# Chalfont St Peter

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Village and civil parish in Buckinghamshire, England

Human settlement in England

Chalfont St Peter St. Peter's parish church Chalfont St Peter Location within Buckinghamshire Area 6.22 sq mi (16.1 km2) Population 12,766 [1] • Density 2,052/sq mi (792/km2) OS grid reference TQ00059081 Civil parish Chalfont St. Peter Unitary authority Buckinghamshire Ceremonial county Buckinghamshire Region South East Country England Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town GERRARDS CROSS Postcode district SL9 Dialling code 01753, 01494 Police Thames Valley Fire Buckinghamshire Ambulance South Central UK Parliament Chesham and Amersham Website Chalfont St Peter List of places UK England Buckinghamshire 51°36′25″N 0°33′22″W / 51.607°N 0.556°W / 51.607; -0.556

**Chalfont St Peter** is a large village and [civil parish](/source/Civil_parish) in southeastern [Buckinghamshire](/source/Buckinghamshire), England. It is in a group of villages called **The Chalfonts** which also includes [Chalfont St Giles](/source/Chalfont_St_Giles) and [Little Chalfont](/source/Little_Chalfont). The villages lie between [High Wycombe](/source/High_Wycombe) and [Rickmansworth](/source/Rickmansworth). Chalfont St Peter is one of the largest villages, with nearly 13,000 residents. The urban population for Chalfont St Peter and [Gerrards Cross](/source/Gerrards_Cross) is 19,622,[2] the two places being considered a single area by the [Office for National Statistics](/source/Office_for_National_Statistics).

Gerrards Cross was once a [hamlet](/source/Hamlet_(place)) in the parish of Chalfont St Peter, but became a village and civil parish in its own right.

Chalfont St Peter is 19.8 miles (31.9 km) west-north-west of [Charing Cross](/source/Charing_Cross), central [London](/source/London) and is also in close proximity to [Heathrow Airport](/source/Heathrow_Airport), [Pinewood](/source/Pinewood_Studios) and [Elstree](/source/Elstree_Studios) [film studios](/source/Film_studios), and the motorway network ([M25](/source/M25_motorway), and [M40](/source/M40_motorway)).

## History

### Early history

At the time of the *[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle](/source/Anglo-Saxon_Chronicle)* in 949 there was no distinction made between the three separate villages: the whole area was known as *Ceadeles funtan*, meaning *chalk springs*. The villages were however separated by 1237 when in [manorial](/source/Manorialism) 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. Chalfont St Peter was described in 1806 in *[Magna Britannia](/source/Magna_Britannia)* as follows:

- "Chalfont St Peter, in the hundred and [deanery](/source/Deanery) of Burnham, lies about five miles from [Amersham](/source/Amersham), on the road to London, and nearly six miles from [Uxbridge](/source/Uxbridge) in [Middlesex](/source/Middlesex). The manor, which belonged to [Missenden Abbey](/source/Missenden_Abbey), was granted in 1536 to [Robert Drury](/source/Robert_Drury_(died_1577)), esquire, whose descendants sold it in 1626 to the [Bulstrodes](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bulstrodes&action=edit&redlink=1): 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](/source/Brudenell), (collateral ancestors of the [Earl of Cardigan](/source/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](/source/Duke_of_Portland)'s family, of whom it was purchased by [Charles Churchill](/source/Charles_Churchill_(of_Chalfont)) 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](/source/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.

An old photo of Chalfont St Peter Church of England Church

- "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](/source/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."

### Modern history

Today, Chalfont St Peter is one of the largest villages in the United Kingdom partly due to the proximity to [Gerrards Cross railway station](/source/Gerrards_Cross_railway_station) which lies between [London Marylebone](/source/Marylebone_railway_station) and [Birmingham Snow Hill](/source/Birmingham_Snow_Hill_railway_station) on the [Chiltern Main Line](/source/Chiltern_Main_Line). Modern buildings and urbanisation now dominate the village centre and very little historic architecture remains. The first major development of the village were rows of [Georgian](/source/Georgian_period_in_British_history) 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 centre. 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.

