Harpenden, Hertfordshire

Description
Harpenden or Harden, a village and a parish in Herts. The village stands near the river Lea, on the Bedford road, 1 1/2 mile from the boundary with Beds, and 4 1/2 miles N by W from St Albans, and has a station on the M.R., and another on the Luton branch of the G.W.R., with a post, money order, and telegraph office (S.O.) The parish comprises 5112 acres; population, 3916. The manor of Wheathampstead - cum - Harpenden belonged anciently to Westminster Abbey, and now belongs to the Dean and. Chapter of Westminster. The manor of Rothamsted belongs to the Lawes family, and that of Annables to the Smyths. Rothamsted, an ancient, picturesque, Elizabethan house, standing in a well-wooded park, is a seat of the Lawes family, and Harpenden Lodge is a seat of the Lydekkers. A chemical laboratory was built in 1855 by subscription and presented to Sir J. B. Lawes in testimony of his discoveries in agricultural chemistry, a new detached building being added in 1888. Straw-plaiting, bleaching, brick-making, and some brewing are carried on. Races are held the Friday before the Epsom races. The living is a rectory in the diocese of St Albans; net yearly value, £401 with residence. Patron, the Lord Chancellor. The former church was Late Norman (about the time of Stephen), but largely altered to Later English, and was cruciform, with originally a central tower, which was destroyed by fire, and succeeded by a western tower. The present church was built in 1862 at a cost of £4600; retains the tower of the previous church; is in the Decorated English style, and cruciform, and has a restored ancient font of Purbeck marble, and several monuments, including brasses of the Cressey and Annables families. There are Congregational, Primitive Methodist, and Wesleyan chapels, and charities worth about £260 a year. A lecture hall and reading-room was erected in 1887.