Hemel Hempstead Old Town Heritage Trail Town Old
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HERITAGE TRAIL HERITAGE HEMEL HEMPSTEAD OLD TOWN HERITAGE TRAIL TOWN OLD Roman Villa (site of) (site of) Roman Villa GADEBRIDGE P CAR PARK BURY MILL P CAR PARK 1 HEMEL HEMPSTEAD HEMEL 18 2 Welcome to Historical 17 3 HEMEL HEMPSTEAD THE OLD TOWN The small market town of Hemel Hempstead in south west Hertfordshire grew up around its magnificent 12th century 16 Norman church. The original Market Street became the High Street, with its diverse shops and other businesses over the OLD TOWN P CAR PARK following eight centuries, leaving a wealth of clues to its past. From the departure of the Roman armies to the coming of the Second World War, this mile long length of road was the focus of most life in the Gade Valley. Stretching along the western facing hillside above the river, its line was crossed to the north 4 by pilgrim ways between Ashridge and other religious houses; to the south, it was bounded by the route to St Albans; further south, by the main London road. 13 The Charter given to the town in 1539 by Henry VIII set the scene for the years to come. The growing community had Church, 6 14 15 Chapels, Markets, Town Hall, Iron Works and a Fire Station. Its numerous inns and alehouses were not just places of 5 refreshment, but were used by all manner of local organisations. Public meetings, civic dinners, entertainments, lodgings and 11 12 7 9 8 even a House of Correction (or jail) - all took place in those same buildings over the years. Its inhabitants were equally varied – many were shopkeepers or tradesmen, but there were clergy, doctors, teachers, bank Quaker Meeting managers and solicitors amongst them. Strawplaiters and House 19 farm labourers were often to be found, many living in squalid conditions squeezed into the courtyards behind the main shop Piccotts10 min End walk Cottages to fronts. The existing alleyways and carriage or wagon entrances testify to this rich mix of humanity. 20 As the centre of local life, it has now been somewhat overshadowed by the New Town with its modern shops and civic buildings. However, its charm undeniably remains and this HEM L HEMP L HEMP L HEMP L HEMP L HEMP L HEMP L HEMP HEM HEM EL HEMPS HEM HEM HEM HEM HEM HEM HEM EL HEMPS EL HEMPS EL PST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST E ST EL PST EL PST M TE EL PST EL PST EL PST EL PST EL PST EL PST EL PST M TE M TE EM EA EM EA EM EA EM EA EM EA EM EA EM EA EM EA EM EA EM EA E AD EM EA EM EA EM EA EM EA EM EA EM EA EM EA E A E A H D H D H D H D H D H D H D H D D D H D D D D D D D H D H D H H H H H H H H H trail leaflet will, it is hoped, encourage exploration of the town’s long history. Contrary to popular belief, Hemel Hempstead is O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L IL L L L L L L L L L L L D I D I D I D I D I D I D I D I D IL D IL D D IL D IL D IL D IL D IL D IL D IL D I D I A A A A A A A A A A T A A A A A A A A A A T R T R T R T R T R T R T R T R T R T R O TR T R T R T R T R T R T R T R TO R TO R O T O T O T O T O T O T O T O T O T O T 13W E 14O T O T O T O T O T 19O T O T T T W E W E W E W E W E W E W E 10W E 11W E 12W E N G W E 15W E 16W E W E 18W E W E 20W E W E W E N G N G N G N G N G N G N G N G N G N G HERITA N G N G N G 17N G N G N G N G N G N G 3 HERITA 4 HERITA 5 HERITA 6 HERITA 7 HERITA 8 HERITA 9 HERITA HERITA HERITA HERITA HERITA HERITA HERITA HERITA HERITA HERITA HERITA 1 HERITA 2 HERITA an Old Town with a heritage to be proud of – may you find it so. THE BURY OLD FIRE 4 - 8 7 HIGH THE ROSE & THE CRANSTONE’S THE OLDE THE QUAKER 81 HIGH OAK 48 - 50 HIGH ST MARY’S OLD TOWN ST MARY’S CHARTER CHARTER THE 132 PICCOTTS STATION QUEENSWAY 10 STREET CROWN WHITE HART SHOP KING’S ARMS OLD BELL MEETING STREET HOUSE STREET CLOSE HALL CHURCH GARDENS TOWER MARCHMONT END HOUSE ARMS www.dacorumlooknofurther.co.uk in association with HEMEL HEMPSTEAD OLD TOWN HERITAGE TRAIL OLD TOWN