Abbots Langley is a large village and

civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of Parish (administrative division), administrative parish used for Local government in England, local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below district ...

in the English county of Hertfordshire. It is an old settlement and is mentioned (under the name of Langelai) in the

Domesday Book Domesday Book () – the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book" – is a manuscript record of the "Great Survey" of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 by order of King William I, known as William the Conqueror. The manusc ...

. Economically the village is closely linked to

Watford Watford () is a town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in Hertfordshire, England, 15 miles northwest of Central London, on the River Colne, Hertfordshire, River Colne. Initially a small market town, the Grand Junction Canal en ...

and was formerly part of the Watford Rural District. Since 1974 it has been included in the Three Rivers district.

History

This village has had a long history of human habitation. The first traces of human habitation in the area were recorded by archaeologist Sir John Evans (1823–1908). The village sits on a saucer of clay covered by a layer of gravel, and as a result water supply has never been a problem; records show that in earlier times water could be drawn from a well just deep. In 1045 the

Saxon The Saxons ( la, Saxones, german: Sachsen, ang, Seaxan, osx, Sahson, nds, Sassen, nl, Saksen) were a group of Germanic * * * * peoples whose name was given in the early Middle Ages to a large country ( Old Saxony, la, Saxonia) near the No ...

thegn In Anglo-Saxon England, thegns were aristocratic landowners of the second rank, below the ealdormen who governed large areas of England. The term was also used in early medieval Scandinavia for a class of retainers. In medieval Scotland, there ...

Ethelwine 'the Black' granted the upper part of Langlai to

St Albans Abbey St Albans Cathedral, officially the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban but often referred to locally as "the Abbey", is a Church of England cathedral in St Albans, England. Much of its architecture dates from Norman times. It ceased to be ...

as Langlai Abbatis (Latin for Langlai of the Abbot, hence 'Abbot's Langley') the remainder being the king's Langlai. By the time of the

in 1086 the village was inhabited by 19 families. The area was split into four manors: Abbots Langley,

Langleybury Langleybury is a country house and estate in Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, England, about northwest of the centre of the town of Watford. The house stands on a low hill above the valley of the River Gade. Owners Raymond 1711–1756 The esta ...

, Chambersbury, and Hyde. In 1539,

Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disagr ...

seized Abbots Langley and sold it to his military engineer Sir Richard Lee. The Manor of Abbots Langley was bequeathed by Francis Combe in his will of 1641 jointly to

Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge Sidney Sussex College (referred to informally as "Sidney") is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England. The College was founded in 1596 under the terms of the will of Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex (1531–1589), wif ...

and

Trinity College, Oxford (That which you wish to be secret, tell to nobody) , named_for = The Holy Trinity , established = , sister_college = Churchill College, Cambridge , president = Dame Hilary Boulding , location = Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3BH , coordinates ...

. The manors of

and Chambersbury passed through the Ibgrave and Child families, and in 1711 were conveyed to Sir Robert Raymond then Solicitor General later

Attorney General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...

and

Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the peerage in the United Kingdom, or ...

. On the death of

his son His or HIS may refer to: Computing * Hightech Information System, a Hong Kong graphics card company * Honeywell Information Systems * Hybrid intelligent system * Microsoft Host Integration Server Education * Hangzhou International School, ...

without issue in 1756 the manors passed to the Filmer family. The Manor of Hyde passed to Edward Strong in 1714, through his daughter to Sir John Strange, who left the manor to be shared between his children and their descendents (including Admiral Sir George Strong Nares) and then to the possession of F.M. Nares & Co which sold the estate to the

British Land Company The British Land Company plc is one of the largest property development and investment companies in the United Kingdom. The firm became a real estate investment trust when REITs were introduced in the UK in January 2007. It is headquartered in ...

in 1858. On Tibbs Hill Road there is a well-preserved example of a Prince Albert's Model Cottage. The original design and construction was for

the Great Exhibition The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, also known as the Great Exhibition or the Crystal Palace Exhibition (in reference to the temporary structure in which it was held), was an international exhibition which took pl ...

of 1851, to demonstrate model housing for the poor. Subsequently, the design was replicated in several other locations, including Abbots Langley. Kitters Green developed as a separate hamlet by Manor House. The land between Kitters Green and Abbots Langley was bought from the estate of Sarah Smith by the

in 1866. It laid out plots for development along Adrian, Breakspear, Garden and Popes roads. The development of these plots led to the merger of the two settlements and the loss of Kitters Green's separate identity.

