history of the nickey line walking & cycling the nickey line … · 2020. 2. 17. · st pauls...
TRANSCRIPT
Household WasteRecycling
CentreQueensway
Downside
Leig
hton
Buz
zard
Roa
d
Leig
hton B
uzzar
d Road
A4146
Queensway
Hillfield Road
Mar
low
es
Marlo
wes
St Albans Road
Hig
h St
reet
Chapel Street
Cattsdell
Catt
sdel
l
Ran
dalls
Ride
Neptune Drive
Woodhall Lane
Bohemia
Thumpers
Fletcher Way
Fletc
her Way
Fletcher Way
Tow
nsen
d
Thriftfield
Wheatfield
Cambrian Way
Solway
Jupiter Drive Jupite
r Driv
e
Queensway
Redbourn
Road
Pennine Way
Pennine Way
St Agnells
Lane
East
man
Way
May
lan
ds
Ave
nu
e
Mar
k Ro
ad
A41
47
A4147
Wood Lane End
Tedder Road
Tenzing Road
Montgomery
Avenue
Sawyers Way
Road
Broadfield
Everest Way
Wood Lane End
Adeyfield Road
Adeyfield Road
Adeyfield
Windm
ill Road
Windmill
Lane
White Hart Drive
Long
land
s
A4147
Redbourn Road
Cherr
y Tre
e La
ne
Bo
un
dar
y W
ay
Hemel Hempstead Road
Punch Bowl Lane
Shen
ley
Road
Redbourn Road
B487
B487 B487
High S
treet
Gre
en
Leve
rsto
ck G
reen
Roa
d
Ellingham Road
Highfield Lane
Brie
ry W
ay
Shenley
Ho
ltsm
ere
End
Lan
e
Shenley Road
Hemel Hempstead Road
Hemel Hempstead Road
Gaddesden
M1
Aycl
iffe
Driv
e
Aycliffe Drive
Aycliffe DrivePrimary School
Jupiter DriveJMI School
Bellgate PrimarySchool
Broadfield Infant& Junior School Hobletts Manor Infant
& Junior School
George StreetPrimary
Hemel HempsteadGeneral Hospital
LeisureWorld
Athletics Ground
Tudor PrimarySchool
Paradise
GadebridgePark
Gade Valley JMI
SkateboardBMX park
The Cavendish School
Locker’s ParkSchool Randall
Park
Jarman Park
Adeyfield
Old Town
AdeyfieldSchool
Keens Field
Highfield
MaylandsWood
Widmore Wood
Yew TreeWood
Grove Hill Park
Grovehill
Cupid Green
Astley CooperSchool
Industrial Estate
Reservoir
Holtsmere End Infant& Junior School Brockswood Primary
School
WoodhallWood
HighWood
Little Revel EndFarm
Wood End Farm
BuryWood
The Aubreys Fort(earthworks)
subway
Hotel
Flower’sFarm
Dane-End Farm
Dio
ne R
d
Midland Road
St Mary’sChurch
The OldTown Hall
Civic CentreDacorum Borough
Council
Library
West Herts CollegeDacorum Campus
Playing Fields
PlayingFields
St PaulsChurch
Three
Ch
erryTrees
Lane
Hunters Oak
Arkley Road
Cupid Green Lane
The
Dee
Aven
ue
Washington Avenue
Eastbrook PrimarySchool
Hunting Gate
Piccotts End La.
Stevenage Rise
Saturn Way
Mendip Way
Wharfdale
Wes
terd
ale
Allandale
Paston Rd
Allandale
Alla
ndal
e
Smithfield
Chur
chSt
reet
Herbert StreetGeorge Street Grover Cl.
