Frithsden is a small hamlet to the East of Berkhamsted in an area whose boundaries seem designed to confuse genealogists. In the above extract from a large scale ordnance survey map of about 1880, from old maps, the area labelled Frithesden, containing the Alford Arms and the Baptist Chapel, is in the parish of Berkhamsted. The area containing Nettleden Farm is a 50 acre detached part of the parish of Northchurch, Herts. The area to the north of the dotted line, including the school and Hollybush Farm, is in Nettleden. Nettleden was at the south end of a narrow strip of Bucks, almost completely surrounded by Herts, until 1895, but is now in Herts. Baptisms, etc., might therefore turn up in different parishes in different counties. [HALS does not hold the Baptist register.]

The 1882 Kelly's Directory for Hertfordshire lists William Gadsden as a farmer of Frithsden under Berkhamsted while the 1881 census puts him in Nettleden Farm, Nettleden, Bucks. The directory  also lists George Seymour as a farmer, and Joseph Batchelor as the publican at the Alford Arms. Joseph's address is given as No 2 White House, "Alford Arms,"  Berkhampstead, in the census.

The area of the map to the west is Great Frithsden Copse - which now contains an estate of very expensive houses.

Alternative spellings noted are Frifden, Frefden, Freefden, Fresden, etc.

The Alford Arms Hollybush Farm Sheep and Houses Frithsden in 2010 Click on picture for larger view

There is a web page for Nettleden

See Alford Arms, Frithsden, Mid 19th Century