Chenies village has shaped the lives of many residents over the years, from the earliest records of the Manor in Isenhampstead and its royal visitors King Edward I and King Edward II who hunted here and stayed at the hunting lodge belonging to the Cheyne family, to the more recent residents and their stories, and there is plenty to explore here on the site.
Perhaps you’d like to learn more about the Dodd family. John Dodd, master paper-maker and resident of Dodd’s Mill from 1739 until his death in 1775 he was well regarded as both a crafstman and churchwarden in the village, as was his son George whose family played a part in the historical shift towards non-conformity in the village and the construction of the Baptist Chapel.
During the war years there were plenty of young men sent to the front, and this story of a young artilleryman from the village who died on the eve of his seventeenth birthday tells the story of a family that sacrificed far too much in pursuit of peace. He is honoured at the Baptist Church with a plaque.
More recently we can read about various members of the Life family, including Emilie (b.1890), Ted (b.1887) and Andrew (b.1921), and Rose Maling has shared her moving account of growing up in the village during the early 1900’s.
We will continue to add stories to the website as it continues to develop, and you can browse all the individuals whose stories are featured here. If you are or your ancestors lived in the village or you have stories to tell about life here, we would love to hear from you. You can contact us by emailing chenieshistory@yahoo.com
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