Did you know that the Village Greens in Therfield are Common Land?
Unusually they are owned not by a Parish Council, as are most of the village greens in England, but by the Therfield Regulation. This historical accident dates back to the Therfield Enclosure Act of 1888. Then the 420 acres of Therfield Heath and the seven greens in Therfield were awarded common land status. The Conservators were charged by that Act to manage the Heath and Greens.
So the three Central Greens, Hay Green, Rush Green, Chapel Green, Washing Ditch Green, the small greens along Dane End and Collins Green are maintained by the Conservators. We can guess why Hay Green and Washing Ditch are named but some other name origins are more obscure. Who kept their Ducks on that green, who was Collins and why was Chapel Green so far from the village and who or what was the rush on Rush Green..?
This is the second year the western side of Hay Green is being managed as a wild flower meadow in partnership with the Therfield Natural History Society and already the number and variety of flowers and orchids are increasing.
It is well worth taking the time to stand and stare before heading off along the long green lane that is Ducks Green towards Sandon.
The village’s only remaining pub, The Fox and Duck, has been nominated in a number of categories in the Hertfordshire Food & Drink Awards 2015 – the winners will be announced at the Grand Final on the 8th June – we wish landlord Ivan and his team the best of luck!
The pub building was re-built in the early 19th Century and retains many of its original features which includes its wealth of exposed beams. Good food is available six days a week including a traditional Sunday roast every weekend (lunchtime only).
Therfield First School is rated Outstanding by Ofsted and caters for children aged four to nine years. Lisa Hall, the Head Teacher says,
“We are a small nurturing village school where the children are at the heart of everything we do. We are modern and forward thinking whilst retaining traditional values. Our innovative and creative team work closely with our parents/carers, the local and the wider community.”
The little village of Kelshall made the national news this Spring when the story of an “Exceptional” find of Roman artefacts in a field in the village was widely reported.
Later glass bottles and cups, an iron lamp, a box with bronze corner bindings were uncovered, as well as a bronze coin dating from AD174 to 175.
Two shattered mosaic glass dishes which probably hailed from Alexandria in Egypt have been attributed to AD200.
The finds are not currently classed as treasure but North Hertfordshire Museum Service wants to raise the money to buy them so they can be displayed when the new museum opens in Hitchin later in the year.
Kelshall also boasts a mini library in its disused red Telephone Box! How’s that for recycling?
The Fox & Duck, Therfield SG8 9PN
www.thefoxandduck.co.uk
info@foxandduck.co.uk
01763 287246
Therfield First School, The Causeway, Therfield SG8 9PP
www.therfield.herts.sch.uk
admin@therfield.herts.sch.uk
01763 287284
North Herts Museum
www.northhertsmuseum.org
01462 474000
