Flamstead

Adjacent Parishes: Caddington (Beds), Great Gaddesden, Harpenden, Hemel Hempstead, Market Street (Markyate), Redbourn, Studham (Beds), Whipsnade (Beds)

Flamstead was in the Hemel Hempstead Union

Flamstead is in the modern Borough of Dacorum and was in the Dacorum Hundred

[Not to be confused with Flamstead End, which is in the East of the County]

Map from Hemel Hempstead Rural District Official Guide (1971)

The 19th century Sebright Almshouses in Singlets Lane, demolished in 1965.
from A New History of Flamstead

Book: Flamstead - its church and history - written by the vicar in 1902

Book: A New History of Flamstead

Book: Flamstead - The Listed Buildings

Book: Remember Markyate, Flamstead and Trowley

Reference: Arthur Sebright, a Victorian ne'er-do-well: The story of a Flamstead Younger Son

Web: Flamstead Parish Council - includes a map of the village

Web: Flamstead Herts - with a series of pictures inside the church.

St Leonard, Flamstead

Chalk and flint are the two main building materials found in Hertfordshire and as a consequence the churches tend to vary in style and construction. However, one peculiarity exhibited by many is a spirelet known as the 'Hertfordshire Spike', a needle-thin spike on top of the tower, usually shingled and then encased in lead. Fkamstead's is a typical example. Large parts of St Leonard's date from the fourteen century, but the nave is Early English and displays on the capitals the stiff leaf carving that is common to this period. One of the best medieval wall paintings in Hertfordshire is preserved in the church, showing St Christopher, Christ in Glory and details of the Last Supper. Also discovered this century under layers of plaster was one of the original consecration crosses, which denotes the spot anointed with holy oil during the church's dedication.

English County Churches, by Derry Brabbs
Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, 1985

St Leonard's Church, Flamstead Published by E. Mott, Markyate

Web: Painted Churches - includes a wall painting from the parish church

An early Nineteenth Century print of Flamstead Church by Longmate I have not yet been able to trace the publication in which this originally appeared but the engraver was probably Barak Longmate (1768-1836) who illustrated some topological works. (Obituary Gentlemans Magazine, 1835)

Registers
Parish Registers at HALS: Christenings 1548-1892; Marriages 1848-1929; Burials 1548-1902
Familysearch batch numbers: C046971, M046971-5
British Vital Records Index: Christenings 1864-1892; Marriages 1754-1811, 1837-1887
National Burial Index: 1800-1851

HF&PHS Publications: Memorial Inscriptions & Militia Lists

See also Vital Records and Boundary Changes

If you know of other books, websites, etc, relating to this place, please tell me.

Page updated June 2007 - Engraving by Longmate added
October 2009 - New Reference