Harpenden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Harpenden
Church Green in Harpenden town centre in spring
Harpenden
Area	4.93 sq mi (12.8 km2)
Population	31,128 (2021: parish) 30,674 (2021: built-up area)
• Density	6,314/sq mi (2,438/km2)
OS grid reference	TL135145
Civil parish	Harpenden Town
District	St Albans
Shire county	Hertfordshire
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	HARPENDEN
Postcode district	AL5
Dialling code	01582
Police	Hertfordshire
Fire	Hertfordshire
Ambulance	East of England
EU Parliament	East of England
UK Parliament	Harpenden and Berkhamsted
List of places UK England Hertfordshire 51°49′03″N 0°21′09″W / 51.8175°N 0.3524°W / 51.8175; -0.3524

Harpenden is a lively town located in Hertfordshire, England. It's part of the City and District of St Albans. In 2021, about 30,674 people lived in the main built-up area.

Many people who live in Harpenden travel to work in Central London. This is easy because the town has a direct train connection.

A Look Back at Harpenden's History

The Harpenden coat of arms sign welcomes you to the town centre

Church Green, a pretty spot in Harpenden Town Centre

People have lived in the Harpenden area for a very long time. Farmers from the Belgae tribe lived here even before the Romans arrived. In 1867, old items like a bronze shield decoration were found.

You can also find signs of the Romans around Harpenden. For example, there's a mausoleum (a large tomb) in Rothamsted Park. In the 1820s, a burial mound near the River Lea was opened. Inside, there was a stone coffin from Roman times. It held five objects from around 150 AD, including a glass jug.

Hundreds of years ago, around the 1200s, this area was mostly woodland. Small villages and farms started to appear in cleared spaces. These places were often called "End" or "Green." Today, Harpenden and nearby Wheathampstead still have many places named "End" or "Green."

Harpenden village grew as Westminster Abbey cleared more land for farming. The first mention of a church here was in 1221. This suggests the village began to grow around that time. St Nicholas Church is the oldest church in town. It was first built as a small chapel in 1217.

Just south of Harpenden is Nomansland Common. A part of the Second Battle of St Albans was fought here during the Wars of the Roses. This common was also where England's first annual steeplechase (a horse race with obstacles) took place in 1830. It was also known as a hiding spot for the famous highwaywoman, Lady Katherine Ferrers.

In the 1800s, many women in Harpenden worked in straw-weaving. They would weave straw into long braids. These braids were then sold in markets in St Albans or Luton. Dealers would buy them to make hats like boaters and bonnets. A skilled straw weaver could earn as much as a farm worker.

The arrival of the railway system in the 1860s changed Harpenden a lot. Farms were sold for new houses, and the town grew. The Great Northern Railway had a line through Batford, with a station called Harpenden East railway station. This line is now a popular cycle track. The Midland Railway main line was built in 1868. Its station is still used today. The Harpenden and Hemel Hempstead Railway, also known as the Nicky Line, opened in 1877.

Between 1848 and 1914, horse racing was often held on Harpenden Common. Golf has been played there since 1894. The Harpenden Golf Club was started then. Later, in 1931, the club moved, and the Harpenden Common Golf Club was formed for those who wanted to keep playing on the Common.

Harpenden is home to Rothamsted Manor and Rothamsted Research. This is a very important center for studying farming. In 1893, a stone was put up there to celebrate 50 years of experiments. These experiments were done by Sir John Bennet Lawes and Joseph Henry Gilbert.

Sir John Bennet Lawes inherited the Rothamsted estate in 1834. He is known as "the father of agricultural science." His early experiments led him to create a special phosphate fertilizer. Selling this fertilizer made him very rich. He used the money to build laboratories in the 1850s. The station continued to develop artificial fertilizers, which many farmers use today. Some of the original long-term experiments are still running. They are a unique resource for farming and environmental studies.

In 1913, the National Children’s Home moved to Harpenden. It was a large site that cared for over 200 children. The home had workshops where boys could learn trades like printing and carpentry. Girls were mainly trained for domestic service. The children lived in "families" of 8-10, each looked after by a house mother. The home operated until 1985. Today, the site is the main office for Youth with a Mission, a Christian organization.

During World War II, children from bombed London were sent to Harpenden for safety. Harpenden also had air raid shelters, like those at Bowers Parade. These shelters are now being preserved for the future.

The Harpenden and District Local History Society collects local items and records. You can look at these to learn more about the town's past.

Harpenden's Location and Features

Harpenden has two main areas: Harpenden (the town) and Harpenden Rural (the countryside around it). The town is built across two valleys. One dry valley holds the town center and Harpenden Common. The other is the valley of the River Lea, where the Batford area is located.

Harpenden is in Hertfordshire, which is close to London. This means that houses here can be quite expensive. In 2006, the average house price was around £500,902. Many people in Harpenden own their homes.

On the east side of town, there's an area known as Poets' Corner. Many streets here are named after famous English writers. You'll find roads like Byron Road, Cowper Road, Kipling Way, and Shakespeare Road.

Harpenden's Weather

How Harpenden is Governed

Harpenden Town Hall, where local decisions are made

Harpenden has three levels of local government. These are the Harpenden Town Council, the St Albans City and District Council, and the Hertfordshire County Council. The Town Council works from Harpenden Town Hall on Leyton Road.

Coat of arms of Harpenden Town Council

Notes Granted 4 February 1949 to Harpenden Urban District Council. Crest On a Wreath of the Colours within Wattled Palings proper a Mount Vert thereon a Hart lodged also proper Motto Fide Et Laborare (By Faith And Industry)

Harpenden is also part of the Harpenden and Berkhamsted UK Parliament constituency. This is the area that elects a Member of Parliament to the national government. Currently, Victoria Collins represents this area.

Harpenden used to be part of the larger parish of Wheathampstead. Over time, Harpenden began to manage its own affairs. It became a separate church parish in 1859.

In 1894, Harpenden got its own Parish Council. This council held its first meeting on December 31, 1894. Later, in 1898, Harpenden was divided into two parishes: Harpenden Urban and Harpenden Rural. Harpenden Urban became its own independent district, called Harpenden Urban District.

Park Hall, a historic building in Harpenden

The Harpenden Urban District Council first met in the Harpenden Institute. In 1899, they moved to the "Public Hall" on Leyton Road. This building also served as a community hall. In 1933, the council moved its offices to Harpenden Hall. A new Public Hall was built in 1938.

In 1949, the council was given a special coat of arms.

The Harpenden Urban District Council was replaced in 1974. Harpenden became part of the new district of St Albans. A new council, called Harpenden Town Council, was created. This council still works from Harpenden Hall. In 1996, it moved to a new Town Hall, which was built behind the old Park Hall.

Getting Around Harpenden

Harpenden Train Station, looking north from platform 1

Harpenden railway station is a busy train station. It has frequent and fast trains that go through Central London. These trains are part of the Thameslink service. Some trains stop at every station, while express trains go straight to London St Pancras after St Albans City.

Trains heading north go to Luton and then to Bedford. From London St Pancras, trains continue south. They pass through major London stations like Farringdon and London Blackfriars. Then they go on to places like Brighton or Gatwick Airport. This means you can get to Luton Airport (one stop north) and Gatwick Airport directly from Harpenden.

Here are the regular train services:

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Luton Airport Parkway		Thameslink		St Albans City
Disused railways
Roundwood Halt Line and station closed		Midland Railway Nickey Line		Terminus
Luton Hoo Line and station closed		Great Northern Railway Dunstable Branch		Wheathampstead Line and station closed

The Nickey Line was once a railway that connected Harpenden, Redbourn, and Hemel Hempstead. Now, it's a path that is part of the National Cycle Network.

The M1 motorway is also close by. You can get on the M1 at Junction 9 or Junction 10 (for Luton Airport).