St Mary’s Road
Christchurch RoadAle
xan
dra
Ro
ad
Alexa
ndra R
oad
Cresc
ent R
oad
St Paul’s Road
May
flow
erAv
enueW
ater
house S
treet
Wat
er Gar
dens
Dacoru
m W
ay
Wolse
y RoadPar
k Lan
e
Paradise
WoodLane
King H
arry Stre
et
Redwood DriveOld Crabtree Lane
Deaconsfield Road
Seaton Road
Woo
dC
resc
ent
Jarman Way
Turners Hill
Low
er Yo
tt
Turners Hill
Astley Road
Combe St
Bury
Roa
d
Cotterells Hill
Melsted Road
Warners End Road
Swallowdale Lane
Thames
Newfield
Road
Road
St Mary’sChurch
Cycle route toGaddesden Row
M1Luton
The North
M1London
N
Road
site ofBeaumont’s Halt
site ofGodwin’s Halt
AdventurePlayground
Widmore Drive
first level access avoidingsteps & barriers
Lane
The Nickey Line
The Nickey Line
The Nickey Line
The Nickey Line
Eastman Way
The Nickey Line
site ofHemel Hempstead
Station
site ofHemelite Works
Hemel Hempstead
Track
Residential area
Commercial area
ParksWoodland
Main Road
Motorway
Railway
The Nickey Line (traffic free) FieldsOpen Land
Cycle Shop
Tourist Information
Pub / Restaurant
Supermarket / Shop
Leisure Centre
Children’s Play Area
School / College
Museum
Toilet
Hospital A&E
Football Ground
The Nickey Line (on road)
River / Lake
Cycle Routes (signed on quiet road)
Cycle Routes (signed on quiet road)proposed
Steps on route,access steps off route
Cycle Routes (traffic free)
Railway Station
Car Park
National Cycle NetworkRoute Number
Building
Bus Station
Street / Minor Road
Bridge
Bridleway
Footpath
Keyscale 1:11,500 approx
1 kilometre
1 mile
Walking & CyclingThe Nickey Linethe green route fromHemel Hempstead via Redbournto Harpenden
The Nickey Line was a 7mile (12km) branch line that once linked the Midland Railway at Harpenden to Boxmoor, near Hemel Hempstead. Passenger services ended in 1947 but a section of the line carried freight until 1979. Much of the track bed still remained intact when it was bought by Dacorum and St Albans councils in the early 1980’s and opened for walking and cycling.
The route now forms a pleasant green corridor with a rural aspect along much of its length - providing attractive countryside or woodland walks as well as generally traffi c-free access to school and work. Although there are steep embankments or cuttings and several bridges have been removed there is level access for cyclists and wheelchairs along most of the route (steps are shown on the map).
The Nickey Line forms part of Route 57 of the Sustrans National Cycle Network which continues through Harpenden to Wheathampstead and Welwyn Garden City. From Harpenden, Route 6 goes south to St Albans & Watford, and north to Luton & Milton Keynes.
Enjoy the route as a relaxing journey to work or school away from the road network. Alternatively, take a leisurely walk or ride looking out for the abundant local wildlife. In addition, a number of circular paths can be enjoyed incorporating rights of way which cross the Line.
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved 100019606 2006
Hemel Hempstead’s award winning town centre boasts aHem n centd’s rd winning town winnniHeH anedtremendous range of shops and services specifi cally desigdo pecifi cale of s and servicereme ign
ed for its mmany visitors within a family friendly pedestrianis m estrians wit mily f isedsed dlyithnsarea. Stroll through the town centre or adjacent Water Gardenarea. StroSt theea. er Gardensadjadjaceent
and admire e the display planting and works of art, a traditiond wmire the plad d adm traof art, afbegun in the earrly days of the New Town.w Tearly dy degun in the en in e Nee Nee NNeNN
HuHu
Hemel Old Town is steeped in historyhistoryiHoviding a glimpse of days gone by withp one hp nprovid
active Victorian, Georgian and Tudor its attr n and Tudoror s att n attractive housing many excearchitectur ellent plent pubs, ectur le bs, cture ho
d restaurants. Ycafes, bistros a nts. You willos a willouos and reelectioalso fi nd a diverse s ction of specialistrse n of sppecrse selec
shops including antiqshop tique , quality giftware,que qu gififtware,ques, qus! ure and bicycles!furnitur cles! The O d Town High he O n H! Thfu h he Old To
ds home to the OldStreet is h Town H ll Theatrewn H Theatld ToTowStree re n Hall Thusic and theatwith art, musi e productionsctiotree produch art, ctions.
