Latimer

Latimer
Buckinghamshire
Latimer village green
Location
Grid reference:	TQ005995
Location:	51°41’7"N, -0°32’52"W
Data
Population:	977  (2011)
Post town:	Chesham
Postcode:	HP5
Dialling code:	01494
Local Government
Council:	Buckinghamshire
Parliamentary constituency:	Chesham and Amersham

Latimer is a village of Buckinghamshire that sits beside the border with Hertfordshire (formed by a lane at the east side of the village). Its parish, 'Latimer and Ley Hill' includes the villages of Latimer, Ley Hill and Tyler's Hill.

History

Latimer was originally joined with the adjacent village of Chenies, both encompassed by the name 'Isenhampstead', at a time when there was a royal palace in the vicinity. However, in the reign of King Edward III the lands were split between two manorial barons: Thomas Cheyne in the village that later became called 'Chenies', and William Latimer in the village which came to bear his name.

At the time of the Civil War, Latimer belonged to the Earl of Devon. When King Charles I was captured by the Parliamentarian forces he was brought to Latimer on his way to London.

Parish church

The church of St Mary Magdelane was rebuilt by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1867. The rectory was built in the 18th century in grey and red brick.

The small village includes 17th- and 18th-century cottages around a triangular village green with a pump on it.

About the village

Ley Hill, a hamlet of the parish, has a common, the Crown pub, the Swan pub and a Methodist Chapel. Tyler's Hill, also in the parish, has its own church, St George's.

The nearest railway station to Latimer is 'Chalfont and Latimer', built half-way between isolated villages: Latimer to the north and the Chalfonts to the south, though since then a new town, Little Chalfont, has grown up around the station. It serves national rail services and London Underground services (the Metropolitan Line).

Latimer House is an historic country house just outside the village.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Latimer)