"Buckinghamshire, or Bucks, an inland county of England, bounded on the North by Northamptonshire, East by Bedfordshire, Herts, and Middlesex, South by Surrey (for the distance of about 1 mile) and Berks, and West by Oxfordshire; greatest length, N. and S., 50 miles; greatest breadth, E. and W., 24 miles; average breadth, 17 miles; area 477,151 acres, population 176,323. It is intersected by the chalk range of the Chiltern Hills, which extend NE. from Oxfordshire to Bedfordshire, the highest point being Wendover Hill, 905 ft. The country here is beautifully wooded, chiefly with oak and beech. To the South there is much excellent grazing land. The fertile "Vale of Aylesbury" lies in the centre of the county, verdant with rich meadows and pasturage. Further North the heavy arable land is now being brought under steam cultivation, and excellent crops of wheat, beans, &c., are produced. Farms are generally of small size, and are leased on a yearly tenure. Pigs and calves are largely reared on the numerous dairy-farms, and great numbers of ducks are sent yearly to the metropolis from the neighbourhood of Aylesbury. The quantity of butter, besides cream cheese &c., send annually to market, averages between 4,000,000 and 5,000,000 lbs. The making of wooden spades, brush-handles, bowls, &c., from beech is a considerable industry. Numbers of the female population are employed in the manufacture of thread-lace and straw plaiting." [Bartholemew's Gazetteer of the British Isles, 1887]

In the earliest government census of 1801, there were 107,444 inhabitants recorded in Buckinghamshire of whom 52,094 were males and 55,350 females. Of this total 25,083 were employed in agriculture and 20,138 in trade, manufactures and handicrafts.

* = No names were recorded in census documents from 1801 to 1831.
** = Census documents from 1911 to 2001 are only available in summary form. Names are witheld under the 100 year rule.

There has never been more men than women yet it is the men who play chess!!!

There are a few women who play chess. Its not all men you know

hehe.. oops... sorry all men and gina scott ;-)