{{Short description|Village in Buckinghamshire, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use British English|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox UK place |official_name= Seer Green |static_image_name= Seer Green Church.JPG |static_image_caption= Holy Trinity Parish Church |coordinates= {{coord|51.618|-0.605|display=inline,title}} |label_position= top |population= 2,400 |population_ref= ([[2021–2022 United Kingdom censuses|2021]])<ref name="Census2021" /> |os_grid_reference= SU9691 |civil_parish= Seer Green |unitary_england= [[Buckinghamshire Council|Buckinghamshire]] |lieutenancy_england= [[Buckinghamshire]] |region= South East England |country= England |post_town= BEACONSFIELD |postcode_area= HP |postcode_district= HP9 |dial_code= 01494 |constituency_westminster= [[Chesham and Amersham (UK Parliament constituency)|Chesham and Amersham]] |website= }}
'''Seer Green''' is a village and [[civil parish]] in [[Buckinghamshire]], England. It is in the [[Chiltern Hills]], {{convert|1.8|mi}} east-north-east of [[Beaconsfield|Old Beaconsfield]] and {{convert|1.8|mi}} south-west of [[Chalfont St Giles]].
==History== According to the Chilterns Conservation Board the [[Toponymy|toponym]] "Seer" is derived from the [[Norman language|Norman French]] for "dry or arid place".<ref>{{cite web |title=Chilterns Country: Seer Green & Beaconsfield Walk |url=https://chilternsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Seer_Green_and_Beaconsfield.pdf |website=Chiltern Society |publisher=Chiltern Society |format=PDF |language=English |access-date=28 October 2025 }}</ref> However "sere" is also the Middle English word for dry - derived from Old English "seare",<ref>{{cite web |title=sere | sear – Oxford English Dictionary |url=http://oed.com/dictionary/sere_adj1 |website=Oxford English Dictionary |publisher=Oxford University Press |language=English |access-date=28 October 2025 }}</ref> additionally the Buckinghamshire government website notes that both "sear\sere" and "grene" appear to be of English origin.<ref name="BuckHeritage">{{cite web |title=Seer Green – Buckinghamshire Heritage Portal |url=https://heritageportal.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/theme/tbc674 |website=Buckinghamshire Heritage Portal |publisher=Buckinghamshire Council |language=English |access-date=28 October 2025 }}</ref> Village legend has it that the "Seer" refers to King Arthur's Court visiting the area and locals consulting his "seer" [[Merlin]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Seer Green Parish Council Website |url=https://www.seergreenparishcouncil.gov.uk/HOME_47698.aspx |website=Seer Green Parish Council |publisher=Seer Green Parish Council |language=English |access-date=28 October 2025 }}</ref>
When the [[Domesday Book]] was complied in 1086 Seer Green was a part of Farnham Royal, governed by [[Bertram de Verdun|Bertram I de Verdun]] - the land in [[Norman Conquest|pre-conquest]] England having previously belonged to [[Godgifu (daughter of Æthelred the Unready)|Princess Godgifu]].<ref name="BuckHeritage" /> The land was passed down by the Verduns to their descendants until through marriage it was passed onto the Furnival, Neville and Talbot families.
In a [[Manorialism|manorial]] roll dating back to [[Henry III of England|Henry III]]'s reign in 1232 it was called ''La Sere'',<ref name="BuckHeritage" /> after this other recorded names during the Medieval Era, in chronological order, have been La Cere, Le Shere, La Zere, Sera and Sere.<ref>{{cite web |title=Seer Green – Major Settlement in the Parish of Seer Green |url=https://epns.nottingham.ac.uk/browse/Buckinghamshire/Seer+Green/53282ee4b47fc407e30003b0-Seer+Green |website=Survey of English Place-Names |publisher=English Place-Name Society, University of Nottingham |language=English |access-date=28 October 2025 }}</ref>
In 1541 Seer Green along with the rest of the manor of Farnham became a holding of Henry VIII when he exchanged land with the [[Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury|5th Earl of Shrewsbury]].<ref name="BuckHeritage" />
The oldest building in Seer Green is Hall Place which is a [[Listed building#Grade II|Grade II listed]] building.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hall Place, 1 and 2, Seer Green Lane |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1332493 |website=Historic England |publisher=Historic England |language=English |access-date=28 October 2025 }}</ref>
The [[Church of England parish church|Holy Trinity Church]] was built in 1846. It is brick and flint with [[lancet window]]s. There is also a [[Baptists Together|Baptist]] church.
Seer Green became a separate parish in 1866, having previously been a hamlet of the parish of [[Farnham Royal]]. It had levied a separate poor rate before then.