MI
ndings of Gadebridge Park, Dacorum’s principal pain park.e beautiful surroRelax in theh ng parpm’s pdidings of G Parkouound rkor admire the glorious fl ower display in the historic adUnwind by the River GadeUnwind b dm thr a e the gloriou fl owdede orof St Mary’s Church, regarded as one of the most StWalled Garden with viewed t ne ofof h, reregawws o
hes in Hertfordshire. Activities including bowls and crazn H azycomplete Norman churc H dines Activrcrcheg the summer, with a play area and skate park for youne su unggolf are available duri d skate park fosugg turi a pla teand skate park for yoforiring
e www.dacorum.gov.uk for details of special eventswwpeople, open all yea See w ails of special eventswwee ww ilsear gov f spor details of special events.ev s.arar. S
Hemel Hempstead
Gadebridge Park
Hemel Old Town
green corridor for wildlifedorNickey Line is aThe a g Ns and fi elds along the track. ds g the woodlandlinki dsing
oxes are regularly seen and if you are really lucky if es are regularly seFox eenoxes yger on its dusk patrol or aonou may glimpse a badyo dgebadyou
eed. In spring the warblerseedsparrowhawk fl ying at spspeng a blerarters and blackcaps,arrive from their winter qquair w ps,s can be heard singing aschiffchaffs and whitethroatatsnd w rd singid seek mates.they establish territories anndblish mates.
brimstone butterfl ies neLook out for orange tip and buttd bd ut fo brimsmstonrbled whites, commas min early spring. Peacocks, mam comars, maarly s whiteso fairly commonmonand small tortoiseshells are are alsells and sm y comure in the summer sun. In this picctu. In tin t left, a speckled spspecktte bush in the middaywood warms itself on a brambblelf ow warm midddays for fl ight andsunshine – they need warm stil andll dy nesu e – th– t ando the dappled light as they bask they merge well in ed light ntoheyas t ky bas
of a clearing on The Nickey Line. ona clclea
Wildlife along the Line
1863 Act of Parliament passed for Boxmoor to Hemel Hempstead Railwayailwapas
1866 Act of Parliament passed extending line to Midland Railway at HarpendenHarpendy aent ent ssed
1877 Line opened between Hemel Hempstead and Lutoned ed Heme
1888 Harpenden Junction south curve opened, taking trains to Harpenden StationStationrainHarpeHarpe curv
1905905905 New Halts built at Redbourn, Cupid Green and Heath Parkd HCup
1927192192 New Halt built at Roundwood, Harpendennarp
192992929 Bus service replaced some trains
1947 Passenger service withdrawn, goods service continuesserv
1950’s and 60’s Line gradually cut back for New Town constructionnstru
1968 Hemelite Company bought the Line to transport materials for the manufacture of port building blocks
1979 Line closed
1985 Line opened as a footpath and cycleway, becoming National Cycle Network tiona Route 57oute 5
History of the Nickey Line
an W
aEa
stm
an W
a
Wood has the characteristics of anWood has the Yew Tree W n ancient semi acteristie WYewew s oas thral woodland and is particularly noteworthy for woodlan andnatural w orthy for thearand is pral wnnaatur noand a yyayay
f yewew t egroup of y eesyewg oup w tree accataTaxus bacca that give the wood itsa n W
n Wa
The yew is Europe’s longest lived tree with sow ame Th ome is Europe’s longest liiname. The yew yee yew tma
m
s estimated to be up to 4000 years old.estindividual ymated to be up to 40in als 0vidual stimated ts els es Eas
Eas
Yew Tree Wood
B487
Hemel Hempstead Road
Church
Chequer Lane
Flam
stea
db
ury
Lan
e
Lybury Lane
Fish Street
Lam
b Lan
e
St A
lban
s Ro
ad
The
Ver V
alle
y W
alk
A51
83
A5183
A5183
Hig
h St
