Maxwell Fraser's book, The History of Slough, is still the best guide to the history of our town. For the first time you can see chapters from her book online. Just select your favourite chapter below, or use the search box above to find information about a subject, person or organisation.

Maxwell Fraser was the pen name of Dorothy Phillips. Born in London, she moved with her family to Slough at the age of six or seven and attended St. Joseph's Convent School.

By the mid-1930s she began to write travel books for the Great Western Railway and Methuen under such titles as Irish Holiday Haunts, In praise of Manxland and Companion into Lakeland. Although she continued to write travel books throughout her life, today she is best remembered as the author of the most authoritative book on our town's past.

The History of Slough started as a series of articles in the pre-war Slough Observer. By the 1970s Miss Fraser, as she was known, extended these articles into the book we know today. A first edition was published in 1973 and a second came in 1980.

Maxwell Fraser married the poet and Welsh scholar Edgar Phillips. Phillips, also known by his bardic name of Trefin, was also an Archdruid of Wales and an honorary Bard of the National Eisteddfod.

Maxwell Fraser will also be remembered as a local personality. "Her cheerfulness made her a favourite guide on visits to places of interest, along with her extensive knowledge of Slough and the surrounding district." She is also remembered as "the local historian who, when out and about, wore a shoulder bag, thus freeing her hands for holding notes and directing attention to points of interest for those she was guiding around the local area".

Maxwell Fraser died on Christmas Day 1980 and her ashes were scattered on the Welsh coast. She left her collection of material concerning Slough & District to Slough Library while her remaining material was given to the National Library of Wales.

The History of Slough by Maxwell Fraser appears on www.SloughHistoryOnline.org.uk by kind permission of Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales and with the blessing of the Slough Observer and the Slough & District Civic Society.