Population 554 (2011 Census) Region East Sovereign state United Kingdom Local time Friday 7:13 AM District Welwyn Hatfield UK parliament constituency Welwyn Hatfield | OS grid reference TL291077 Country England Post town HERTFORD Shire county Hertfordshire Dialling code 01707 | |
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Weather 7°C, Wind NE at 21 km/h, 87% Humidity | ||
Little Berkhamsted is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England, five miles south-west of the town of Hertford.
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Map of Little Berkhamsted, Hertford, UK
The village is in a hilly location, some 120 metres (400 feet) above sea level. It has a row of weather-boarded cottages opposite St Andrews Church. Conservative Cabinet Minister Reginald Maudling (1917-79) and his widow Beryl were buried here. Nearby there is an Elizabethan house and 'Stratton's Folly', a 1789 brick tower.
There is a shop, a public house (the Five Horseshoes), a playground and a sports field there, and in the summer a traditional hog roast takes place. Ice cream can be bought from the Village Shop, however it is not the only communal attraction; there is also a day for open gardens, when people can go look at other people's gardens. Little Berkhamsted has many cycle paths, as well as a road named after itself: Little Berkhamsted Lane.
The folk singer, songwriter and guitarist Donovan spent most of his childhood here from 1956 until 1964.
History
The manor of Little Berkhampstead is mentioned in the Domesday Book as Berchehamstede when it was held by Hardwin de Scales. The Parish Church of St Andrew is faced with Kentish ragstone and has a wooden bell-cote for three bells. The church was first mentioned in the 12th Century but was totally rebuilt in 1647, although little from that date survived reconstruction in the 19th century.
Stratton's Tower (also known as "Stratton's Folly") is a 5 storey, 97ft tall observation tower in the village. It was built in 1789 for John Stratton, Gentleman, who lived at "Gay's", since renamed The Gage. Legend has it that John Stratton was a retired Admiral and that he wanted to see ships in the Thames; however, he was a non-conformist and, as such, would have been unable to hold a commission under the Crown and the earliest known reference to the building describes it as a "Prospect Tower". After being derelict for more than 100 years, it was restored and converted to living accommodation in 1971 by William Tatton Brown. It is a Grade II* Listed Building.