Chalfont St Peter: The Greyhound Inn

Image: © Nigel Cox Taken: 25 Apr 2010

Reputedly built in the 17th century for Judge Jeffreys (1645-1689), and later the property of the Whitchurch family, Lords of the Manor of Chalfont St Peter in the 17th and 18th centuries, The Greyhound is at the northern end of the High Street. It is a Grade II Listed Building. The English Heritage Listed Building reference page, sadly with a spelling mistake needing to be corrected, describes it thus: "C16 and C18. C16 part is timber-framed with whitewashed brick nogging. Old tile roof. Two storeys, modern casements. Curved wind braces. C18 part of red stretchers and grey headers, hipped old tile roof with moulded cornice. Two storeys, 1st floor band with cyma reversa moulding. Five double-hung sashes with flat arches. Modern bow window replaces carriageway. West elevation has range of hipped tiled roofed projections. Reputedly built for Judge Jeffreys." There is an obvious conflict here. Given that Judge Jeffreys lived only in the 17th century, how could the reputed 16th century inn have been built for him? The answer presumably is that there was an inn here in the 16th century that was substantially rebuilt for him in the 17th century.

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