Gold Hill Common

## Population

Since the building of Gerrards Cross railway station in the late 19th century, the population of Chalfont St Peter has risen dramatically. 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 present, it has become one of the largest villages in the United Kingdom, with nearly 13,000 inhabitants.

## Tourist attractions

Chalfont St Peter is often described as the [Gateway to the Chiltern Hills](/source/Chilterns). It is not a major tourist centre but has many places to stay, the most notable being The Greyhound (former local court house where hangings took place), which is situated at the foot of the village on the banks of the [River Misbourne](/source/River_Misbourne). Nearby there are several manor houses of note, as well as many museums, cottages and parks. [Milton's Cottage](/source/Milton's_Cottage) in Chalfont St Giles, the [Colne Valley regional park](/source/Colne_Valley_regional_park), [Bekonscot Model Village](/source/Bekonscot), Chenies Manor House, the [Chiltern Open Air Museum](/source/Chiltern_Open_Air_Museum), Odds Farm Park, [Cliveden](/source/Cliveden), [Dorney Court](/source/Dorney_Court), Harrow Museum & Heritage Centre, [Royal Windsor Racecourse](/source/Windsor_Racecourse) and [Hughenden Manor](/source/Hughenden_Manor) are the nearest attractions to the village itself. The Chiltern Open Air Museum is situated mainly within the village.

## Education

Chalfonts Community College

- Robertswood School - a co-educational [State School](/source/State_School) for boys and girls 3-11.

- Maltman's Green School - Independent school for girls aged 3-11.

- Chalfont St Peter Infant School and Nursery- a co-educational infant school for children aged 3-7 years old.

- Chalfont St. Peter Church of England Academy- a co-educational junior school for ages 7-11.

- Gayhurst - A co-educational independent school for children age 3-11.

- Thorpe House - An independent boys school for ages 4-11, and a co-educational sixth form called Thorpe Sixth for ages 16-18.

- St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School- a co-educational [Catholic](/source/Catholic) school for ages 3-11.

- [Chalfonts Community College](/source/Chalfonts_Community_College) - a co-educational secondary academy school for ages 11-18.

- Holy Cross Convent – Private Girls (Closed summer 2006)[3]

## Churches

Gold Hill Baptist Church

- [Chalfont St Peter Parish Church](https://csp.church/)

- [Gold Hill Baptist Church](https://www.goldhill.org/)

- [The Gospel Hall](https://chalfontgospelhall.org.uk/)

- [St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Austenwood](https://www.stjosephs.org.uk/)

## Hamlets

[Hamlets](/source/Hamlet_(place)) in Chalfont St Peter include:

- **Austenwood**

- **[Chalfont Common](/source/Chalfont_Common)**

- **Gravel Hill**

- **Layters Green**

- **Horn Hill**

## Featuring in the media

Chalfont St Peter occasionally appears in media, the most recent being in [Channel 4](/source/Channel_4)'s *[Derren Brown: Apocalypse](/source/Derren_Brown%3A_Apocalypse)* on 26 October 2012.[4] Several local landmarks featured in the programme including The Village Hall pub, since returned to its former name, the Jolly Farmer, on Goldhill Common and Mr. Crusty on the high street.

## Sport and leisure

Chalfont St Peter has a [Non-League football](/source/Non-League_football) team [Chalfont St Peter A.F.C.](/source/Chalfont_St_Peter_A.F.C.) who play at Mill Meadow.

## Transport

Bus routes 104, 106 and 107 run through the main village and the more suburban areas. These bus routes include connections with Slough, Amersham, High Wycombe and Uxbridge. It is served by [Gerrards Cross railway station](/source/Gerrards_Cross_railway_station), 1.2 miles (1.9 km) south, which has links to [London Marylebone](/source/Marylebone_station) and High Wycombe, [Oxford](/source/Oxford) and [Birmingham](/source/Birmingham).

The village lies 9.5 miles (15.3 km) north west of London's [Heathrow Airport](/source/Heathrow_Airport).

