In the next part of a series looking at the history of the built environment of Rickmansworth and its surrounding areas, Three Rivers Museum Trust chairman Fabian Hiscock, with Trevor Baker, looks at the development of Abbots Langley.

In the last few articles we’ve been looking at South Oxhey, such an important example of modern, purpose-built development. Let’s look at a part of our area quite different in its history, but equally interesting in its development.

Abbots Langley, like Rickmansworth, is recorded in the Domesday Book, when the extent of the manor, as local historian Trevor Baker has worked out, roughly covers the modern civil parish. It was part of the holdings of St Albans Abbey from 1045 to the dissolution in 1539, and then had a number of owners until recent times.

It was, like everywhere around here, mainly agricultural until the middle of the 19th century, although closeness to London allowed wealthy people to move here much earlier: but developing public transport and the growth of St Albans, Hemel Hempstead and Watford, and of industries such as paper-making, and later the Ovaltine factory, aircraft engineering and film studios, gave new work opportunities for the residents - and indeed brought new residents.

Watford Observer: High Street in 1969. Image: Abbots Langley Local History Society/ Fred Dobson collection (100102c)High Street in 1969. Image: Abbots Langley Local History Society/ Fred Dobson collection (100102c)

The development of what we now call ‘the built environment’ followed the same lines as Rickmansworth – slow and in-filling until about 1830, then accelerating with new building for about a hundred years, then after World War Two the familiar sudden development of new settlements in and around the village. So the early shops (as we would now know them) appeared at the top end of the High Street in about 1830, then spread down the High Street before modern development began in the 1920s, especially on the south side of the lower High Street.

Watford Observer: From an earlier period: Langley House, an example of a wealthy resident’s house. Image: Three Rivers Museum From an earlier period: Langley House, an example of a wealthy resident’s house. Image: Three Rivers Museum

The Crescent was established from 1924, the east side of Langley Road at the same time (the west side not until the 1970s). Adrian Road, Breakspear Road and Popes Road were built between about 1870 and 1896, with Marlin Square immediately pre-World War One.

A notable development at this time was the arrival of the Leavesden Hospital in 1870, the closure of which in 1995 has left a wonderful public space now used by many local people.

Watford Observer: Abbots Langley JMI School, built in 1868, in 1976 – now the site of the library. Image: Three Rivers MuseumAbbots Langley JMI School, built in 1868, in 1976 – now the site of the library. Image: Three Rivers Museum

Meanwhile Watford RDC had provided council houses at Trowley Rise in the 1920s, when so much post-war housing was being built, but the main development of the Hillside Estate was between 1948 and 1955.

Watford Observer: The Crescent VE day party 1945. Image: Abbots Langley Local History Society/ Fred Dobson collection (100288)The Crescent VE day party 1945. Image: Abbots Langley Local History Society/ Fred Dobson collection (100288)

Just as in South Oxhey at the same time, not all the facilities were in place at the start: early residents remember that the roads were unsurfaced for some time, and the main shopping precinct wasn’t finished until 1955, so the existing village had to provide for a fast-growing population. Some of the housing (for example Pryors Close) was deliberately experimental, in conjunction with the Building Research Establishment, with residents reporting on their experiences of the various techniques on trial.

Watford Observer: Closing the Co-op – Women’s Guild protest at the loss. Image: Watford ObserverClosing the Co-op – Women’s Guild protest at the loss. Image: Watford Observer

The most rapid growth of Abbots Langley came, of course, in the 1950s, with Rosehill Gardens, Broomfield Rise, Causeway and Kindersley Way among those laid out then, to be followed by others in a process which continues to this day – along, of course, with provision for car parking!

Watford Observer: School Mead shopping parade in 2005. Image: Three Rivers MuseumSchool Mead shopping parade in 2005. Image: Three Rivers Museum

Many Watford Observer readers will have vivid memories of the development of the village, and of the strong community and groups which are such a feature of Abbots Langley today.

Three Rivers Museum is very grateful for the contribution of Abbots Langley Local History Society to our knowledge of the story of Abbots Langley. The ALLHS project on the shops of Abbots Langley, ‘Butchers, Bakers and Undertakers’, is just starting – contact info@allhs.org.uk to contribute.