SWOP was established in 2004 to conserve Wycombe’s photographic heritage, share it with the public, and involve the community in exploring, cataloguing, and learning from the town’s history. The story of SWOP was featured in the Autumn 2025 edition of the High Wycombe Society Newsletter.
The SWOP photograph collections
Photographs are a vital part of our heritage, helping bring the past to life. High Wycombe is fortunate to hold several collections totalling more than 47,000 images, some dating back to the 1870s. The original photographs are preserved at High Wycombe Library, Wycombe Museum, and the Bucks Free Press, and were digitised with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Heritage Lottery Fund
SWOP was founded with a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2004 to:
- Preserve Wycombe’s photographic heritage through digitisation;
- Share these images widely by making them accessible via a public website; and
- Engage the community in discovering, cataloguing, and learning from the town’s past.
These photographs are available on this website, and have been preserved and stored to ensure their long term survival.
Map of area covered by SWOP
Our objective has been to create a website to make the photographic history of High Wycombe and surrounding towns and villages available to everyone. The map shows the geographical area covered by the project.
Project volunteers
The project’s success is due to volunteers who, over many years, dedicated numerous hours to cataloguing and managing both the technical and administrative aspects. Without their assistance, this project would not have been possible. Buckinghamshire Council, Wycombe Museum, the Bucks Free Press, and the High Wycombe Society would like to express their deepest gratitude to everyone who has helped.
Website problems:
If you have difficulties in using the site, please get in touch with us at problems@swop.org.uk , and we will try to help.
Governance
SWOP is operated under the governance of
The High Wycombe Society
Pann Mill
London Road
High Wycombe
Bucks
HP11 1BJ
Registered Charity No. 257897
Contact: secretary@highwycombesociety.org.uk
Objections to use of a personal name
If you object to a name appearing in the description of a photograph, please email enquiries@swop.org.uk, and any justified corrections will be made.