The toponym "Winchendon" is derived from the Old English for "hill at a bend".

Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford bought and largely remodelled the priory.

Nether Winchendon House also hosts weddings.

Nether Winchendon has been a frequent setting for television and film production, including two Midsomer Murders episodes (as different houses); Lady Pat's house in Forever Green and the BBC series Chef!

St Nicholas' parish church was the setting for a baptism scene in the film Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, but can be seen only in the deleted scenes section of the DVD.