AMERSHAM, market town of south Buckinghamshire, Eng land, placed in the narrow valley of the Misbourne stream, giving access to Wendover and Aylesbury via the Chiltern hills. Popu lation of rural district At the time of the Domesday survey Amersham was divided into six holdings. The manor was held by Geoffrey de Mandeville. Henry VIII. granted it to Sir John Russell, one of whose descendants, the earl of Bedford, con veyed it to the Drake family in 1638. Amersham was formerly a borough by prescription, but lost its privileges in 1832. The church of St. Mary is almost entirely Perpendicular, and has a beautiful south porch and brasses of the 15th, i6th and 17th cen turies. The town has flour mills and breweries; and straw-plaiting and lace making survived until the end of last century. In modern times Amersham has developed as a residential centre, being served by the Met. and G.C. Joint Railways.