A Glimpse of Our History
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Map showing location of blue plaques showing Map been shown side-on. been shown side of the The buildings on the south l No. 7 The Gardener’s l No. 16 Graham l No. 25 William Cowper’s School Arms Greene’s All along the High Street the original façades of the old houses One of a pair of mid-19th century Birthplace can be seen above the modern shop fronts. Here a single shop h houses originally built as ale houses 200 metres up Chesham Road has been made from three houses, the middle one of which igh but first used as shops. Henry Nash, is St. John’s, a boarding house of dates from the early 18th century – William Cowper went to s a local historian and benefactor lived Berkhamsted School. The writer school here. treet have have treet Contact details here. Graham Greene was born here Nash had a strong interest in education and helped establish in 1904 when his father was l Berkhamsted Town Council No. 26 The Town Hall Berkhamsted School for Girls as well as Berkhamsted Mechanics’ housemaster. Greene made many references to Berkhamsted in This building was designed in the Gothic style by the eccentric The Civic Centre, 161 high street, Institute, early meetings of which were held in this house. his writing. Victorian architect Edward Buckton Lamb. His initials and the Berkhamsted, herts hP4 3hD. Between Chapel Street and the High Street is an attractive date of the building are on Tel: 01442 228945 Fax: 01442 877910 row of old cottages, many of which are listed. l No. 17 The Swan the front. The Town Hall At the top of Castle Street is Berkhamsted’s long, straight Email: [email protected] A 16th century inn, one of three old coaching inns which stand housed the corn A High Street. It was a Roman road – Akeman Street – and before side by side in the centre of the town, each with a way through market (the medieval that probably a Belgic track, so it has been used for at least 2,000 to a yard behind. The Swan is now ‘dry’ and provides a meeting market hall having been Compiled by John Cook Published by Berkhamsted Town Council years. place and sheltered accommodation for young people. destroyed in a fire), with a © Reprinted in 2009 by Rosewood Publishing Ltd glimpse large assembly hall as well www.berkhamsted.gov.uk l No. 8 The Dower l No. 18 The King’s Arms as rooms for the Mechanics’ House For two centuries the King’s Arms Institute above. A listed house of the early 1800s was the principal inn of the town. of our with a lovely porch and doorcase, Coaches from London to Aylesbury l No. 27 The characteristic of the architectural and the north would stop here Market Square elegance of the pre-Victorian age. to change horses. The exiled King The ancient trading centre of the historic town of history Berkhamsted expanded greatly in Louis XVIII of France, a frequent Berkhamsted was the 19th century. Between Manor Street and Ravens Lane is a caller, became especially fond of the the Market House. handsome terrace of Victorian cottages designed as an landlord’s daughter, Polly Page. It stood in the road Leaflets architectural entity, with interesting James Snook, a highwayman, was an near this spot for brickwork details and terracotta • The Graham Greene Trail ostler here. He was hanged for his some 250 years features on the roof all intact. crimes on Boxmoor in 1802 where s memorial stone can still be before being burnt • St. Peter’s Church Guide The walk crosses the road and found. The arms on the sign are not in fact those of any king but down in 1854. returns on the other side. of Queen Anne. Berkhamsted Town Council has its offices in the Civic l Centre, and the Town Clerk would be happy to help if No. 9 The Poplars 173 High Street contains parts of what is thought to be l No. 28 ‘Grab-All Row’ One of a number of substantial 19th century middle-class houses the earliest known jettied urban building in the country. Its oldest The attractive row of shops along this part of the High Street you have any queries. along the High Street, only a timbers date from the 13th century. At first thought to have was built in the old market square and acquired the name of ..................................................................................................... few of which have remained as been a shop, it is now believed to be a three-bay cross wing to an Grab-All Row. The vine is ancient, dating from early in the 19th residences. It takes its name from aisled hall. century. At the time Berkhamsted had a flourishing trade in the tall Lombardy poplar