reet
Hig
h St
reet
Crouch H
all Lane
Harpenden Lane
RedbournInfant &
Jnr School
RedbournVillage Museum
Dun
stab
le R
oad
Bet
tesp
ol M
ead
ow
s
Dunstable Road
Redbourn Lane
Lane
Redb
ourn
B487
Claygate Avenue
Townsend Lane
Townsend Lane
Park Hill
Park Rise
Bloomfield Road
Hillside Road
HighfieldOvalLambourn Gdns
Park Mount
Luto
n R
oad
Luto
n R
oad
A10
81
Clarence Road
Byron Road
Townsend Road
Sun Lane
Broadfields
Salis
bur
y A
venu
e
Map
le R
oad
Rose
ber
ry A
venu
e
Kirkwick Ave
Roundwood
Lane
Leyt
on R
oad
West Com
mon
Amenbury Lane
Rothamsted Avenue
St A
lban
s Road
Hig
h St
reet
Sout
hd
own
Roa
d
Lane
Station
B652
Stat
ion
Ro
ad
Stewart Road
Brea
dcr
oft L
ane
Carlt
on R
oad
Car
lton
Road
Sau
nce
y A
ven
ue
Sauncey Avenue
Manland Avenue
West Way
Manland Way
Cro
ss Way W
aven
ey R
oad
Ox Lane
Col
dh
arb
our L
ane
Ox LaneLea Road
St James Road
SunLa
ne
Westfield Road
Douglas Road
Vaughan Road
Milt
on R
oad
Crabtree Lane
The
Park
RedbournCommon
Scout Spring
caravan site
River Ver
River Ver
RedbournIndustrial Estate
Library
Knott Wood
Golf CourseHarpendenbury
Farm
Deacon’sSpring
Hammonds EndFarm
Golf Course
Rugby Club
Rothamsted ManorHouse
RothamstedResearch
RothamstedExperimental Farm
St Luke’s School
RothamstedPark
Hatching Green
Roundwood Park& Primary Schools
St Hilda’s School
AsquithNursery
St George’s School
HarpendenMemorial Hospital
St NicholasPrimarySchool
St Dominic’sR.C. Primary
School
HarpendenCommon
to HarpendenCycles
Crabtree Infants &Junior School
WestfieldWoodAmbrose
Wood
BUPA Hospital
HighfieldPre-School
The Lea PrimarySchool
Sir John LawesSchool
Manland PrimarySchool
The King’s School
take carecrossing roadblind corner
cyclistsuse ramp
to avoid steps
(Wat
ling
Stre
et -
Rom
an R
oad)
Tassell Hall
Tassell Hall
NorthRoad
Snatchup
The Park
Brooke End
Ver Road
Crown Street
WaterendLane
Linden RoadAysgarth Road
Cavan Road
Lord
s Mea
dow
Townsend Lane
HollybushLane
Wo
rdsw
orth
Road
Tennys
on Road
Long
crof
t Ave
nu
e
Am
bros
eLa
ne
Harpenden Rise
Barns Dene
Common
take carecrossing road
Moreton End Lane
Ambrose Lan
e
H
H
HarpendenMusicale
HarpendenStation
Crabtree
Library
St Nicholas’Church
LydekkerPark
The Ver Valley Walk
The
Ver V
alle
y W
alk
The
Ver V
alle
y W
alk
original track of railway line
Footpath toRedbournbury Mill
Rail to Luton& The Midlands
Rail to St AlbansLondon, Brighton
NCN 6 cycle routeto St Albans,
Watford, London
NCN 6Cycle route under
construction to Lutonand Milton Keynes,
and ultimately toThe Lake District
M1Luton
The North
A1081
Road
Arden
Bull Rd
Gro
ve
Station Road
site ofHarpenden
Eastrailwaystation
Town Hall
PublicHalls
SkateboardBMX park
cutting
picnic areasite of Redbournrailway station
N
End
NCN 57Cycle route to Leasey Bridge, incomplete to Wheathampsteadand Welwyn Garden City
first level accessavoiding steps
The Nickey Line
The Nickey Line
The Nickey Line
The Nickey LineThe Nickey Line
Harpenden
Redbourn
7 m i l e g r e e n r o u t e b e t w e e nHemel Hempstead, Redbourn& Harpenden
The Nickey Linewalking & cycl ing
The Ordnance Survey mapping data included within this publication is provided by Hertfordshire County Council under licence from the Ordnance Survey in order to fulfi l its public function to provide information relating to its activities, services and plans. Persons viewing this mapping should contact Ordnance Survey copyright for advice should they wish to licence Ordnance Survey mapping for their own use. Such mapping is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Her Majesty’s Stationery Offi ce © Crown copyright 100019606 2006.