Sport

Abbots Langley Cricket Club and Langleybury Cricket Club are both based in the village. There are a number of football clubs, including Abbots Langley F.C., Ecocall F.C., Evergreen, Everett Rovers, and Bedmond F.C.

People

* Manuel Almunia (born 1977), former professional

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby ...

. * Nick Blinko (born 1961), artist and singer/songwriter/guitarist of

Rudimentary Peni Rudimentary Peni are a British anarcho-punk band formed in 1980, emerging from the London anarcho-punk scene. Lead singer/guitarist Nick Blinko is notorious for his witty, macabre lyrics and dark pen-and-ink artwork, prominently featured on a ...

. *

Pope Adrian IV Pope Adrian IV ( la, Adrianus IV; born Nicholas Breakspear (or Brekespear); 1 September 1159, also Hadrian IV), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 4 December 1154 to his death in 1159. He is the only Englishman t ...

(–1159), born in Abbots Langley as Nicholas Breakspear. *

James Cecil, 1st Marquess of Salisbury James Cecil, 1st Marquess of Salisbury, (4 September 1748 – 13 June 1823), styled Viscount Cranborne until 1780 and known as The Earl of Salisbury between 1780 and 1789, was a British nobleman and politician. Background Salisbury was the so ...

(1748–1823) probably lived at Cecil Lodge 1760s–80. *

Violet Cressy-Marcks Violet Olivia Cressy-Marcks (1895–1970) was a British explorer mainly active between the world wars. Personal life Violet Cressy-Marcks was born Violet Olivia Rutley on 9 June 1895, in West Wickham, Greater London, the only daughter of Ernest a ...

(1895–1970), explorer and journalist, lived at Hazelwood (now Hunton Park) 1930–70. * David Crighton, (1942–2000), mathematician, educated at Abbots Langley primary school. *

Joan Evans (art historian) Dame Joan Evans (22 June 1893 – 14 July 1977) was a British historian of French and English mediaeval art, especially Early Modern and medieval jewellery. Her notable collection was bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Ea ...

(1893–1977), historian of mediaeval art. *

John Evans (archaeologist) Sir John Evans (17 November 1823 – 31 May 1908) was an England, English archaeologist and geologist. Biography John Evans, son of the Rev. Arthur Benoni Evans, A. B. Evans, was born at Britwell Court, Buckinghamshire. At the age of seventeen ...

(1823–1908), archaeologist and geologist, married and buried, St Lawrence Church, Abbots Langley. *

Elizabeth Greenhill Thomas Greenhill (1669?–1740) was a surgeon who worked in London and was also author of a book ''Νεκροκηδεία'' (Greek, literally ''Dead-funeral'') or ''The Art of Embalming'' on embalming. He was also surgeon to Henry Howard, 7th D ...

, (1615–1679), mother of 37 single births and one set of twins.Bannerman, B.W. (1904)
Miscellanea Genealogica Et Heraldica: Third Series. Vol 5.
Mitchell Hughes and Clarke -page 298 *

Thomas Greenhill Thomas Greenhill may refer to: * Thomas Greenhill (colonial administrator) * Thomas Greenhill (surgeon) Thomas Greenhill (1669?–1740) was a surgeon who worked in London and was also author of a book ''Νεκροκηδεία'' (Greek, literally ...

(1669–1740), surgeon to Henry Howard, 7th Duke of Norfolk and 39th and last child of Elizabeth Greenhill.Davidson,L. A. F. (2004). 'Greenhill, Thomas (fl. 1698–1732)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press

* James Hanratty#The murder, Michael Gregsten (1924–1961), physicist at the

Road Research Laboratory TRL Limited, trading as TRL (formerly Transport Research Laboratory) is an independent private company offering a transport consultancy and research service to the public and private sector. Originally established in 1933 by the UK Government ...

, victim of James Hanratty in the 1961 "A6 murder" for whose death he hanged. * Ollie Halsall (1949–1992), influential rock/jazz guitarist and vibraphone player, lived here and recorded an album titled "Abbot's Langley" in 1980. * Robert Kindersley, 1st Baron Kindersley (1871–1954), businessman, stockbroker, merchant banker, and public servant, lived at Langley House 1906–23. * Hugh Kindersley, 2nd Baron Kindersley (1899–1976) * Joe Lane (1892–1959), former professional

. * Marghanita Laski (1915–88), journalist and novelist, lived at Abbots House 1937–45. *

Eryl McNally Eryl Margaret McNally (born 11 April 1942) is a former Labour Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the East of England constituency. Personal life She was born in Bangor, North Wales

, former Labour

MEP MEP may refer to: Organisations and politics * Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, a political party in Sri Lanka * Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (1956), a former political alliance in Sri Lanka * Maison européenne de la photographie, a photography centre ...