trees, which cultivation of vines, and vine-growing in Berkhamsted was used to line this part of the High l No. 19 179 High Street mentioned in the Domesday Book. Street. The actor Sir Michael This building dates from the 1920s and Hordern was born here in 1911. includes fine Art Nouveau wood carving. An l No. 29 The Court House A shorT GUIDED ToUr oF early and daring example of a shop with large In this Elizabethan Published with the support of knight Frank l No. 10 The Goat plate glass windows. hall the town’s 136 high street, Berkhamsted, hertfordshire hP4 3LT BErkhAMsTED A 19th century pub on the site of an old thatched inn. Here corporation met Tel: 01442 861610 drovers used to stay while their cattle were pounded in the three l No. 20 The Bridewell after Berkhamsted was www.knightfrank.com ‘closes’ that gave their name to the lane by the side of the Rex. Berkhamsted’s Police Station has stood on granted its last charter this site since 1764. Originally known as the Bridewell, the first in 1618. It has been l No. 11 The Rex Cinema building had a ‘dungeon with nine steps down: a most dreadful restored and is now Although built as recently as 1938, this cinema hole without air’. the parish hall, available is listed because of its fine period Art Deco for letting to the public. interior features by the architect David Nye. l No. 21 The Sayer l No. 1 The London and l No. 3 The Grand Junction Canal It has been beautifully restored, with the foyer Almshouses l Birmingham Railway Now called the Grand area now being an elegant restaurant and bar. John Sayer, King Charles II’s cook and a No. 30 St. Peter’s Church One of the largest churches in Hertfordshire, the parish church Union Canal, it was An Elizabethan mansion was demolished to prominent Berkhamsted of Berkhamsted dates from 1220. It has medieval features in opened through make way for the cinema. James Barrie often citizen, had these almshouses built in the early English, decorated Berkhamsted in 1798. stayed there, and the Llewellyn Davies boys who 1684 for poor widows. They have and perpendicular styles, as It soon became the lived in the house were the inspiration for Peter been used for the same purpose ever well as many monuments, main route for goods Pan. since. Sayer’s grand tomb chest with brasses and stained glass between the Latin inscription can be seen in the Parish Church. Berkhamsted is a lively windows. For over 600 The world’s first inter-city railway was built through manufacturing towns of l No. 12 Childhood Home of The walk crosses the road and returns on the other side. town set in a valley of the Berkhamsted in 1837. Its route closely follows the the West Midlands and London, and a principal transport artery Clementine Churchill years nearly everyone who died in Berkhamsted was Grand Union Canal through the town and across of the Industrial Revolution. l No. 22 The Monks House Chiltern Hills, with a history The canal system of England was inspired by the 3rd Duke of buried in St. Peter’s churchyard, so it contains thousands of the Chiltern Hills beyond. The engineer was A well-restored stylish (Café Rouge) going back beyond Saxon Robert Stephenson, son of George Bridgewater, the ‘Father of Inland Navigation’, who lived in nearby terraced house from the graves. No one knows how old the great yew tree is on the Ashridge. During the 20th century wide boats were built here An historic building dating from corner of Castle Street. times. Its claims to fame Stephenson, the pioneer of railways. The early 19th century. the 16th century. Until some present station was built in 1875 when more and launched sideways into the canal. Berkhamsted is still a Clementine Hozier, gateway to 2,000 miles of inland waterway. 50 years ago the famous Lane’s l No. 31 Berkhamsted School include strong royal, tracks were added, and the buildings have later the wife of Sir Winston Nurseries extended along the some fine polychrome brickwork. The canal climbs steeply through the town and there are six Churchill, lived here. Founded in 1541 and much literary and teaching locks in Berkhamsted. High Street on both sides of this extended in the 19th, 20th and building. Lane’s grew vines, which connections. 21st centuries, the original building l No. 4 The Crystal were exported – to France and is still in use. The old school hall, Germany! with its early Tudor brickwork and Palace The world famous ‘Lane’s Prince Albert’ apple was produced There are three canalside l No. 13 Rectory Lane windows, faces the churchyard, from the original tree, which stood behind 250 High Street.