Chenies Village Society

The Formation

Chenies Village Society formed in 1956, following the auction sale of the village by the Bedford Estate in 1954.

The inaugural meeting took place on Tuesday 6th March 1956 in St Michaels Church. Those present were the members of Chenies Parish Council, the Rector of St Michaels and other members of the village. The offices of Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Committee were filled and the group called themselves the Chenies Village Association, soon after to be renamed Chenies Village Society. An annual subscription of two shillings was set.

The Bedford Estate, the MD of the Metropolitan Railway County Estates and the Editor of the Bucks Examiner were informed of the formation of the Association.

The main objective was to ‘preserve Chenies in its present state of a typical English village, unique in its proximity to London’.
A Letter to Villagers re the formation of Chenies Village Society was sent to all residents of the village in September 1956.
Summary of issues and activities:

1960’s

Preserving the village from development
Preventing unnecessary felling of trees in local woodlands
Proposal to create a Chenies Social and Recreational Club and a public recreation ground and Village Hall. Chenies Youth Club would be linked (in 1958 older villagers had enquired about a fund for this which had been started during the last war and to which they had subscribed).
Loss of village shop (which closed in 1964)
Traffic levels through the village
Affiliation to the Council for Preservation of Rural England
Affiliation to the newly formed Chiltern Society
Letter supporting current County Boundary
Agreement from the Metropolitan Railway Estates to allow cricket to be played in the village on Sundays.
Need for additional classrooms at Chenies School and the suitability of the new buildings design
Best Kept Village Competition
Litter collections
Opposition to building residences on the allotments in Back Lane owned by the Metropolitan Railways
Opposition to a proposal to demolish the Old Rectory and build a bungalow style property
Pond on the Village Green (in which people paddled!)
Safety of Elm trees on Village Green
Poor quality of mowing on the Village Green
Cars parked on verges opposite the Red Lion
Request to Benskin’s of Watford for a car park at the Red Lion
Christmas Party (the first was held in 1966 in The Long Room of Chenies Manor. 80 adults and 20 children attended and the Society contributed two shillings and sixpence towards Christmas gifts for each child who attended).
Electricity cables and posts
Letting of the School Hall and the use of the canteen
Production of a villager list of addresses and surnames (1966)
Change of Bank Account to one more local (original with Midland Bank at 25 Wigmore Street London W1!)

1970’s

Rules of Chenies Village Society (amended 1970 & 1995)
Caravan dwellers on the A404 verge
The London North Orbital Trunk Road (M25) and findings of the Inspectors Report
Opposition to building on allotments in Back Lane
Brass rubbing St Michaels
Viewing of Planning Applications to ensure preservation of village, including extension of school buildings
Road signs and safety
Tree planting using a Heritage Grant of £100 plus requirement to obscure view of RAF Tower
Degradation of footpath by horses and cars
Increased heavy traffic through village linked with gravel extractions at Chesham and petition to limit number & weight of heavy goods vehicles
Litter collections – example Litter collection 1978 letter to villagers
Best Kept Village Competitions – example Best kept village competition (letter 1976) to villagers
Traffic levels
Additional buildings of architectural or historical interest
Appearance of church surrounds and burial ground at St Michaels
Planting bulbs and wild seeds
Dutch Elm disease and eventual removal of nine elm stumps from village green (invoice 1974)
Design of garages being erected in Chenies
Right of way over River Chess in Holloway Lane
Women’s Institute Planning of the Produce Show 1974
Village Hall Fund which, in 1974 became managed by 3 Trustees, 1 from the Parish Council and 2 from the Village Society
Objection to proposed Golf Course
Objection to proposed fishing lakes at Sarratt Bottom
‘Gypsies’ on verges in Green Street
Village parties which then became regular (the previous inaugural one had taken place 10 years earlier in 1966)
Plans for celebration of the Queens Silver Jubilee in 1977
Postal addresses to move from Herts to Bucks
Photo collection of old Chenies held by resident archivist (these have not been found)
Survey of ‘treasures’ of the village (these have not been found)

1980’s

St Michaels graveyard reaching capacity (a dispute had originated in the late 1960’s since the Bedford Settled Estates transferred some land to the Benefice which became the Rectory garden. The Parish Council and Villagers believed that this land was intended as an extension to the graveyard. By 1980 this hit the local and the national press and 130 village residents signed a petition supporting this view. This was finally resolved in 1985 by compromise on both sides)
Opening the Bedford Chapel to Chenies village residents
Bedford Arms expansion
Noise levels from Bedford Arms events
Footpath between the Bedford Arms and the cricket field and parking demands in area of Red Lion
Party to celebrate the Royal Wedding 1981
Sarratt trout lake
Threats to bus service in Chenies with proposed streamlining of the 309 and the 336
Speed limit request of 30mph (turned down)
Planting of new trees along the sward
Objection to proposed residential property on allotment land
Kerbing to village green
Christmas parties (children with visiting Father Christmas held during Decembers and adults held in Januarys/Februarys), Village party invitation 1990
Best kept village competitions (Gurney cup won in 1986 with village party to celebrate). List of finalists and winners – best kept village competition 1986. Newspaper article with photo of Chenies Gurney Cup winners 1986. Invitation to celebratory party for winning best kept village competition 1986
Annual cricket match between Chenies cricket club and the villagers started in 1983 Programme September 1983 – match between Chenies and Essex X1
Village Hall Fund Questionnaire to village residents regarding village hall fund 1990 Hand written summary of instigation of village hall fund 1943-1958
Installation of replacement telephone kiosk top of village green
Chenies Village Society AGM Invitation 23 April 1988 CVS statement of account April 1985-April 1986
Armada bonfire July 1988 Invitation to Armada Bonfire 19 July 1988
Car parking congestion in the village
Diversion of two footpaths at local farm
Restoration of the Liberty Tomb
Comments re draft Local Plan for Chiltern District
Road safety and speed of traffic (1990)

Chenies History

The Formation

Celebrating the Heritage of Chenies Village

Why Documenting Local History Matters

Chenies: Where Past and Present Meet