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Spotlight on Chalfont St Giles - our estate agents view

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Chalfont St Giles was first mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. Chalfont means chalk spring, and a duck pond, fed by the River Misbourne, lies at the heart of the village. Half-timbered buildings from the 15th and 16th centuries surround the village green but one of the oldest buildings is the parish church from 1150 which has seen extensive renovation over the years. During repairs in 1861, small iron cannon balls were found embedded in the stone, believed to have been fired by Oliver Cromwell's troops after the Battle of Aylesbury. At the top end of the village is the hamlet of Three Households, renowned for its cherry and apple orchards.

Chalfont St Giles is "twinned" with the 'double' village of Graft-De Rijp, 14 miles north of Amsterdam in Holland and has regular exchanges of information and visits. The village has also given its name to Chalfont, Pennsylvania, a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

During the Great Plague of London in 1665, John Milton, possibly England's greatest poet and Parliamentarian retired to Chalfont St Giles, where he completed his epic poem Paradise Lost. When the plague abated, he returned to London in and completed Paradise Regained. A Grade One listed building, Miltons Cottage is now managed by the Milton's Cottage trust, a registered charity. 

Chalfont St Giles has its own village school and is in catchment for the highly sought after Dr Challoner’s Grammar School for boys, Dr Challoner’s High School for girls and Chesham Grammar School. A range of excellent private schools nearby includes St Mary’s, Gayhurst, Maltman’s Green, Thorpe House and Merchant Taylor’s School.

A variety of local sporting and leisure facilities foster the community spirit which is tangible in the village; Bowstridge Lane’s playing fields, Chalfont Leisure Centre, several golf courses, tennis, bowls, cricket, football and squash clubs are all nearby. The strong sense of community is also reflected in a host of local societies from cub scouts to nordic walking. Breathtaking Chilterns scenery completes the picture with The Ridgeway and Misbourne Valley for long walks and cycling.

Winner of 2016’s Pushman Cup for the Best Kept Village in Buckinghamshire (Section: Rural, population over 3,000), Chalfont St Giles also won the Leofwine Shield, with the most points overall in the Best Kept Village Competition. It’s easy to “shop local” here with a hairdresser, florist, bakery, pharmacy, newsagents and a butchers as well as a library, doctor and dentist surgeries. Larger shopping centres can be found at Uxbridge, Watford and High Wycombe.

For foodies there’s a good range of pubs and restaurants, including The Ivy House, a beautiful flint and brick inn renowned for good food, and real ales. Merlins Cave offers classic British dishes with a modern twist, whilst Miltons Head provides Italian inspired food and pizzas and Miltons Tandoori authentic Indian cuisine. At The Stone Place Restaurant at The Feathers you can cook your steak just as you like it on a hot stone plate.

The Chiltern Open Air museum is a popular attraction where Halloween and jousting events are a sell-out. Founded in 1976, the museum rescues historic buildings from medieval to modern that would otherwise have been demolished. It’s a great place for days out and a perfect venue for quirky, vintage, wedding receptions. Above all it is a charity which preserves our historic heritage.

Newland Park also in Gorelands Lane, dates back to 1208. The main house was a refuge for suffragettes between 1910 and 1921; Emmaline Pankhurst, Bernard Shaw and H. G. Wells were frequent visitors.

Often a film and TV location due to picturesque scenery, proximity to Pinewood Studios, and London, the village doubled as Walmington-on-Sea in the 1971 film Dad's Army. BBC TV drama The Miller's Tale was filmed here; other films include Hammer House of Horror, The Sweeney, and The Big Job, starring Sid James and Dick Emery. Notable village residents have included Ozzy Osbourne, Noel Gallagher and Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister 2010 - 2015. With its wealth of history, stunning scenery, superb local schools and easy commute to London, Chalfont St Giles is an idyllic village with a strong sense of community. To begin your property search in the village contact our Chalfont St Giles office  or see frostweb.co.uk.