The watercress beds


Watercress beds (not taken at this location)

The area today


This area in former times
Has led a quieter life,
And it was common then to see
The cressman with his knife.
The water here, once clean and fresh
With swiftly running flow,
Provided just the ideal place
For watercress to grow.

The river here is fast flowing and gave ideal conditions for water cress to grow, providing a livelihood for the watercress picker. There is certainly reference to this occupation in the archives but where the watercress beds actually were is not clear but people remember that there were watercress beds by the Falcon, near where the children's recreation ground is today. Other beds could be found at Wycombe Marsh.

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