By 1811 there were buildings on the edge of the common along Elm Road and also opposite St Margaret’s Church in the area of Lost Cottage, Dell Cottage and Truro Cottage. The development was driven by the growth of the Wycombe chair industry. The 50 acre common was owned by absentee landlords, the Dean and Canons of Windsor, who were Lords of the Manor of Bassetsbury. For about 70 years from 1800, illegal enclosure of about 25 acres took place mainly by artisans and agricultural workers. They started by building “mud houses” in or close to the clay pits, soon replacing them by 2 up, 2 down brick & flint cottages. They had an outside privy, no mains water or bathroom and were built for as little as £40, a year’s wages for a working man.