Cartography, photography, leafl et design and cycling by Stephen Wragg - Wragg Art House: www.wah.co.uk
© WAH 2006 Printed on environmentally friendly paper
InformationDacorum Borough Council: www.dacorum.gov.ukRedbourn Parish Council: www.redbourn.org.ukHarpenden Town Council: www.harpenden.gov.ukSt Albans City & District Council: www.stalbans.gov.ukCountryside Management Service: www.hertsdirect.org/cmsSustrans: www.sustrans.org.ukFriends of the Nickey Line: www.nickeyline.orgSt Albans Cycle Campaign: www.stacc.org.ukVer Valley Society: www.riverver.co.ukRedbournbury Mill: www.redbournmill.co.uk
HistoryBooks available on The Nickey Line:
The Harpenden to Hemel Hempstead Railway - The Nickey Line by Sue and Geoff Woodward, 1996, The Oakwood Press
Branch Line to Hemel Hempstead - The Nickey Lineby Sue and Geoff Woodward, 2006, Middleton Press
Walking & CyclingHertfordshire County Council: www.hertsdirect.org/libsleisure and click on ‘Enjoying the Countryside’
Further free maps & leafl ets in this series:The Great North Way, The Ayot Greenway, The Alban Way, The Cole Green Way, The Ebury Way, available from Libraries, Tourist Information or Councils listed above.
Redbourn village sits astride Watling Street, the old Romants astride Watl ng Street, the old Romts ng S mae ohide tlinroad to Chester, now thankfully by-passed. Its w thankfully bby-passed. Its compactw sse ctcoy-pbyHigh Street features several hostelries and es several hostelries and a variety ofes nd of s an a vaseveral hoostshops, while its spacious Commopacious Com id r park on provides a free capa car videses aovidious Commonmmbeside the local cricket pitch, close to the villacricket pitch, e to the v eum.e to the village Mucr usevillage Musthpitch, closese to tric , cl
Powered by the River Ver - and latterly by a Crossley diesel engine - the 18th century Mill worked well into the 20th centuryy. y.y.eIt was restored after a disastrous fi re in 1987 and now producest wstoneground fl our and bread. The Mill is open, with teas served,ontypically on Sunday afternoons and special weekends.ca(See back cover for contact details to check opening times).ba
The Jacobean Manor House at Rothamsted was tthe thome of John Bennet Lawes who began agriculturauraluraexperiments in 1843, ultimately leading to theestablishment of Rothamsted Research.The Houseprovides student accommodation and the Drawing Room tioovides is a popular venue for recitals. Public rights of way cross ls. ithe estate, and a permissive path allows a view of theve 17th Century south facade of the house.de
Rothamsted
When the Nickey Line was built in then the 1870’s the187Roundwood area was agricultural land, d, but in the, bu heearly 1900’s the fi rst houses were built,lt, and as moreand as mmfollowed there was an increasing dememand for a Halt.a Hn
Roundwood Halt was opened 8 Auugust 1927. Theood Halt was o Thst 19stsignal and platform are two of thehe best survivingal and platform are two of th vivsurvivbestreminders of the former Line.rem
The Walk traces theriver from its sourcenear Redbourn to itsconjunction with the Colneclose to Watford. A free leafl et is available fromlocal Information Centres.
The local council purchased the 238 acrTh 232 cre Manorial T 238T 238Common from the Rothamsted Esd Estate in 1929, sted EsEs
for the benefi t of the townsfolk. An annfol nnual horse sfo nnnng event ceased in 1914, and The Silver CndT Cup pub 14, CupCups past triumphs. Golf, cricket and footballall clubsclublubse space for their pursuits, while the public ic has as as mpeded access to the whole Common. Ancim cientsmmghts also still permit traditional showman fairght fairs.pepeghgh
Lying on the Chiltern dip sl pe between the valleys of theop en thn ton C ter of therivers Ver and Lea, Harpenden was destined to become a de ned to btinVe d Ver a a, commuter town with the c ming of the Midland Main Line in com and Main Linee Mmu ow wcomm1868. It retains its village c aracter though, thanks to its largecha gegh, tr thougIt ns s v68. It retainCommon, its tree lined High Street and period cottages.gh riodt a od cottamo s t e
Harpenden
Harpenden Common
Redbourn
Redbournbury Mill
The Ver Valley Walk
Hertfordshire Rural TransportPartnership
Roundwood Halt