BERKHAMSTED
Early spelling variable - often spelt Berkhampstead
Also called Great Berkhampstead to distinguish it from Little Berkhampstead
The town of Berkhamsted also includes the parish of Northchurch
In 1973 Berkhamsted became part of the new borough of Dacorum, which is named after an ancient Saxon hundred of the same name.
Adjacent Parishes to Berkhamsted St Peter: Aldbury, Chesham (Bucks), Great Gaddesden, Nettleden (was Bucks, now Herts), Northchurch, Pitstone (Bucks)
The Berkhamsted Union comprises the parishes of Aldbury, Great Berkhamsted, Little Gaddesden, Marsworth (Bucks), Nettleden, Northchurch, Pitstone (Bucks), Puttenham, Tring (including Long Marston) and Wigginton.
See also Ashridge, Potten End, and the hamlet of Frithsden
See also Berkhamsted Castle
The Town Hall, circa 1900, from Berkhamsted: An Illustrated History
BERKHAMPSTEAD
WITH THE VILLAGE OF NORTHCHURCH AND NEIGHBOURHOODS
Berkhampstead or Great Berkhampstead, is a market town and parish, in Dacorum hundred ; 26 miles N.W. by W. f, and 5 S.E. from Tring ; situated upon the main road leading from London to Aylesbury-upon the banks of the Grand Junction canal, and close to the line of the London and Birmingham railway. Berkhampstead is supposed by some writers to have been a Roman station ; from the name, however it appears to be of Saxon origin, its designation having been Berghamstedt, or 'the town among the hills,' which accords well with its local situation. In this place the Kings of Mercia often resided and kept their court, and some of the walls of their castle are still standing at the end of Castle street. 'Berkhampstead place,' the seat of the Honourable Miss Grimstone, in this parish, was formerly occupied by the first and second Charles during their infancy. Formerly lace making and the manufacture of wooden ware was carried on extensively here, but have become nearly, if not entirely, extinct. Brewing, malting, and the making of straw plat are the present existing branches. Petty sessions are held here once a fortnight, at the 'King's Arms Inn;' and courts baron and leet annually, for the 'Honour and Borough' of Berkhampstead. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is a beautiful pile of architecture, cruciform, with a tower rising from the intersection ; within the church are two chapels, and some interesting monuments. The living is a rectory, in the gift of the Crown, and incumbency of the Rev. John Crofts. The baptists, and those of Lady Huntingdon's connexion, have each a chapel, and the society of friends a meeting house. Two excellent charity schools are established here, a parochial school of industry, and another conducted on the national plan. There are almshouses for six poor widows, erected and endowed by John Sayer Esq. in 1684 ; besides other minor charities, by which the poor of this parish are benefitted. The poet Cowper was born in this parish in 1731. The market, held on Saturday, is chiefly for corn, but indifferently attended ; the fairs are on Shrove-Tuesday, Whit-Monday, and October 12th - they are toy and pleasure fairs, but are like the markets, unimportant as regards advantage to the town. In 1831 the number of inhabitants was 2,369.
Northchurch is a village, in the parish of Berkhampstead St Mary, contiguous to the above town. It is plesently situate on the high road to Tring, and respectably inhabited. The population of the parish amounted, in 1831, to 1,156 persons.
Pigot's Directory for Hertfordshire, 1839
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Berkhamsted Parish Church
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Book: Birtchnell: A Short History of Berkhamsted
Book: Berkhamsted: An Illustrated History - An excellent modern account of the history of Berkhamsted - with both old and modern illustrations.
Book: Berkhamsted: A History and Celebration
Book: Berkhampstead Lodge 504, 1845-1945 - a history of the Berkhamsted Freemasons.
The Station, Berkhamsted
Castle Series card circa 1910
See also the Grand
Junction Canal
Book: Population ... Volume 1: The Berkhamsted Region - includes a transcript of the 1851 census.
Book: Berkhamsted School for Girls - A Centenary History 1888-1988
Berkhamsted Common (circa 1905)
postcard
from Loosley &
Sons, Stationers, Berkhamsted
Book: A Hertfordshire Valley includes a chapter on Berkhamsted.
Book: The Book of Hemel Hempstead & Berkhamsted
Book: Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted & Tring
BARKHAMSTED MANNOR circa 1700
from Chauncy, Historical
Antiquities of Hertfordshire
Berkhamsted House circa 1900 (early Hartmann postcard)
Education: Berkhamsted Schools
Ephemera: The Diseases of Sheep 1895 (William Cooper & Nephew, Berkhamsted)
Topic: Augustus Smith and Berkhamsted Common
Topic (from The London Gunners come to Town): The Inns of Court in Berkhamsted in World War 1.
St Peters Church, Berkhamsted
Published by G Loosley &
Sons, Berkhamsted
Web site: The Berkhamsted Town Council has its own website which includes a short history of the town.
Web site: The story of Cooper's Sheep Dip, which was invented at Berkhamsted and sold world wide, is given on the Dacorum Heritage Trust site.
Web Site: The Berkhamsted Bowmen - history of archery in the town
Web site: Gazette - Important Local History pages
All Saints Church, Berkhamsted -TVAP card - undated
The Town Hall - posted 1904
The car was published by Loosley &
Sons, who are listed in
the 1902 Kelly's Directory as:
Loosley George & Sons, printers, booksellers, stationers, bookbinders,
circulating library & news agents, 12 Castle Street & 164a High Street.
See also Berkhamsted Castle and the Grand Junction (Union) Canal
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Quick links to
extra postcard images. click on thumbnail picture |
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 High Street Berkhamsted |
 High Street Berkhamsted |
 Kings Arms Berkhamsted |
 High Street |
 High Street |
 The Rectory |
 The School Chapel and Castle Street |
 Harefoot & Ashlyns |
 Berkhamsted House |
 The Mill |
 Inns of Court First World Was |
 Hunting by Newman Berkhamsted |
See also Vital Records
If you know of other books, websites, etc, relating to this place, please tell me.
Last updated May 2008
