Chartres lies on the west of central West Falklands, on the north side of King George Bay and on the north side of Chartres River which rises in the foothills of the Hornby Mountains and runs for 15 miles (25km) to Christmas Harbour and on to King George Bay. This is a river famous for brown trout.
Chartres River was named for Dr William Chartres, a surgeon on board the HMS Philomel which was surveying the islands between 1842 and 1845. Chartres settlement was named for the river. The original settlement was a few miles up the river from where the settlement is today. The site proved too difficult for boats to get supplies in and wool out so it was moved to ‘the Point’ where there is deep water in Christmas Harbour.
The farm is owned by the Luxton family.

History
Chartres was first leased by James McClymont on 5th February 1868, on an occupation licence. He stocked the station at great expense, paying 25-28 shillings per head to bring sheep from the River Plate. Wild cattle could be captured for taming free if they were branded and a return of the animals was made every 6 months. A declaration was made every 6 months of the number and description of wild cattle killed by him and a payment of 41 shillings per bull and 16 shillings for every animal for consumption had to be made. Wild cattle gave pioneer farmers some ready cash until their farms were established.
With a house built and the station stocked McClymont was granted a 20 year lease in November 1869.After 14 years of living at Chartres James McClymont appointed a manager and took his family to England. In October 1885 Charles Anson bought a half share in Chartres River Station. In May 1886 George Markham Dean bought James's other half of Chartres. After Dean’s death in April 1888 his half passed to his widow Orissa Dean. On her death in 1920 her one half shares was passed to her godson William Henry Luxton. Anson died in 1923 leaving his half to his wife Mabel. In 1933 she conveyed her half to her son Phillip who in turn conveyed his shares to William Henry Luxton to settle the mortgage. Luxtons managed the farm from then on, until William Henry's grandson Bill bought the remaining third to make the farm owned entirely by the Luxton family.

Sources include: Report on the Blue Book for 1888/89, Unspoilt Beauty of the Falkland Islands -Algernon Asprey text by Phyllis Rendall, Falkland Rural Heritage- Joan Spruce with Natalie Smith, nationalarchives.gov.fk/Jane Cameron National Archives /Buildings/ Land/General/Early leases of land post 1842,nationalarchives.gov.fk /Jane Cameron National Archives /People/19century families,The Dictionary of Falklands Biography (including South Georgia) - Edited by David Tatham,

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