St Helens, Wheathampstead
From the cover of the church guide written by Ruth Jeavons in 1979
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St Helens, Wheathampstead |
Wheathampstead
Adjacent Parishes: Harpenden, Kimpton, Luton (Beds), Redbourn, Sandridge, St Michael
Wheathampstead is in the Hundred of Dacorum, but not in the modern Borough of Dacorum.
The Parish was part of the St Albans Union.
See Also Gustard Wood & Nomansland Common
Wheathampstead village and parish are in the hundred of Dacorum; the village is 24 miles N.N.W. from London, 5 N. from St Albans, rather more than 4 miles W.S.W. from Welwyn, and 8 S.S.E. from Luton, in Bedfordshire - situated upon the navigable river Lea. Although at the present day the place presents little worthy of description, yet its name is connected with an occurrence of some importance in the fourteenth century - here it was that, in 1311, the barons confederating against Edward II concentrated their followers. Brewing and Malting are the most prominent branches of business carried out in the village, and a paper mill gives employment to some hands. The parish church, dedicated to St Helen, is an antique cruciform fabric, with a tower springing from the intersection of the transept and the nave; the living is a rectory, in the gift of the Bishop of Lincoln, and the present incumbency of the Rev Geo, Thomas Prettyman [Pretyman], whose curate is the Rev Joseph Douton. The independents have a chapel, and there is a school conducted upon the national system. The parish, in 1831, contained 1,666 inhabitants.
Pigot's Hertfordshire Directory, 1839
Detail from Charles
Smith's map of Hertfordshire (1808 edition)
Book: Population ... Volume 2: The St Albans Region - includes a transcript of the 1851 census.
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Book: Wheathampstead and Harpenden - a valuable series of history booklets.
Book: Old Wheathampstead - a booklet of old photographs (mainly postcards)
Mill Bridge - published F
Chennells, Wheathampstead, circa 1905
The building in the middle distance with its
tall chimneys is The Bull, while to the side is the Town Mill.
Book: Wheathampstead Railway Recollections
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Book: Tales from Old Wheathampstead & Gustard Wood
The Mill Flood Gates - circa 1910
Book: Wheathampstead Manor Account Roll 1405-1406 - while you may not be able to trace your family tree this far back this book mentions many personal and place names, and paints a vivid picture of agricultural life in Wheathampstead 600 years ago.
Book: Paper Mills and Paper Makers in England 1495-1800 - has information on Pickford Paper Mill
Book: The Hatfield, Luton & Dunstable Railway - it ran through Wheathampstead
Web Site: Wheathampstead: An active village page with some history pages, including links to the local history group.
Castle Farm, by E. A. Phipson, 1901
See Castle or
Cresswell Farm, Wheathampstead
See also Vital Records
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extra postcard images. click on thumbnail picture |
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 "Cynicus" Wheathampstead |
 Mackerye End Wheathampstead |
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If you know of other books, websites, etc, relating to this place, please tell me.
Page updated July 2007
