Did you know that...
A Roman villa shows that Chenies was inhabited since the 1st century. The Domesday Book does not mention the area. It is believed that it was part of the Manor of Chesham at that time. There is mention of a 12th-century mill here. In the 14th century, this WD3 area was known as Isenhampstead Chenies. The name is derived from the Cheyne family. Alexander is the first member of this family recorded in this area. His son was the sheriff of Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire in the 13th century. He was made into a knight. Thomas Cheyne was shield-bearer to King Edward III and owner of a hunting lodge located in close proximity to this North London area. Kings Edward I and II visited the lodge.
The Chenies Manor House was built in 1460 by John Cheyne, a descendant of Thomas. The manor house was also called Chenies Palace. The Tudor mansion is a Grade I listed construction. The Chenies owned the manor until the 16th century when it passed by marriage to Semark, Sapcote, and Russell families. In the 17th century, the Russells moved their main seat to Woburn Abbey but they still used the mausoleum of the local parish church. The manor house is a popular filming location. Scenes from Midsomer Murders, Little Dorrit, To Play the King, Cassandra’s Dream, and other movies and series were filmed at the Chenies Manor House.
St Michael’s church is a grade I listed building in Chenies. The Bedford Chapel which is the mausoleum of the Russell family is part of this church. The original church building dated from the 12th century and it was made of wood. The current construction dates from the 15th century. The church was substantially renovated in the 19th century. The present organ is from 1960. It replaced the previous organ that was damaged by a storm. The church cemetery has the war grave of airman John Lionel Crook who died in World War II.
