Adjacent Parishes:  Ayot St Peter, Datchworth, Hatfield, Tewin, Welwyn

It is in Broadwater Hundred and the Welwyn Union

See Also Welwyn Garden City

Detail from Charles Smith's Map of Hertfordshire, 1808

The Viaduct from Industrial Archaeology of Hertfordshire

Probably the outstanding landmark in Digswell is the railway viaduct. The Great Northern Railway employed a leading railway contractor) Thomas Brassey, to build the viaduct designed by William Cubitt, the railway's chief engineer, on the lines of a Roman aqueduct. Started in the late 1840s it took 2 years to build, which is quite a remarkable achievement considering it is approximately 1560 ft. long) 100 ft. high from road to railway track and has 40 arches, each with a 30 ft. span. All bricks were manufactured on site where the workmen lived. The first train crossed on 8th August 1850 and today regular traffic is carried from Kings Cross to Edinburgh.

When travelling over the viaduct passengers can look down on to Digswell Lake. Digswell Lake, a small area of woodland and ornamental parkland of about 17½ acres, was once part of the grounds of a large house. The area was bought from The New Towns Commission in 1984 by Digswell Lake Society. The area is maintained regularly by members of the Society who believe the area is worth keeping, not only for its beauty but for the peace and quiet both to visitors and wildlife.

St. John's Church, Digswell, is nearly 800 years old. A church stood on the site at the time of the Norman conquest and today remains of the 12th-century walls may still be seen enclosing the Lady Chapel. The piscina by the high altar may also date from this time. When Digswell prospered in the 13th century, due to the annual fair the church was enlarged when an arcade of 2 bays was inserted in the north wall as well as the north aisle being built.

Sir John Peryent was responsible for the next addition, a chantry chapel built at the east end of the north aisle, and it was completed by 1439, In the 16th century 2 extensions were made to the church, a tower (c 1510) built on to the west end and chantry chapel, then extended to meet the east wall of the chancel. In the 17th century a south porch was erected but is no longer there as this was demolished in the early 1960s when the church was considerably enlarged to accommodate the growth of Welwyn Garden City.

Inside the church are a number of brasses which attract a lot of interest. Those in the best condition are of Sir John Peryent and his Lady who died in 1432 and 1415 respectively. Sir John is depicted in full plate armour of the period and is known to have been Esquire to 3 Kings, pennon bearer to Richard II and Master of Horse to Joan of Navarre, second wife of Henry IV. Lady Joan Peryent was Chief Lady in Waiting to the same Queen and a brass rubbing of her was once used on a British postage stamp.

The Hertfordshire Village Book

Digswell House - from a postcard circa 1905
In 1850 the house was occupied by Henry Pearse, Esq.
In 1882 the house was occupied by William Smith Brown, J.P.
see Sale of the Contents of Digswell House in 1870

North Side, Digswell Park

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