Until the early part of the 20th century Seer Green was mainly an agricultural village, known for its cherry orchards. The remnants of some of these orchards remain and in honour of this tradition the local school holds a "Cherry Pie Fair" every summer which usually involves a [[Costume party|fancy dress]] parade and a procession through the village.<ref>{{cite web |title=Why the cherries? – Life in Seer Green |url=https://www.lifeinseergreen.org/why-the-cherries/ |website=Life in Seer Green |publisher=Seer Green Community |language=English |access-date=28 October 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Seer Green is a small village of about 938 households in the County of Buckinghamshire, England |url=https://www.seergreenparishcouncil.gov.uk/_UserFiles/Files/Seer%20Green%20is%20a%20small%20village%20of%20about%20938%20households%20in%20the%20County%20of%20Buckinghamshire.pdf |website=Seer Green Parish Council |publisher=Seer Green Parish Council |format=PDF |language=English |access-date=28 October 2025 }}</ref>
==Amenities== The parish has a Church of England primary school. The village has a [[Scouting|Scout]] troop that is successful in regional competitions. The village youth football club, Seer Green United, has under 7s, under 8s and under 13s teams. The village is close to [[Hodgemoor Wood]], a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Hodgemoor Wood |url=https://www.hodgemoor.org.uk |website=Friends of Hodgemoor |publisher=Friends of Hodgemoor |language=English |access-date=28 October 2025 }}</ref>
[[Seer Green and Jordans railway station]] is on the [[Chiltern Main Line]] between [[Beaconsfield]] and [[Gerrards Cross]]. The station was originally called "Beaconsfield Golf Club", the golf club being next door, but the name was later changed to reflect its position between the two settlements. Bus route 104, provided by Carousel, also runs through the village.<ref>{{cite web |title=Timetable for service 104 – High Wycombe to Uxbridge |url=https://www.carouselbuses.co.uk/services/CSLB/104 |website=Carousel Buses |publisher=Carousel Buses |language=English |access-date=28 October 2025 }}</ref>
[[M40 motorway#List of junctions|Junction 2]] of the M40 motorway is nearby.
==Notable people== Notable residents have included:
* [[Frederick Forsyth]], author * [[Ian McCaskill]], weather presenter<ref>{{cite news |title=Article from Buckinghamshire Examiner |work=Buckinghamshire Examiner |date=14 January 1994 |page=10 |language=English |access-date= |type=Print }}</ref> * [[Jon Anderson]], musician and lead singer of Yes
==Demography== ===2001 census=== ==== Ethnic and religious background ==== At the 2001 UK census, the Seer Green [[Ward (electoral subdivision)|electoral ward]] had a population of 2,267, the ethnicity of 98% of residents was reported as being white which was higher than Chiltern District and England as a whole. The 2001 census had also recorded that the residents were 0.6% mixed race, 0.8% Asian and 0.1% black which is significantly lower than the average for England.
The 2001 census also revealed that the place of birth of residents was 88.7% United Kingdom, 0.7% Republic of Ireland, 2.6% other Western European countries, and 8% elsewhere - in total 11.3% of residents were born outside UK, which was higher than England on average. Religion was recorded as 78% Christian (which was higher than the 72% average for England and Wales). Of the rest - 0.2% were recorded as being Buddhist, 0.3% Hindu, 0% Sikh and 0.3% Muslim - which was significantly lower than England and Wales as a whole, however 0.7% were recorded as Jewish which was higher than the average for England and Wales. 14% were recorded as having no religion, 0.4% had an alternative religion and 6.1% did not state their religion.<ref name=Stat>{{cite web | title = Neighbourhood Statistics | publisher = Statistics.gov.uk | url = http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadDatasetList.do?a=3&b=5948322&c=Seer+Green&d=14&g=424802&i=1001x1003&m=0&r=1&s=1208776007828&enc=1&domainId=16 | accessdate = 2008-04-21}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" id="toc" style="float: centre; margin-left: 2em; width: 40%; font-size: 90%;" cellspacing="3" ! colspan="4" style="text-align: center;" | '''Seer Green comparative demography''' |- | style="text-align: center;" | '''2001 UK Census''' | style="text-align: center;" | '''Seer Green ward''' | style="text-align: center;" | '''[[Chiltern District]]''' | style="text-align: center;" | '''England''' |- | style="text-align: center;" | Population | style="text-align: center;" | 2,267 | style="text-align: center;" | 89,228 | style="text-align: center;" | 49,138,831 |- | style="text-align: center;" | Foreign born | style="text-align: center;" | 11.3% | style="text-align: center;" | 9.3% | style="text-align: center;" | 9.2% |- | style="text-align: center;" | White | style="text-align: center;" | 98% | style="text-align: center;" | 95.5% | style="text-align: center;" | 90.9% |- | style="text-align: center;" | Asian | style="text-align: center;" | 0.8% | style="text-align: center;" | 2.8% | style="text-align: center;" | 4.6% |- | style="text-align: center;" | Black | style="text-align: center;" | 0.1% | style="text-align: center;" | 0.3% | style="text-align: center;" | 2.3% |- |- | style="text-align: center;" | Mixed | style="text-align: center;" | 0.6% | style="text-align: center;" | | style="text-align: center;" | 1.3% |- |- | style="text-align: center;" | Other | style="text-align: center;" | 0.5% | style="text-align: center;" | | style="text-align: center;" | 0.4% |- | style="text-align: center;" | Christian | style="text-align: center;" | 78% | style="text-align: center;" | 74.7% | style="text-align: center;" | 71.7% |- | style="text-align: center;" | Muslim | style="text-align: center;" | 0.3% | style="text-align: center;" | 1.9% | style="text-align: center;" | 3.1% |- | style="text-align: center;" | Hindu | style="text-align: center;" | 0.3% | style="text-align: center;" | 0.5% | style="text-align: center;" | 1.1% |- | style="text-align: center;" | No religion | style="text-align: center;" | 14.0% | style="text-align: center;" | 15.0% | style="text-align: center;" | 14.6% |- | style="text-align: center;" | Unemployed | style="text-align: center;" | 1.3% | style="text-align: center;" | 1.7% | style="text-align: center;" | 3.3% |- | style="text-align: center;" | Retired | style="text-align: center;" | 13.7% | style="text-align: center;" | 14.6% | style="text-align: center;" | 13.5% |}
====Economic Activity==== The economic activity of residents aged 16–74 was 40.6% in full-time employment, 11.2% in part-time employment, 13.6% self-employed, 1.3% unemployed, 2.2% students with jobs, 3.6% students without jobs, 13.7% retired, 9.9% looking after home or family, 2.1% permanently sick or disabled and 1.8% economically inactive for other reasons.
