1882 Kelly’s P.O. Directory of Herts: Walkern
[Including notes on locations in present day Walkern]
Source: HALS
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 street forming the village is about 1 mile long. The church of St Mary the Virgin dates from about 1200 and consists of chancel, nave, aisles, south porch and an embattled western tower containing 5 bells dating from 1713 to 1833; there are some remains of Norman work in the arcade of the north aisle, but the greater part of the existing church belongs to the Perpendicular period; the chancel was rebuilt in 1878 in the Early English style and an organ chamber and vestry added; in a recess on the south wall is a remarkably fine effigy in Purbeck marble of a knight in complete chain mail, with armed legs, probably representing one of the family of Lanvalei, who were lords of the manor from 1160 to 1220; there are several brasses to the families of Humberstone and Bramfield, 1581-96.
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 Camper Wright MA, formally fellow of that college. Here are chapels for Baptists, Congregationalists and Wesleyans. The charities amount to £12 13s 4d yearly derived from land situated in the parish and including a yearly sum of £3 5s 1d left in 1838 by Robert Pryor of Weston. Here is an extensive brewery and also a steam flour mill. The principle landowners are the Earl of Essex, Joseph Wright Ward and EN Ward esquires, and Rev George Cotton Brown JP. A library with reading room was established in 1880.
The soil is gravel, flint and clay; subsoil, various. The chief crops are wheat, barley, beans and turnips. The area is 2,924 acres, rateable value £5,158 and the population in 1881 was 843.
At Walkern Bury, 1 mile east, are the remains of a castle; Bassett’s Green is 1 mile east; Clay End is a mile and a half south east.
Parish Clerk, William Newberry
Post & Money Order Office and Savings Bank: Daniel Pearman, postmaster. Letters through Stevenage, arrive at 7.30am; dispatched at 2.30 and 6pm, Sunday dispatched at 10.30am. The nearest Telegraph office is at Stevenage.
National School: erected by Rev JC Wright, rector here in 1830, an addition being made in 1852 by Mrs Harding; the infant school was built in 1877; there is an average attendance of 130; the schools are supported by subscriptions, a government grant & school fees; Edwin Favelle, master; Mrs Faville, infants’ mistress.
Police Station: John Anson, constable
Carriers:
- to Hertford, Owen Cannon, on Saturday, returning same day.
- to London, John Cannon, passes through on Thursday, returning on Saturday
- to Hitchin & Stevenage, William Newberry on Tuesday returning same day
Private residents
Askey Miss
Browne Rev John George Cotton Brown JP, Walkern Hall
Holland James
Knott James
Pearman George David
Rowlatt Samuel Robert
Wright Rev Jas Camper MA (rector)
Wright Mrs
Commercial
Allison Joseph, saddler & shopkeeper
Allison Sarah (Mrs), shopkeeper
Andrews Joseph, farmer
Bracey William, farmer
Bray James, brewer & builder
Canning Isaac, White Lion
Cannon Owen, poulterer & carrier
Collins Thomas, beer retailer
Culver George, tailor
Culver James, Red Lion
Dearman Frederick, blacksmith
Dickinson John, beer retailer, Clay End
Dilley Philip, shopkeeper
Estwick Thomas, shopkeeper
Gazely Jonas, wheelwright & coach builder
Green William, carpenter & beer retailer
Kitchener John Elliot, shopkeeper
Knott James, shopkeeper
Library & Reading Room (WJ Thorpe, hon sec)
Menhinick Alex., farmer Walkern Park
Newberry William, blacksmith
O’Connor Michael, excise officer
Pearman Daniel, baker
Pearman Frederick, farmer
Pearman George David, miller & farmer, Walkern Mill
Petitt William, plumber
Porter George & Son, farmer
Rowlatt Samuel Robert, farmer, Walkern Place
Rust William, tailor
Savage James, bricklayer
Savage John, shoemaker
Spriggens William, shoe maker
Stockbridge Jas Edward, baker & corn dealer
Titmuss Herbert, farmer Rooks Nest
Thorpe William Jacob, builder, plumber & decorator
Waldock George, beer retailer and shoemaker
Woollaston Oswald, farmer
Wray Frederick, Yew Tree
Wright Samuel (exors of), brewer & maltster
