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Nettleden
Originally part of Pitstone (Bucks)
It was in the Berkhamsted Union and is in the modern borough of Dacorum.
See also Frithsden and Potten End
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Detail from a map (Stockdale, 1798) showing the finger of Buckinghamshire that included Nettleden and Hudnall. |
About one mile from Great Gaddesden, is a small Village, called Nettleden, which is on the outskirts of Ashridge Park, and although it is surrounded apparently on all sides in a singular manner by Hertfordshire, really forms a part of the County of Buckingham; but as it contains an interesting old Church, we may as well describe it in our course. The Church is of brick, with a square tower, and has only a nave and chancel. On the south side, is a handsome mural monument to Edward Bressey, Esq., of London, who died in 1610, and Lucretia his wife, who was sister to. Sir H. Andrews. Near the steps of the chancel, is an interesting brass of a man in armour; and in a pew near the pulpit, is a curious tomb, with two medallion figures or portraits in bold relief, to the memory of John Maccasserie, who died in 1713, and his wife, who died in 1717. The Church has several stained-glass windows, and a flat roof divided into compartments, and will well repay a visit.
In this neighbourhood, and on this side of the County of Hertford, there are a great number of cherry trees; and a pleasant writer, in 1831, has the following remarks upon the subject :-
"The common black cherry tree grows wild plenteously, in several pa.rts of Hertfordshire and Beds, the fruit of which, when ripe, the rustic inhabitants of those districts have from time immemorial been accustomed to make into pasties, which by them are highly esteemed for their delicious flavour. Entertainments called 'Pasty Feasts' (in which the abovementioned 'sweeties' shine conspicuously), are always duly observed and constitute a suitable attraction for all ages, but more especially for the juveniles. They appear to have entirely escaped the notice of the professed writers on the culinary art, from Mrs. Glasse of the old school, down to Mrs. Randall and Dr. Kitchener of the rnodern,"
St Lawrence, Nettleden, 1921
The first known reference to the Church of St. Lawrence at Nettleden is a document of 1285, making it part of the endowment of Ashridge Monastry. It was rebuilt in 1470, when a licence was granted to John Hunden, Bishop of Llandaff (and Prior of the Friar Preachers at Kings Lamgley) to consecrate alters in the church. In 1811, at the expense of the Earl of Bridgewater, the chancel and north wall of the nave was rebuilt, possibly by James Wyatt, The building was originally a chapel of ease in the six mile long Parish of Pitstone (Bucks) until 1895, when diocesan changes made it a full church with its own independent Parish of Nettleden
Book: A Hertfordshire Valley includes a chapter on Nettleden.
While Nettleden was part of Pitstone, Bucks, many of the entries in the much nearer Great Gaddesden parish registers relate to the inhabitants of Nettleden
See also Vital Records
If you know of other books, websites, etc, relating to this place, please tell me.
Page updated September 2007