HERITAGE TRAIL 4 7 HIGH STREET Grade II 8 THE OLDE KING’S ARMS Grade II 13 48 -50 HIGH STREET Grade II 16 ST MARY’S CHURCH Grade II 18 CHARTER TOWER Grade II*/Schedued Monument The Old Town Conservation No 7 is an imposing, Splendid new The building of this Henry VIII granted a elaborately decorated civic buildings, magnificent Norman Royal Charter to the Area of Hemel Hempstead building sited in a designed by church began in 1140 town in 1539, giving it the status of a Bailiwick commanding position George Low to and took 40 years complement the with a weekly market, a has a charm all of its own and at the bottom of the to complete. The Town Hall, were octagonal spire is Court of Piepowder and High Street; It was many interesting stories to erected here in said to be one of the an annual fair. The King previously Lloyd’s tell. Here are a selection of the 1888 and known highest in Western was regally entertained Bank until closure in as the ‘New Europe and the tower by his auditor, John Waterhouse, when visiting the town. most important buildings, the 1997. Prior to that, Promenade’. The contains a fine ring The porch is a remnant of the second Bury, built by Richard it was the Bucks & Hemel Hempstead of eight bells. There Combe sometime between 1557 and 1595, and therefore majority of which are Grade II Oxon. Bank until Mechanics’ are many beautiful could never have been the place where Henry, (who died Listed, together with a short closure in1926. The terracotta and brick structure was Institute was the stained glass in 1547), gave his important Charter to the town. Elizabeth built by the firm of William Sear and is noticeable for its occupant of the windows, as well as I’s Charter of 1572 helped the High Street to develop with a upper rooms from extract on their history and the ornamental scrollwork, carried out by Italian masons. It 11 81 HIGH STREET Grade II Basket Shop, staying within the family until the early 1960s, memorials to local Market House and other market buildings. when the business transferred to Boxmoor village. The 1908 – 1919, with a library, reading, billiards and games has now been converted into private apartments and An alehouse in the early 1600s, it had stabling for 36 dignitaries, and old Quaker poet, J. H. Salter, (best known for his witty poem rooms. No. 48 was once the Public Library but is currently people who once lived in them. offices. horses at the time of the English Civil War. The archway gravestones can be seen around the churchyard walls; PICCOTTS END The Ends of West Hertfordshire), was a family member. home to Community Action Dacorum, which aims to provide the graveyard was closed for burials in 1879. was the entrance to the ‘New Plait Market Yard’ from 1832 support and develop services for local volunteers, in A short walk or drive along the High Street to the north A glance across the street allows a view of a decorative until, by the early 20th century, the once thriving market brings you to the picturesque hamlet of Piccotts End. Its 1 THE BURY Grade II* partnership with Dacorum Borough Council. If you look carefully, you may find examples of feature above an old wooden door, previously the entrance for straw plait declined. The many alleyways add to the buildings are full of character and are well worth a detour. The long history WEST SIDE OF THE HIGH STREET Hertfordshire pudding-stone set into the walls or Roman to the National Westminster Bank. The High Street had distinctive charm of the area and the Georgian frontages of the fortified often hide Tudor timber- framed buildings. tiles taken from the villa that stood in Gadebridge at the manor house or always been the centre of local commerce until the New bottom of Galley Hill. The villa was first excavated by Town took over that rôle. A beer-house called The Dolphin 14 ST MARY’S CLOSE 19 THE MARCHMONT ARMS Grade II* ‘Bury’ stretches At the side of the pub is a rare open balcony from which David S.