Quaint Essendon

Just under a twelve mile car drive from St. Albans, is the quaint and fairly quiet village of Essendon. Within the civil parish of Hertfordshire, six miles south-west of Hertford and to the east of Hatfield Park, Essendon is situated 100 metres above sea level and provides wonderful views over the Lea Valley.

A large number of grade II listed buildings add to the ambiance of this picturesque and traditional village, including Holwell Court, built in about 1900 for Sir Ernest George – an English architect, landscape and architectural watercolour painter and etcher.

Other houses within the parish with famous connections, include Camfield Place which was visited by Beatrix Potter, and the home of novelist Barbara Cartland.

The village’s parish church, St. Mary's, dates mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries, although its west tower dates from the 15th century and has eight bells, of which the oldest was cast in 1681.The church also displays the most remarkable Wedgwood ceramic font, dated 1780 and made from black-basalt earthenware.

Coming back to more modern times, Essendon boasts a lovely Golf and Country Club, located at Bedwell Park, four miles east of Hatfield, in an area of wonderful natural beauty. The golf course was designed by Fred Hawtree of the legendary Hawtree family of golf course architects and sets a real challenge for players of all levels of ability, from those new to the game to the more experienced golfer. The club is perfect for a day out with a golf-loving group, or the clubhouse provides a welcome atmosphere for those just taking a drive through the surrounding picturesque countryside. It is also a lovely setting as a wedding venue, and prides itself on its ‘weddings of distinction’.

If a pub is more your scene, then Essendon has just the one – the Rose and Crown Pub and Restaurant, which dates back to 1756 as a traditional coach house. The pub is big in size, with a bar, spacious restaurant and beautiful beer garden.