HARPENDEN

In the past it was also known as Harding or Harden

Old Herts

Places

Harpenden

harpenden-multi-1919
card posted 1919



The Village Pond, Harpenden
No publisher - early format card posted 1908
(another version seen posted 1905 - and yet another published "H Valentine Series")


The origins of the name are unclear, but The Place-names of Hertfordshire  link the first part to other places near old Roman roads near St Albans. There were formerly several Harepaths and there is Harpsfield and Hartsbourne. There is no doubt that an ancient track or Roman road ran along the valley ("denu"). If this is correct this suggests  the name could mean something like "the ancient road in the valley".

HARPENDEN, a parish in the hundred of Dacorum, county of Hertford, 3 miles (N.E. by E.) from Redburn [Redbourn], containing 1693 inhabitants. The living is a perpetual curacy annexed to the rectory of Wheathampstead, in the archdeaconry of Huntingdon, and diocese of Lincoln. The church, dedicated to St Nicholas, is an ancient cruciform structure, composed of flint and stone: it is in the Norman style, with a square embattled tower. There are places of worship for Independents and Wesleyan Methodists. A fair for horses and cattle is held on May 16th.

Topographical Dictionary of England, 1831



The Hounds meet on Harpenden Common
Postcard (early divided back) posted in Harpenden as a Xmas card in December 1904



Station Road, Harpenden, circa 1880 (Hertfordshire Library Service Post Card)

Extra postcard images.
click on thumbnail picture

Leyton Green
[Valentines Library]

Harpenden

[Bedwell Series PU 1904]


Skue Bridge
[D B Skillman PU 1904]

 

 

Harpenden is in the Dacorum Hundred but not in the modern borough of Dacorum.

 

St Nicholas

 

St George's School

 

National Children's Home

 

Elmfield Sanatorium

 

Maple Convalescent Home & Almshouses

 

An unknown school

 

Rothamsted

 

Heasman's Paintings

 

H Valentine's Post Cards

 

The Road Through Harpenden (Talk)

 

The Bernard Shaw Special

 

The Tradesmen's Local Advertiser

 

Batford Juniors 1922/3

 

 

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

     
September 2010   Extra PC - Maple Convalescent Home
November 2010   Page partially restructured