. * Henry Montagu, 6th Baron Rokeby (1798–1883), soldier, lived at Hazelwood 1838–86. *

James Vincent Murphy James Vincent Murphy (7 July 1880 – 4 July 1946) was an Irish translator, writer, lecturer and journalist, who published one of the first complete English translations of ''Mein Kampf'' in 1939. Murphy attended St Patrick's College, Mayno ...

, (1880–1946), propagandist for

Hitler Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Germany from 1933 until his death in 1945. He rose to power as the leader of the Nazi Party, becoming the chancellor in 1933 and the ...

that translated

Mein Kampf (; ''My Struggle'' or ''My Battle'') is a 1925 autobiographical manifesto by Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler. The work describes the process by which Hitler became antisemitic and outlines his political ideology and future plans for G ...

while resident in Abbots Langley *

Robert Raymond, 1st Baron Raymond Robert Raymond, 1st Baron Raymond, (20 December 167318 March 1733) was a British judge and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1710 and 1724. Life Raymond was the son of the judge Thomas Raymond (judge), Sir Thomas Raymond. He ...

(1673–1733), politician and judge, lived at Langleybury 1711–33. *

Haile Selassie Haile Selassie I ( gez, ቀዳማዊ ኀይለ ሥላሴ, Qädamawi Häylä Səllasé, ; born Tafari Makonnen; 23 July 189227 August 1975) was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. He rose to power as Regent Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia (' ...

(1892–1975), spent the early part of his exile from

Ethiopia Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the Er ...

at Hazelwood. *

Edward Skoyles Edward Skoyles (14 March 1923 – 30 July 2008) was the first quantity surveyor employed in the UK to research costs and practices in the construction industry. He did his research from 1960 until 1984 at the Building Research Establishment ...

(1923–2008) researcher and quantity surveyor. * William Henry Smith (politician) (1825–91), member of the

W H Smith WHSmith (also written WH Smith, and known colloquially as Smith's and formerly as W. H. Smith & Son) is a British retailer, headquartered in Swindon, England, which operates a chain of high street, railway station, airport, port, hospital and m ...

station newsagent and bookselling family, lived at Cecil Lodge 1864–70. * George Turnbull (1809–1878), civil engineer (the '' "first railway engineer of India"), ''retired to Rosehill, Abbots Langley. *

Bradley Walsh Bradley John Walsh (born 4 June 1960) is an English actor, comedian, singer, television presenter, and former professional footballer. Walsh is known for his roles as Danny Baldwin in the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' (2004–2006), ...

(born 1960), entertainer lived in Breakspear Road. * Mark Walsh (born 1965), professional darts player within the

Professional Darts Corporation The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) is a professional darts organisation in the United Kingdom, established in 1992 when a group of leading players split from the British Darts Organisation (BDO) to form what was initially called the Wor ...

. *

Nicky Stevens Nicky Stevens (born Helen Maria Thomas in Carmarthen, Wales, 3 December 1949) is a singer, famous as a member of pop group Brotherhood of Man. She is the only Welsh person to have won the Eurovision Song Contest. Early career Nicky Stevens be ...

(born 1951), singer with The Brotherhood of Man, lived in Abbots Road. *Tom Hardy (Broadcaster) (born 1954), disc-jockey with

Radio Caroline Radio Caroline is a British radio station founded in 1964 by Ronan O'Rahilly and Alan Crawford initially to circumvent the record companies' control of popular music broadcasting in the United Kingdom and the BBC's radio broadcasting monopoly. ...

in the late 1970s, lived in Parsonage Close. *

Liz Kendall Elizabeth Louise Kendall (born 11 June 1971) is a British Labour Party politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Leicester West since 2010. Kendall was educated at Queens' College, Cambridge, where she read history. From 2011 to 20 ...

(born 1971), Labour MP, lived in Langley Road *

Judy Grinham Judith Brenda Grinham (born 5 March 1939), also known by her married name Judith Roe or also by her former married name Judith Rowley, is an English former competitive swimmer who represented Great Britain in the Olympics and European champion ...

(born 1939), former British competitive swimmer, Olympic gold medallist, and former world record-holder lives in The Crescent.

References

;Footnotes ;Notes

External links

Abbots Langley Parish Council A History of the County of Hertford: Abbots Langley
{{authority control Villages in Hertfordshire Three Rivers District Civil parishes in Hertfordshire

History

Sport

People

See also

References

External links