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General
Chalfont St Peter and Chalfont St Giles take the last part of their names from the dedication of their parish churches. The first part of the name derives from Ceadeles funtan which means ‘Caedel's spring' as recorded in 949 CE. In the Domesday Book the name was recorded as Celfunte. In the 2001 Census the parish population was 6,696.
There is evidence of a very long occupation of the surrounding area as Palaeolithic flint stone implements have been found along the valley of the River Misbourne. There have also been finds of second and third century Roman coins. The first recorded evidence dates from the seventh century when a mission led by St Birinus, converted a local Saxon landowner to Christianity and thus the whole community.
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The Ivy House
At one time the Ivy House was an important coaching inn on the London to Aylesbury road. It was used to stable the horses and carriages used to transport prisoners who had been put up at the Chequers in Amersham before being taken to the Greyhound at Chalfont St Peter for trial.
It seems that a stable boy had died after tripping and being trampled by horses and he now haunts the old servant's rooms in the Ivy House attic. People in the office have had the feeling that they were being watched and footsteps could be heard in the corridor. In addition there is a distinct cold patch on the first flight of stairs that comes and goes. He had been seen and described as being between 15 and 16 years of age with short dark, a pale face and wearing tatty clothes.
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