Chalfont St Peter is just under four miles to the west of the [Grand Union Canal](/source/Grand_Union_Canal).

## Chalfont Centre

The Chalfont Centre, on Chesham Lane, is a 100-acre site established in 1894. It exists as both the headquarters for the [Epilepsy Society](/source/National_Society_for_Epilepsy) and exists to provide residential care for 100 patients with high-level [epilepsy](/source/Epilepsy). In 1972 the NHS established the Special Assessment Unit, specially designed to treat patients with severe and complicated epilepsy.[5]

## Other institutions

The Chalfont Grove Teleport has a number of large uplink satellite dishes

The [British Forces Broadcasting Service](/source/British_Forces_Broadcasting_Service) is based at [Arqiva](/source/Arqiva)'s Chalfont Grove Teleport in the west of the village on the border with Chalfont St Giles.[6][7] [The National Lottery Draws](/source/The_National_Lottery_Draws) were filmed at Arqiva's facilities between 2006[8] and 2012.[9]

The headquarters of [Bradt Travel Guides](/source/Bradt_Travel_Guides), founded by [Hilary Bradt](/source/Hilary_Bradt) in 1974, was also located in Chalfont St Peter, until the company moved to Chesham in 2019.[10][11]

[RWS Group](/source/RWS_Group), one of the world's largest[12] language service providers is headquartered at Chiltern Park, in the village centre.[13]

## Notable residents

- [Lewis Collins](/source/Lewis_Collins) (1946–2013) – actor, best known for his role as [Bodie](/source/William_Bodie) in the LWT action series *[The Professionals](/source/The_Professionals_(TV_series))*. He lived at Mopes Farmhouse from the early 1980s until he moved to [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles) in the early 1990s.[14]

- [Ben Gill](/source/Ben_Gill) – former professional footballer for [Watford F.C.](/source/Watford_F.C.) and [Cambridge United F.C.](/source/Cambridge_United_F.C.) and current [Chalfont St Peter A.F.C.](/source/Chalfont_St_Peter_A.F.C.) player lives in Chalfont St Peter.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

- [John Laurie](/source/John_Laurie) (1897–1980) – actor, best known for his role as [Private James Frazer](/source/Private_James_Frazer), in the BBC sitcom *[Dad's Army](/source/Dad's_Army)*[15]

- [Alan Nunn May](/source/Alan_Nunn_May) (1911–2003) – physicist and spy[16]

- [Patrick O'Brian](/source/Patrick_O'Brian) (1914–2000) – author of the [Aubrey–Maturin series](/source/Aubrey%E2%80%93Maturin_series) of novels was born here[17]

- [Dame Margaret Rutherford](/source/Dame_Margaret_Rutherford) (1892–1972) – actress, best known for her role as [Miss Marple](/source/Miss_Marple) in several films loosely based on [Agatha Christie](/source/Agatha_Christie)'s novels[18]

- [Thalissa Teixeira](/source/Thalissa_Teixeira) - Actress lived here from the age of 8 until leaving school[19]

- [Len Worley](/source/Len_Worley) – amateur footballer[20]

- [John Le Carré](/source/John_le_Carr%C3%A9) (David Cornwell), whose father [Ronald Cornwell](/source/Ronnie_Cornwell) owned 'Tunmers', a 1930s mansion in the village.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Census 2011](/source/United_Kingdom_Census_2011)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [buckscc.gov.uk](http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/content/index.jsp?contentid=-1334920295) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120210081127/http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/content/index.jsp?contentid=-1334920295) 10 February 2012 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-holycrosssch_3-0)** Carswell, Andy (18 January 2012). ["Holy Cross Convent could re-open as a school"](https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/9476181.holy-cross-convent-in-chalfont-st-peter-could-re-open-as-a-school/). *Bucks Free Press*. Retrieved 10 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Bucks man the subject of Derren Brown's 'Apocalypse'"](http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/10011794.Bucks_man_the_subject_of_Derren_Brown_s__Apocalypse_/?ref=rss). *Bucks Free Press*. Retrieved 18 November 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Chalfont_Centre_5-0)** [Chalfont Centre](https://web.archive.org/web/20180415124650/https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/fe8c/e025a1bbb0992f4dcc067a70b0148586e7f9.pdf) Duncan, JS & G Faulkner. *Seizure*. 2003. Retrieved 13/04/18

