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Spotlight on Chalfont St Peter – our estate agents view

Friday, May 17, 2019

Spotlight on Chalfont St Peter – our estate agents view. From its roots as an ancient Iron Age village, and later as an Anglo Saxon settlement along the River Misbourne, Chalfont St Peter has grown to become one of the largest villages in the South East with a population of over 13,000. The village boasts a “vibrant village community with a strong local identity” and this is clearly seen at the Feast Day which takes place on Gold Hill Common each year. This year’s Feast Day takes place on Saturday June 29th and if you’ve never visited before it’s a real introduction to Chalfont St Peter’s community focus and family fun.

Ideal for commuters, there’s easy access to London by both road and rail (under 30 minutes by train from nearby Gerrards Cross) and to the motorway network via the M40 and M25. The village is often called “The Gateway to The Chilterns”, a starting point for the tourist attractions of the Chilterns and the South East. The village has a number of green, open spaces - Gold Hill Common which slopes down to the village, Austenwood with remnants of sawpits and brick making and Chalfont Common - and is surrounded by picturesque Chilterns scenery. There are many walks and footpaths around the village and along the River Misbourne which flows intermittently and forms part of the Colne Valley Park.

Founded in 1976 and set in 45 acres of beautiful parkland and woods, the nearby Chiltern Open Air Museum aims to preserve the heritage of The Chilterns by restoring local buildings such as medieval barns and halls, a Victorian farmyard, a 19th Century working smithy and toll house, workers' cottages and churches, a Second World War 'pre-fab' furnished bungalow and magnificent Victorian public conveniences. Regular demonstrations of local rural crafts in period costume and jousting are very popular and the site is an accredited centre for school curriculum projects.

Chalfont St Peter has a surprising array of sport and leisure facilities, clubs and activities; football, tennis and a skateboarding park at Mill Meadow, cricket, rugby, football, hockey and golf at Chalfont Park, swimming and indoor sports at the Chalfont Leisure Centre as well as an award winning bowling club and several riding stables in the area.

Visitors find the village welcoming and friendly. The high street comprises mainly small, independent shops and there is a strong tradition of customer service and community spirit, with the village awarded the ‘Welcome Host’ accolade by the Southern Tourist Board. At the Chilterns Community Awards 2018, The Group Award, was presented by Dame Cheryl Gillan, to Chalfont St Peter Community Library volunteers. The library faced closure in 2011 but the community came together to save it and today 74 volunteers aged from 16 to 84 run the library.

Annual events, some established for generations, punctuate Chalfont St Peter’s calendar. The Feast Day in June centres on Gold Hill Common, Timebreaker at the end of August is a week of children’s activities on Gold Hill Common organised by local churches. In November, local school children parade down to the church to commemorate Remembrance Day while the village Fun Night on the first Friday in December brings people together for carol singing, late night shopping, a mini funfair and food stalls.

The Greyhound Inn has been a focal point in Chalfont St Peter since the 14th Century, providing refreshment to weary travellers and villagers alike. Nowadays the restaurant offers innovative gastropub dishes with the freshest ingredients. At the top of the village overlooking Gold Hill Common is The Jolly Farmer, a unique combination of a traditional British pub serving French brasserie food with an English twist. In the village itself you’ll find delicious dining options at La Bodega Tapas, Delhi Spice, Chef Zhu and Spice - cuisine from all around the world.

With all this on offer, excellent transport links and access to the grammar school system in South Bucks, Chalfont St Peter is a popular choice for families and commuters, maintaining an upward pressure on property prices. A wide variety of housing stock from small flats and brand new developments to country houses means there’s something for everyone in this lively close-knit community. See frostweb.co.uk for our complete portfolio of properties in Chalfont St Peter or call our Chalfont St Peter office for more information.