Chalfont St Peter
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  Map sources for Chalfont St Peter at grid reference TQ000908
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Chalfont St Peter is a village in south east Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom. It is situated in a small group of villages called The Chalfonts (locals have been known to call it St Peter or Chalfont) which also consists of Chalfont St Giles and Little Chalfont. The villages are sandwiched between High Wycombe and Rickmansworth. Chalfont St Peter is one of the largest villages in the UK with nearly 13,000 residents.
At the time of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 949 there was no distinction made between the three separate villages: the whole area was known as Ceadeles funtan, which is Anglo-Saxon meaning Caedele's Spring. The villages were however separated by 1237 when in manorial rolls Chalfont St Peter was referred to as Chalfund Sancti Petri. The suffix St Peter is taken from the dedication of the church in the village.
The village of Gerrards Cross was once a hamlet in the parish of Chalfont St Peter. There is also a hamlet to the north of Chalfont St Peter called Chalfont Common.
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[edit] History
[edit] Early History
Chalfont St Peter was described in 1806 in Magna Britannia as follows: "Chalfont St Peter, in the hundred and deanery of Burnham, lies about five miles from Amersham, on the road to London, and nearly six miles from Uxbridge in Middlesex. The manor, which belonged to Missenden Abbey, was granted in 1536 to Robert Drury esq. whose descendants sold it in 1626 to the Bulstrodes: in 1646 it was conveyed to Thomas Gower esq. of whom, in 1650, it was purchased by Mr. Richard Whitchurch, ancestor of Mrs. Anne Whitchurch, the present proprietor. An ancient manor in this parish takes its name from the family of Brudenell, (collateral ancestors of the Earl of Cardigan), who formerly possessed it; from them it descended by female heirs to the Drurys and Osbornes. It afterwards came into the Duke of Portland's family, of whom it was purchased by Charles Churchill esq. the late proprietor; it is now the property of Thomas Hibbert esq. Mr. Hibbert's seat, which is called Chalfont-house, was a distinct property; and before it came into Mr. Churchill's hands, was in the families of Wilkins and Selman. Newlands, in this parish, the seat of Sir Henry Thomas Gott, was purchased by its present possessor about the year 1770, of Mr. Croke of Beaconsfield: it had been formerly in the family of Saunders, and was sold by Sir John Saunders to Mr. Hopkins, of whom it was purchased by Mr. Croke. In the church are memorials for the family of Whitchurch. The advowson and impropriation which belonged formerly to Missenden abbey, and afterwards to the Drurys, was given by Sir Thomas Allen to the president and scholars of St. John's college in Oxford, who present the vicar and grant him a lease of the great tithes. The Earl of Portland built a school at Gerrard's Cross, in this parish, adjoining the road from London to High Wycombe. It has no endowment, but has always been supported by the Portland family: the duke appoints the master, and allows him a salary for teaching a number of boys of this and some of the neighbouring parishes. William Courtnay, who died in 1770, gave a loaf of bread weekly to each of eleven unmarried poor women of this parish, and one to the clerk." This rich and varied history adds to Chalfont St Peter's image and culture.
[edit] Modern History
Today Chalfont St Peter is one of the largest villages in the United Kingdom due to the completion of Gerrards Cross railway station which between London Marylebone and Birmingham Snow Hill on the Chiltern Line line. Modern buildings and urbanisation now dominate the village center and very little historic architecture remains. The first major development of the village were rows of Georgian shops (some of which still remain). Much larger developments came in the late 1920s and these shops that run up the main street towards gold hill common now comprise most of the village center. Modernisation and urbanisation continued up until the 1960s when most of the Georgian shops were demolished in favour of a concrete development of flats, offices and shops fronts surrounding a central car park. This development is now widely regarded as an eyesore but there are no upcoming plans to change it.
[edit] Popularity
[edit] The population Boom
Since the building of Gerrards Cross railway station in the late 19th century Chalfont St Peter has risen dramatically in popularity. From 1801 to 1901 the populations of the village only saw a 700 person rise - giving a population of 1700. But from 1901 to the modern day Chalfont St Peter has become one of the largest villages in the whole United Kingdom and boasts nearly 13,000 inhabitants. This dramatic rise in population has led to an increased urbanisation of the area, but this has not yet led to uncomfortable living conditions and overcrowding.
[edit] The Middle Classes
Chalfont St Peter is mainly inhabited by commuters who work in or around central London. Chalfont St Peter is popular among the middle classes (the majority with families) as a commuter village. The above average house prices in Chalfont St Peter are a symptom of its popularity, which in turn creates an exclusive attitude in Chalfont St Peter itself and around the surrounding areas.
[edit] Tourist Attractions
Chalfont St Peter is often described as the Gateway to the Chiltern Hills. It is not a major tourist centre but has many places to stay the most notable being The Greyhound, which is situated at the foot of the village upon the banks of the River Misbourne. Whilst there are no tourist attractions within the village it is perfectly placed for easy access to London (which only takes 30 minutes) and easy access to all of the tourist attractions within the Chiltern Hills. Nearby there are several manor houses of considerable beauty, well worth a look, as well as many museums, cottages and parks. Milton's Cottage in Chalfont St Giles, Colne Valley Regional Park, Bekonscot Model Village, Chenies Manor House, Odds Farm Park, Cliveden, Dorney Court, Harrow Museum & Heritage Centre, Royal Windsor Racecourse and Hughenden Manor are the nearest attractions to the village itself.
[edit] Education
- Robertswood Combined and Nursery School
- Chalfont St Peter Infant School
- Chalfont St. Peter Church of England School
- St. Joseph's Combined Catholic School
- Chalfonts Community College
- Gayhurst School - Private Boys
- Holy Cross Convent - Private Girls (Closed summer 2006)
[edit] Other Institutions
[edit] References
- "A History of Chalfont St Peter and Gerrards Cross", C G Edmonds, 1964 and "The History of Bulstrode", A M Baker, 2003 published as one book by Colin Smythe Ltd, 2003
