1874 Kelly’s Directory of Herts

Walkern is a village and parish in Broadwater Hundred, Hertford Union, Hitchin County court district, rural deanery of Benington, archdeaconry of St Albans and diocese of Rochester, situate on the river Beane, which runs into the Lea, near Hoddeston, distant from Buntingford six miles south-west, three east from Stevenage Station on the Great Northern Railway, and 32 from London. The church of the Virgin Mary, an ancient structure in the Norman style, with square tower and five bells, contains a curious tomb of a knight Templar, which is supposed to have been brought from Baldock Priory. The register dates from the year 1680. The living is a rectory value £600, with 16 acres of glebe and a residence, in the gift of Kings College Cambridge, and held by the Rev James Boys MA, of that college. A National School was built in 1834. Here are chapels for Baptists, Independents and Wesleyans. The charities are £12 yearly. Here is an extensive brewery and also a steam flour mill. The Earl of Essex is lord of the manor. The principle landowners are Joseph Wright Ward and EN Ward Esquires.

The soil is gravel, flint and clay; subsoil various. The chief crops are wheat, barley, beans and turnips. The area of the parish is 2,924 acres, gross estimated value £5169, rateable value £4472 and the population in 1871 was 799.

Parish Clerk, William Green

Post & Money Order Office and Savings Bank: Daniel Pearman, postmaster. Letters through Buntingford, arrive at 8.30am; dispatched at 6pm.

National School: Miss Hutchins, mistress.
Infants School: Miss Wolstenholme, mistress

Carriers:

to Hertford, Owen Cannon, on Saturday, returning same day.
to London, John Cannon, from London to the “Catherine Wheel” Bishopsgate Street, passes through on Thursday, returning on Saturday

Private residents
Boys Rev William Jas MA (Rector)
Garratt, Mr Thomas
Ivory, Robert esq. Walkern Park
Smith Henry Bennet

Commercial
Allison Joseph, saddler & shopkeeper
Andrews Joseph, farmer
Bray James, brewer & carpenter
Cannon Owen, poulterer & carrier
Collins Thomas, beer retailer
Culver James, Red Lion
Dearman Frederick, blacksmith
Dickinson John, beer retailer, Clay End
Dickinson Joseph, shoe maker
Dilley Philip, shopkeeper
Estwick Thomas, shopkeeper
Gazley Jonas, wheelwright
Green William, carpenter
Hill Robert, farmer The Bury
Hills John Read, saddler
Hills William, farmer
Ivory Robert, farmer Walkern Park
Kitchener John Elliot, shopkeeper
Knott James, shopkeeper
Newberry George, blacksmith
Pearman Daniel, baker
Pearman George David, miller & farmer, Walkern Mill
Pearman Thomas, farmer Rooks Nest
Petitt William, plumber
Porter Samuel, farmer
Rowlatt, Thomas & Son, farmers, Walkern Place
Rust William, tailor
Savage James, bricklayer
Savage John, bootmaker
Smith Alexander, farmer
Smith Henry Bennet, surgeon
Spriggens William, shoe maker
Stockbridge Thomas, baker & corn dealer
Stratton Anna (Mrs), beer retailer
Taylor Frederick, White Lion & builder
Thorpe William Jacob, painter etc
Woollaston, William, farmer
Wray Frederick, Yew Tree
Wright Samuel, brewer & maltster