Little Gaddesden
Adjacent Parishes: Dagnall (Bucks), Edlesborough (Bucks), Great Gaddesden, Ivinghoe (Bucks) and Studham (Beds)
It is in the hundred and modern borough of Dacorum. Until the end of the 19th century a narrow strip of Buckinghamshire separated Little Gaddesden from Ashridge.
It was in the Berkhamsted Union

Little Gaddesden Church circa 1808 from Little Gaddesden & Ashridge
The print was probably made to show the impressive tomb of Thomas Astley Maberly, of the Manor House, who died in 1808 - his wife Mary Ann Maberly following him in 1814. The Maberly memorial (with iron railings intact) is still there (December 2001) but the wooden grave boards in the picture have all gone - although there is one unreadable example remaining in the churchyard. However, like many rural churchyards, there are many later tombstones.
Mary Ann Maberly died in Bath, and Peter Lucas has drawn attention to an interesting account "Funeral in the Snow" on the Maberly web site of how the body was brought to Little Gaddesden.
| LITTLE GADDESDEN, a small agricultural parish, on the River Gade, 28
miles from London, 6 miles south of Dunstable, 6 east of Tring, and 4 north of
the Great Berkhampstead station. The church is a small Gothic building, with
tower and 2 bells. The living is a rectory, value £275 yearly, in the
archdeaconry of St Albans and bishopric of Rochester; the incumbent is the Rev
David Jenks, M.A. Some of the Bridgewater family are buried here; it is in the
hundred of Dacorum and Great Berkhampstead Union. The soil is principally clay
and chalk; acres about 1,000. The charities are about £25 yearly; population
454. Ravendale is 2 miles north-east. |
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GENTRY Alfred Lord, M.P. Ashridge House TRADERS Atty George, land agent |
Little Gaddesden Church Rush & Warwick, Art Printers, Bedford circa 1905 |
Book: Little Gaddesden & Ashridge by Howard Senar - a comprehensive history with photographs and maps/line drawings,
Book: Ashridge - A Living History by Kay N. Sanecki
Book: Little Gaddesden - history by Vicars Bell
Book: A century remembered (Little Gaddesden) edited by John Leonhart - the village in the 20th century.
Book: The Practical Farmer, To meet Mr Ellis and Pehr Kalm: A Finnish Visitor to the Chilterns for information on 18th century farming.

Postcard published by R. Pratt, Little
Gaddesden - early 20th century

Post Office, Little Gaddesden
No publisher information - posted in 1940s
Hotel on left is the Bridgewater Arms
For the change in the county boundary affecting Hudnall see Hudnall Lane, Little Gaddesden, [Bucks > Herts], 19th century
Reference: Supporting the poor; Little Gaddesden 1780-1834
Web Site: Rural Heritage Society of Little Gaddesden, Ringshall, Hudnall and Ashridge.
Web Site: The Gadsden Family History Page includes information on John of Gaddesden and modern pictures of the old building known as John of Gaddesden's house.
See also Dacorum and Vital Records
If you know of other books, websites, etc, relating to this place, please tell me.
| October 2009 | Reference added | |
| February 2010 | Two more post cards via thumbs) |