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Economic Activity ! style="text-align: center;" | Percentage |- | Full-time employment | style="text-align: center;" | 40.6% |- | Part-time employment | style="text-align: center;" | 11.2% |- | Self-employed | style="text-align: center;" | 13.6% |- | Unemployed | style="text-align: center;" | 1.3% |- | Students with jobs | style="text-align: center;" | 2.2% |- | Students without jobs | style="text-align: center;" | 3.6% |- | Retired | style="text-align: center;" | 13.7% |- | Looking after home or family | style="text-align: center;" | 9.9% |- | Permanently sick or disabled | style="text-align: center;" | 2.1% |- | Economically inactive for other reasons | style="text-align: center;" | 1.8% |}
The industry of employment of residents was 14% retail, 10.8% manufacturing, 5.5% construction, 25.7% real estate, 9.3% health and social work, 8% education, 6.3% transport and communications, 3.5% public administration, 2.3% hotels and restaurants, 4.9% finance, 1.1% agriculture and 8.6% other. Compared with national figures, the ward had a relatively high proportion of workers in real estate, and a relatively low proportion in public administration, hotels and restaurants. Of the ward's residents aged 16–74, 36.2% had a [[higher education]] qualification or the equivalent, compared with 19.9% nationwide.<ref name=Stat/>
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Industry ! style="text-align: center;" | Percentage |- | Retail | style="text-align: center;" | 14% |- | Manufacturing | style="text-align: center;" | 10.8% |- | Construction | style="text-align: center;" | 5.5% |- | Real estate | style="text-align: center;" | 25.7% |- | Health and social work | style="text-align: center;" | 9.3% |- | Education | style="text-align: center;" | 8% |- | Transport and communications | style="text-align: center;" | 6.3% |- | Public administration | style="text-align: center;" | 3.5% |- | Hotels and restaurants | style="text-align: center;" | 2.3% |- | Finance | style="text-align: center;" | 4.9% |- | Agriculture | style="text-align: center;" | 1.1% |- | Other | style="text-align: center;" | 8.6% |}
===2021 census=== According to the 2021 census Seer Green had a population of 2,400 compared to 57,112,500 in England overall. Asians were 3.7% - compared to 9.6% in England overall. Black people were 0.5% compared to 4.2% in England overall Mixed or multiple ethnic groups were 3.4% compared to 3.0% in England overall. White were 91.8% compared to 81.0% in England overall. Other ethnic groups were 0.6% compared to 2.2% in England overall<ref name="Census2021">[https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/customprofiles/build/#E04001577 Seer Green - Office of National Statistics UK]</ref>
According to the 2021 census, religious affiliation was as follows:<ref name="Census2021" /> No religion 34.3% completed to 36.7% in England overall. Christian 55.7% compared to 46.3% in England overall. Buddhist 0.7% compared to 0.5% in England overall. Hindu 0.9% compared to 1.8% in England overall. Jewish 0.8% compared to 0.5% in England overall. Muslim 1.0% compared to 6.7% in England overall. Sikh 0.7% compared to 0.9% in England overall. Other religion 0.4% Compared to 0.6% in England overall. Not answered was 5.4% compared to 6.0% in England overall.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ 2021 census data % ! Religious affiliation !! Seer Green !! England |- | No religion || 34.3 || 36.7 |- | Christian || 55.7 || 46.3 |- | Buddhist || 0.7 || 0.5 |- | Hindu || 0.9 || 1.8 |- | Jewish || 0.8 || 0.5 |- | Muslim || 1.0 || 6.7 |- | Sikh || 0.7 || 0.9 |- |- | Other religion || 0.4 || 0.6 |- | Not answered || 5.4 || 6.0 |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Seer Green}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930235906/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10157780&c_id=10001043 Vision of Britain]
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[[Category:Villages in Buckinghamshire]] [[Category:Civil parishes in Buckinghamshire]]