The following description comes from Guide to Hertfordshire, by An Old Inhabitant (1880)

Two miles and a-half north-west of Rickmansworth, is the Hamlet and Ecclesiastical District of Chorley, or CHORLEY WOOD, founded in 1845. Christ Church was entirely rebuilt in 1870, with the exception of the tower; it is Early English or the 13th century, and consists of a nave, chancel, north aisle, and tower, with one bell. There are some fine stained-glass windows, a richly decorated chancel roof, and a beautiful altar­piece representing the adoration of our Lord. The Church possesses a good organ. The living is a Vicarage, of the annual value of £392, with a residence, in the gift of trustees. The CEDARS is a fine mansion here, the residence of J. S. Gilbert, Esq.; it takes its name from the magnificent cedars which abound on this property. The population of Chorley Wood is 995; the number of acres, 1,825.

A Pretty view of Chorley Woods

Chorley (or Charley Wood) is an ecclesiastical district, 3 miles north-west [of Rickmansworth], with a population in 1851 of 938. The church is named Christ church. The living is a perpetual curacy, annual value £40, in the gift of Mr. Hayward, and held by the Rev. Arthur Scrivener, M.A. Here is a Baptist chapel. Soles Mill is on the Chess. Currants Bottom, Long Hill, and Catlip (or Gatlets) lie to the south.

Post Office Directory for Hertfordshire, 1866

Chalfont Road, Chorleywood - pu c1905

Parish Church

King John's farm

Maud Huntsman's Paintings

Views by Coles, of Watford

Books

Rickmansworth, Chorleywood & Croxley Green

Rickmansworth & Chorleywood in Old Postcards

The Book of Chorleywood and Chenies

Chenies & Chorleywood in Camera

Web Sites
Christchurch, Chorleywood
Chorleywood Parish Council
Chorleywood (Wikipedia)

If you have a relevant question why not Ask Chris

Chorley Wood near the Gate Inn

Posted 1913 - unusual franking mark

Walter Albert Gates was the publican at The Gate in 1912

Advertisement of the sale of timber (beech, oak and larch) in Solomon's Wood, on the Cedars Estate, Chorley Wood

Buckinghamshire Advertiser, 8th March 1890

The Cedars, Chorleywood
Photo by Coles. Watford, posted 1912

61. Tollgate Cottage was built in 1887 and for a time was the home of Sir George and Lady Alaxander. He was a theatrical producer and presented many of Oscar Wilde's plays. The great architect Edwin Lutyens [see below] built them a new house nearby - The Court. Rickmansworth & Chorleywood in old picture postcards

Michael Edwards R.I.B.A. (roysted @t btinternet.com)  writes: Your web site refers to Edwin Lutyens having designed a house called  The Court for Sir George and Lady Alaxander but you may find that the house was actually designed by a pupil of his, J.D. Coleridge and  perhaps  in 1906/7 as was the very similar house near Godalming in Surrey called Hascombe Court, recently owned by the tv/radio personlity, Chris Evans and sold on twice since then.If there are any actual Lutyens drawings for the Court, however, please let me know, and I will be happy to stand corrected. You can see the matching house near Godalming via Google Earth of course.

Chorleywood is known particularly by  architects as having the celebrated architect C. F. A. Voysey's  house, The Orchard which he built for himself, and which you might consider worth referring to on your site.

My reference comes from a book published in 1987 and I suspect that what happened was that Lutyens was asked - and passed the work to a pupil.