Complete House Furnisher (CMCHF) of 30 October 1926. It is assumed that the site would have originally had a traditional furniture workshop replaced in the 1920s. The CMCHF of 28 October 1922 refers to a new wing being added "which will accommodate an extra 150 men". The CMCHF of 27 October 1928 refers to " new buildings". The factory was ocupied by Abbott Bros from 1971-1989 (High Wycombe directories) and was latterly used for foam cushioning. The building demolished in 2004 had an L-shaped form with a four storey wing aligned north-south with metal windows of 1920 style with rounded heads. Another wing aligned east-west and parallel to Desborough Road, also of four storeys, had oblong metal framed windows and may have been built in the 1950s. OS maps of the 1925 and 1934 show houses still on the westerly end of the site. Whole building had a flat roof but the 1920s wing appeared to have been increased in height, so flat roof presumed to have been added when the later wing was built. Report based on inspection by Marian Miller in 2004. Wycombe Museum has photographs of interior prior to closure of Abbotts works (B1).