With the beautiful rolling countryside around Chenies and country pursuits such as grooming horses and game keeping, it is easy to conjure up images of the privileged classes hunting, shooting and fishing. Indeed there is a 16th-century Chenies family portrait depicting the 4th Earl of Bedford (of the Russell family) holding a falcon on his fist.
With rich hunting grounds surrounding the manor, Chenies was a residence frequented during royal progresses; Henry VIII is known to have stayed there and hunting was a particular attraction. Elizabeth I was entertained at the house, which includes a medieval well, dungeon and reputed priest hole. Its beautiful gardens include an extensive Physic Garden and two mazes.
Hanging on the south wall of Chenies church is a wooden box placed there in 1879. Inside it is an engraved scroll presented to a clergyman of the Russell family, Lord Wriothesley Russell, who celebrated fifty years of service to the parish, and his golden wedding anniversary, that year. The watercolours on the plaque depict the buildings of Chenies as they were in 1879.
On the inside of the open doors of the box are the signatures of each of the inhabitants of the village at the time. Careful examination will reveal the names of William and Letitia Anthony, and their youngest daughter, Adelaide along with Letty’s brother and sisters James, Eliza and Elizabeth Floyd. I have transcribed all 240 names on the plaque and many of them match the 1881 census.
More detail on Chenies plaque 1879
Transcription of names on plaque
Travels Through Time 