Liz Hamilton takes a journey from Bourne End to Chipperfield and explores the history of the Hertfordshire Way
I FIRST DISCOVERED Chipperfield and its surrounding area when I walked the complete circuit of the Hertfordshire Way in 2012. The King’s England volume for Hertfordshire, edited by Arthur Mee and published just before the Second World War, describes the countryside around Chipperfield as ‘a wide and lovely stretch of Hertfordshire’ and ‘one of the best bits of country within easy reach of London’. Close to the western edge of Hertfordshire, between the valleys of the rivers Gade and Chess, much of this area is more than 400 feet above sea level. The soils here are poor and until the last century it was sparsely populated with extensive tracts of woodland and grazed common land. In the first half of the 20th century, as more people owned cars, and electricity was supplied to rural areas for the first time, housing began to spread into this area. The sprawl was brought under control after the Second World War by planning legislation, including the Green Belt. Although the M25 now slices through its eastern end, this tract of countryside remains largely rural – a landscape of woods and fields, crossed by narrow lanes, where walking is a pleasure.
Esta historia es de la edición September 2017 de Hertfordshire Life.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición September 2017 de Hertfordshire Life.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Explosive history
With bonfire night this month, author Harry Smee recounts the explosive story of his family’s firework company, Brock’s, creators of wonders and war-changing weapons
A Day In The Life Of... A Jewellery Designer
Laurie McGrath, senior designer at Harriet Kelsall bespoke jewellery in Halls Green, gives an insight into her working day
Sniffig out clues in THE ASHES
Meet the fire investigation dogs securing convictions against arsonists and murderers who otherwise may go free
The greatest traveller
Exploring ancient civilisations and rising powers, Violet CressyMarcks became the most travelled woman of her age. Fifty years after her death we look at her incredible life
Return of the Queen of Romance
Twenty years after the death of record-breaking novelist Dame Barbara Cartland, Gillian Thornton talks passions, plots and a new audience with her son at the family home in Essendon
In bed with CELEBS
Marking its 70th year, Welham Green soft furnishings company Ashley Wilde has grown from a pile-it-high, sell-it-cheap business into an industry leader with A-list partnerships
Roam with a view
We may not have coastline or mountains, but Herts has beautiful views all the same, if you know where to look
Saving Mrs Tiggy-Winkle
The secret life of a much-loved British mammal and simple steps we can take at home to stop its extinction
A walk down Surreal Street
Paul Crowley draws on his graphic designer’s eye to capture scenes from the country to the street, all tinged with surreality
5 minutes with
Carole Spiers, Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce member and founder of International Stress Awareness Week