'Chenies Village for Sale, a corner of rural England - going to the highest bidder' - this was the headline in a Daily Mail feature article in June 1954.

 

Owned by the Duke of Bedford the entire village was auctioned to meet duties on the 12ths Duke Estate after he was found accidentally shot in a hunting accident in October 1953 - thus ending over 4 and a half centuries of patronage.

 

The Estate comprised 1676 acres,including 44 homes, seven farms, a hotel, a pub, 255 acres of woodland, watercress beds, a communal swiming pool, allotments, cricket pitch, fishing rights and more.

 

The whole village was sold for £182,000 to the Metropolitan Estates who only wanted some 200 acres near Little Chalfont for speculative development.

The remainder was broken up with many of the tennants securing their homes at 'knock-down' prices: Great Green Street Farm (with 276 acres) £66,000,

Allotments £40, Cricket Ground £1,700 and Cottages from £1,150 (no 4) to £2,700 for the pair at 42 and 3.

 

The estate 'For Sale' catalogue can be viewed via the pdf links below - this large document has been split into three pdf's to enable it to be easily downloaded.

 

Listed below are the lots/houses as they appear in the catalogue.

Chenies Catalogue 1 - Great House Farm, Mill Farm, 2 Chesham Road, 48 The Village, Mountwood Farm, 47 TheVillage, Great Greenstreet Farm, 44 The Village, 61 Claypits, Little Greenstreet Farm, 11 Chenies, 23 Hillside, New House Farm, 1 New House Farm Cottage.

 

Acknowledgements: With thanks to 'Chenies & Chorleywood In Camera' for information on Sale details.