Immensely green, leafy and rural, Loudwater and the neighbouring village of Chandler’s Cross are nestled between field after field of greenery, protected under conservation laws and perfect for those looking for a countryside escape from the inner city. Both established their little populations over time due to the economic history stemming from its nearby water sources. Chandler’s Cross in particular is known as the home of ‘London’s country estate’, The Grove – now a prominent hotel that has hosted several high-profile golf tournaments, as well as a G20 meeting. However, due to their proximity to Rickmansworth station, a speedy resident could be in central London within the hour.

Loudwater has apparently been home to humans since the 4th century and was most likely the site of a mill occupied by Germanic settlers. Both Chandler’s Cross and Loudwater were thus agricultural spaces for the majority of their historical existences. However, the mill at Loudwater became a key source of industry in the area and even gave the village its name due to the noise it used to generate. During the Industrial Revolution, it became a key hub for paper production, and the first man to make paper at the Loudwater mill was called John Simpson. However, as the industry declined, the communities reclined back into a rural idyll that remains to this day.

According to the local council, Haile Selassie, the last emperor of Ethiopia and a key figure in Rastafarianism spent the early part of his exile from Ethiopia at Hazelwood, Abbots Langley and at Glen Chess in Loudwater.

Amenities, let alone housing, are relatively far and few between within these villages. Chandler’s Cross is also very close to the noisy and polluted A25. There is also currently a spat between locals and the council over plans to create much-needed housing to tackle homelessness.

Proposals for new housing have been repeatedly rejected by the local community. Due to the fact that these villages are very small, and secondly, that they are well protected by conservation policies, there is very little development in the area. However, there is a waterfront luxury housing project, Elmswater by Berkeley Ground, that was recently completed in nearby Rickmansworth that will most likely cater to 48 wealthy commuters. The budget supermarket chain Lidl is also involved in a battle with the local council to establish a new store in the proximity, though it’s been almost a decade now since negotiations began and the supermarket chain has yet to open a branch in the vicinity.