Naphill

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Naphill is a village in the parish of Hughenden Valley in Buckinghamshire, England. It is located to the north west of Hughenden, on the ridge of one of the Chiltern Hills, and is adjacent to the village of Walter's Ash.

The origin of the name "Naphill" is quite obscure. It is sometimes thought that people napped flints here, but this is disputed by some people. Naphill is a mainly linear settlement with nearly all the houses built along the appropriately named Main Road, just over a mile (1.6 km) in length.

Naphill borders the ancient parishes of Bradenham, North Dean and West Wycombe. Whilst a village in its own right, it is part of the Parish of Hughenden, and is located around the former border between two ancient British tribes, the Catuvellauni and the Atrebates. It is very close the the ancient feature Grimm's Ditch.

The Common takes up a very large part of Naphill. It runs the whole length of the village on the west side. It is much larger and more wooded than its neighbour, Downley Common. The Common contains evidence of an industrial background, including medieval iron smelting. Pieces of iron slag have been found in the area that was once semi-enclosed. Also pieces of pottery dated to between the 12th and 15th centuries have been found turned up by rabbits. Naphill Common is home to several very large beech and oak trees. One particular beech tree has grown on a medieval enclosure. The purpose of this enclosure is not known as it only has three visible sides. Most of the iron kilns and pottery are to be found in this part of Naphill. Originally Naphill Common would have been more open, with large trees separated by grass-covered open ground, rather than the dense wood that has grown up around it.

Walter's Ash is the location of Royal Air Force Strike Command, which contains a giant bunker built on National Trust land between 1983 and 1985. There was a peace camp there during the construction.