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Chalfont"](https://www.arqiva.com/contact-us/chalfont/). *Arqiva*. Retrieved 26 January 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Arqiva Chalfont Grove Teleport - World Teleport Association"](https://www.worldteleport.org/members/?id=43022678). *www.worldteleport.org*. Retrieved 26 January 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Oatts, Joanne (22 September 2006). ["Lottery gets its own studio as birthday present"](https://www.digitalspy.com/media/a37273/lottery-gets-its-own-studio-as-birthday-present/). *Digital Spy*. Retrieved 10 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Pinewood to host new look National Lottery show on BBC One"](https://www.theknowledgeonline.com/the-knowledge-bulletin/post/2012/12/11/Pinewood-to-host-new-look-National-Lottery-show-on-BBC-One). *The Knowledge*. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["About us"](https://www.bradtguides.com/about/). *Bradt Guides website*. Retrieved 2 August 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-bradt_11-0)** ["Travel writer's adventure wins literary gong"](https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/5179052.travel-writers-adventure-wins-literary-gong/). *Bucks Free Press*. 8 July 2002. Retrieved 10 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-rwsrank_12-0)** ["The Slator 2020 Language Service Provider Index"](https://slator.com/language-service-provider-index/the-slator-2020-language-service-provider-index/). *Slator*. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-rws_13-0)** ["RWS Spends USD40 Million On Two Acquisitions As Interim Profit Slides"](https://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/news/AN_1591693763803655500/rws-spends-usd40-million-on-two-acquisitions-as-interim-profit-slides.aspx). *MorningstarUK*. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Bloomfield, Ruth (28 February 2014). ["A job for the Professionals: Lewis Collins's farmhouse for sale"](https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/england/kent/a-job-for-the-professionals-lewis-collinss-farmhouse-for-sale-w692s30tb6w). *[The Times](/source/The_Times)*. Retrieved 13 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Donnelly, Paul (2003). *Fade to Black: A Book of Movie Obituaries*. Music Sales Group. p. 410. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780711995123](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780711995123).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Plaques in Chalfont St Peter"](https://openplaques.org/places/gb/areas/chalfont_st_peter/plaques). *Open Plaques*. Retrieved 23 December 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Williams, Ian (13 January 2000). ["Patrick O'Brian"](https://www.salon.com/2000/01/13/o_brian/). *salon.com*. Retrieved 19 February 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Travis, Alan (30 September 2008). ["Miss Marple's final case: real-life crime mystery of late Oscar-winning actor"](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/sep/30/2). *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*. London. Retrieved 19 February 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["This week's Interview: Thalissa Teixera"](https://www.bbmag.co.uk/weeks-interview-thalissa-teixera/). *BBMag*. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Hugman, BJ (Ed) *The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005* (2005) [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-85291-665-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-85291-665-6) p675. Retrieved 28 July 2010

## Further reading

- "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

- 'The Famous and Infamous of The Chalfonts and District', DJ Kelly, 2014 published by Titanic Press.

- 'The Chalfonts and Gerrards Cross at War', DJ Kelly, 2014 published by Titanic Press

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Chalfont St Peter](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Chalfont_St_Peter).

- [Chalfont St Peter Church of England Academy](http://www.csp-academy.org.uk/)

- [Chalfont St Peter Parish Council](http://www.chalfontstpeter-pc.gov.uk/)

- [Chalfont St Peter community site](https://www.chalfontstpeter.com/)

- [UK and Ireland Genealogy](https://web.archive.org/web/20060803044950/http://met.open.ac.uk/genuki/big/eng/BKM/ChalfontStPeter/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chalfont St Peter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalfont_St_Peter) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalfont_St_Peter?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.