Non-conformists seeking sanctuary found it in Chorleywood. Chorleywood is a village with a rich history. It is located in Hertfordshire on the border of Buckinghamshire. Let’s delve into the story of Chorleywood.
Chorleywood’s history stretches back to the Paleolithic era. Its plentiful flint supply enabled early tool development. The Romans established a village complete with a mill and brewery.
The name Chorleywood comes from Anglo-Saxon roots. “Leah” means a clearing or wood. “Ceorla” refers to peasants. Thus, Chorleywood means the woodland clearing of the peasants. A line once divided the Kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex through Chorleywood. Now it divides Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Edward the Confessor gifted Chorleywood to St Albans Monastery.
By 1278, it was known as “Bosco de Cherle” or “Churl’s Wood.” This Norman name also means Peasant’s Wood. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, it went to the Bishopric of London. It was renamed “Charleywoode.” During Elizabeth I’s reign, it became Crown property. The Turnpike Act of 1663 allowed Chorleywood to capitalize on its position. Locals charged people to use the road from Hatfield to Reading.
Quakers are particularly important to Chorleywood’s history. They flocked to Chorleywood. Locals promised them sanctuary. William Penn founded the Pennsylvania Colony with settlers from Chorleywood. These settlers came from Rickmansworth and nearby Buckinghamshire towns. Penn himself lived and married in Chorleywood.
In 2004, Chorleywood was named the “happiest place” to live in the UK. The Social Disadvantage Research Centre at the University of Oxford conducted the study. More recently, the Department of Communities and Local Government ranked Chorleywood as the “least deprived” area in the country.
Chorleywood Common offers a large green space. It spans 0.8 square kilometers. That is about 200 acres. This wooded common land is a County Heritage Site. It is a Conservation Area. It also serves as a Local Nature Reserve. The Common boasts biodiversity. It is rich in fauna and flora. Various fungi, birds, and wildlife thrive here. Cattle grazing ended after World War I. Since then, the land has been used for recreation. The Chorleywood Golf Club maintains a nine-hole course on the Common. Founded in 1890, it is the oldest golf club in Hertfordshire.
Christ Church faces the Common on the A404. It is the parish church and a local landmark. The original church dates back to 1845. After becoming dilapidated, it was rebuilt. The rebuilt church was consecrated in 1870. Only the tower of the original church remains. It has a cedar wood tower of unusual design on the flint-built west tower.
The Metropolitan Railway opened Chorleywood station on July 8, 1889. This event spurred growth in Chorleywood.
In the early 1960s, the British Baking Industries Research Association improved bread making. This took place in Chorleywood. The result was the Chorleywood bread process. Today, it is used in over 80% of commercial bread production throughout the UK.
Sir John Betjeman described Chorleywood as “essential Metro-land” in a 1973 BBC documentary. The documentary was titled, Metro-land.
Chorleywood has served as a filming location. The Royal Masonic School appears in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The Black Horse pub is featured in Peep Show. Midsomer Murders, Lewis, and Jonathan Creek have also filmed in Chorleywood.
Chorleywood continues to be a vibrant village. It blends historical significance with modern life. Its Quaker roots, scenic common, and convenient transport links all contribute to its unique character. This makes Chorleywood a special place.