Overview
Buckingham is a town situated in north Buckinghamshire approximately 10 miles from the border with Northamptonshire. The town has a population of 11,572 (2001 census), (2007 est. 13,200). Historically Buckingham was the county town of Buckinghamshire, it was declared county town in 888 by Alfred the Great. (Aylesbury took over this role in the 16th century).

Buckingham has a variety of restaurants and pubs, typical of a small market town. It has a small number of local shops, both national and independent. Market days are Tuesday and Saturday, with a Farmers' Market held on the first Tuesday of each month. Buckingham is twinned with Mouvaux, France.

History
In 7th century AD, Buckingham, literally "meadow of Bucca's people" is said to have been founded by Bucca, the leader of the first German settlers. The first settlement was located around the top of a loop in the River Great Ouse, presently the Hunter Street campus of the University of Buckingham. Between the 7th and 11th Centuries, the town of Buckingham regularly changed hands between the Saxons and the Danes, in particular, in 914 King Edward the Elder and a Saxon army encamped in Buckingham for four weeks forcing local Danish leaders to surrender. Subsequently a fort was constructed at the location of the present Buckingham Parish Church. The town received its charter in 1554 when Queen Mary created the free borough of Buckingham with boundaries extending from Thornborowe bridge (now Thornborough) to Dudley bridge and from Chackmore bridge to Padbury Mill bridge. The designated borough included a bailiff, twelve principal burgesses and a steward.

Surroundings
The town is centred on the historic market place and contains many 18th century buildings. There are three main roads crossing Buckingham, namely the A413, the A421 (the southern bypass) and the A422. Leaving Buckingham on the A413 northbound you will pass through the neighbouring village of Maids Moreton. Capability Brown's historic formal garden design at Stowe (on the A422 westbound) is an important attraction in the care of the National Trust.

There is a medieval well on the south side of the dismantled railway which borders the town. The well, which is now dry for much of the year, was positioned to exploit the spring line below the crest of a north facing slope overlooking the town.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckingham