Chorleywood’s origins can be traced back to prehistory. Local flint in abundance was ideal material from which Palaeolithic and Neolithic man fashioned his implements, examples of which have often been found in local woods, fields and gardens. Amongst other Roman finds, two possible villa sites (circa 60AD) have been discovered in the area and excavations in the Chess Valley have revealed the site of a Roman water mill and brewing complex.
The first main settlers were Saxons, the Chess Valley being the centre of their community. The river now known as the Chess and originally called the Pichelsburnae (the mousehawk stream), was named the Isen by the Saxons but later became the Lowdewater and by 1805, the Chesham Stream. During the Saxon period Chorleywood formed part of the Manor of Prichemareswarde (Rickmansworth) which was given to the Monastery of St. Albans by Offa, King of Mercia, over the seal of Edward the Confessor. Shire Lane was the boundary between Wessex and Mercia.
In the late medieval times Chorleywood remained very small and even as late as the year 1700 the population constituted only about 40 tenant farmers. The Manor remained in the hands of the Monastery of St Albans until the Dissolution when it passed to the Bishopric of London, subsequently to be reclaimed for the Crown by Elizabeth. The Manorial rights were eventually acquired by Henry Batty who gave his rights to The Common to the then Chorleywood Urban District Council. These have now passed in succession to the Parish Council.
Chorleywood station was built by the expanding Metropolitan Railway and opened as "Chorley Wood" in July 1889. The name was changed to "Chorley Wood & Chenies" in November 1915 until 1934 when it reverted to the original name until 1965.
Chorleywood station was formerly served by steam-hauled Metropolitan line trains from Aylesbury to London, with a changeover to an electric locomotive at Rickmansworth. Steam trains were withdrawn in 1961 when electrification north of Rickmansworth to Amersham and Chesham was completed.