Several bus services run through Harpenden. Here are the main routes:

Route Number	Route	Operator	Operation
321	Luton station to Watford via St Albans	Arriva Shires & Essex	Every 20 minutes (Monday - Saturday) Every 60 minutes (Sunday)
366	Luton station to South Hatfield via Welwyn Garden City	Centrebus	Every 60 minutes (Monday - Friday)
610	Luton station to Cockfosters station via Hatfield	Uno	Every 60 minutes (Monday - Saturday)
357	Harpenden to St Albans via Wheathampstead (extending to Redbourn on School Days)	Arriva Shires & Essex	Every 60 minutes (Monday - Saturday)

Harpenden also has a special community bus service called the Harpenden Hopper. It's run by a charity and operates three days a week. You can find more information at www.harpendenhopper.co.uk.

Harpenden's Economy

Rothamsted Research is a major agricultural research center

Harpenden is a wealthy town. It's known for being a valuable place for people who travel to work in London. Good transport links are a key reason for this.

Rothamsted Research is located in Harpenden. It's the largest center in the UK for agricultural research. It was started in 1843.

Shopping in Harpenden

Costa Coffee in the town centre

Waitrose supermarket in the town centre

Harpenden has many shops. You'll find three main supermarkets: Sainsbury's, Marks and Spencer, and Waitrose. There are also clothing stores, charity shops, banks, and chemists. Many of these shops are run by local, independent owners.

Cafes are also popular in Harpenden. While there are a few chain cafes like Costa Coffee and Caffè Nero, most are independently owned. The town has many restaurants, especially Italian ones, and several pubs. Other areas like Batford and Southdown also have their own shopping spots.

Parks and Green Spaces

A view of Harpenden Common Golf Club

Harpenden is famous for its many parks and green areas. In the town center, you'll see Church Green, Leyton Green, and the High Street Greens. These give the town a lovely, open feel.

South of the town center is Harpenden Common. It stretches for over 1 mile (1.5 km) and covers 238 acres (96 ha). Today, Harpenden Common is home to two cricket clubs: Harpenden Cricket Club and Bamville Cricket Club. There's also a football club, paths for horse riding, and walking trails. The Harpenden Common Golf Club is also located here. It's a beautiful natural area that won a national Green Flag Award in 2007.

Harpenden Town Council works to protect and care for the common. They manage habitats for birds and bats. They also look after plants like gorse and fungi. This helps everyone in Harpenden enjoy the common.

Since 1894, Harpenden Common Golf Club has helped maintain a large part of the common. They work closely with the Town Council. This teamwork allows people to use the common for all sorts of fun activities.

Other large green spaces in Harpenden include Rothamsted Park, Batford Park, Kinsbourne Green, Lydekker Park, and the Nickey Line. The Nickey Line is a path that goes right through the town.

Just south of Harpenden is the big open space of Nomansland Common.

Schools in Harpenden

Harpenden has four secondary schools for older students:

• St George's School: A Christian school for both boys and girls. It specializes in Technology and Languages.
• Sir John Lawes School: This school specializes in Media Arts, Science, and teacher training.
• Roundwood Park School: A school that specializes in Mathematics, Computing, and Languages.
• Katherine Warington School.

Harpenden also has many state primary schools for younger children, including:

• Manland Primary School
• Crabtree Infants' and Junior Schools
• Roundwood Primary School
• The Grove Infant & Nursery and Junior Schools
• High Beeches Primary School
• Wood End School
• Sauncey Wood Primary School
• The Lea Primary School and Nursery
• Harpenden Academy

There are also three private schools:

• Aldwickbury School: An independent school for boys from Reception to Year 8.
• The King's School: An independent Christian school for children from pre-school age to Year 11.
• St Hilda's School: An independent primary school for girls from Reception to Year 6.

Twin Towns

Harpenden is "twinned" with two towns in other countries. This means they have a special friendship and often visit each other.

• Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire, France
• Alzey, Germany

Fun Things to Do in Harpenden

• The Harpenden Lions Highland Gathering is a big event held every July in Rothamsted Park. It's like a Scottish festival with bagpipes and dancing. It attracts about 6,000 visitors and raises money for charities. It's said to be the biggest Highland Gathering outside of Scotland!
• "Classics on the Common" is an annual classic car show. It happens on the fourth Wednesday in July. Over 10,000 visitors come to see more than 1,300 classic cars. It's a free event run by Rotary in Harpenden, and any money raised goes to charity.
• The annual HERTS 10K run takes place on the second Sunday in October. Thousands of runners and walkers take part to raise money for Rennie Grove Hospice Care. The event starts and finishes at Rothamsted Research.

Famous People from Harpenden

Many interesting people have lived in or come from Harpenden, including:

• Sacha Bennett: Actor, writer, and director.
• Julian Bliss: A talented clarinet player.
• Steve Borthwick: Former England rugby captain.
• Steve Bould: Former professional footballer.
• Ken Brown: A famous golfer and commentator.
• Craig Charles: Comedian and actor from Red Dwarf.
• Dave Clarke: Paralympic GB football captain.
• Donald Coxeter: A famous mathematician.
• Elaine Delmar: Singer and actress.
• Lee Dixon: Former Arsenal footballer.
• Siobhan Fahey: Singer from the band Bananarama.
• Andy Farrell: Rugby player for Saracens and England.
• Owen Farrell: Rugby player for Saracens and England.
• Ronald Fisher: A very important statistician.
• Ben Foden: England International Rugby Union player.
• Martin Gore: From the band Depeche Mode.
• Laura Haddock: Actress who appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy.
• Mick Harford: Former England international footballer.
• Una Healy: Singer from The Saturdays.
• George Hogg: A British journalist who helped 50 orphaned children in China.
• Frank Ifield: Australian singer.
• Guy Johnston: Cello soloist and winner of BBC Young Musician of the Year.
• Stanley Kubrick: Famous filmmaker, lived nearby.
• Henry Lawson: Australian writer, lived in Harpenden for a short time.
• Joe Lenzie: Music producer and DJ.
• Andy Linighan: Former Arsenal footballer.
• Eric Morecambe: A much-loved comedian. His funeral was held at St Nicholas Church. The Eric Morecambe Centre is named after him.
• Albert Moses: Actor from Mind Your Language.
• John Motson: Famous football commentator.
• Tim Rice: The well-known composer.
• David Richardson: Music producer and audio engineer.
• David Sharp (mountaineer): Mountaineer who died on Mount Everest.
• Tim Sherwood: Former Tottenham Hotspur player.
• Christopher Strauli: Actor.
• Dame Ellen Terry: A famous actress from the 1800s.
• Camilla Tominey: Journalist.
• Katherine Warington: A research botanist who worked at Rothamsted Experimental Station.
• Jack Wilshere: West Ham and England international footballer.
• Ashley Young: Former Manchester United and England international footballer.

Culture and Arts

Harpenden Public Halls used to be a place for live music and theatre. In 2021, it was replaced by the new Eric Morecambe Centre in Rothamsted Park. This new center has a 511-seat space for many different events.

Harpenden is also home to Musicale, a music school and shop at St George's School. It teaches music to adults and children and runs several orchestras and bands.

Other music groups in Harpenden include The Lea Singers, Hardynge Choir, and Harpenden Concert Band.

As of September 2023, a new cultural hub called ‘Harpenden Arts Centre’ is opening. It will be an accessible venue with performance and rehearsal spaces for dance, music, and drama.

Harpenden also hosts the ‘Harpenden Live’ festival every two years in July. It promotes new musical artists from Harpenden and beyond.

Sports Clubs

Harpenden has many sports clubs for different activities:

• Harpenden Cricket Club
• Harpenden Town Football Club
• Harpenden Rugby Football Club
• Harpenden Lawn Tennis Club
• Harpenden Colts Football Club
• Harpenden Common Golf Club

Community Groups

Harpenden has several voluntary organizations that help the community:

• Harpenden Lions Club
• Harpenden Village Rotary Club
• Round Table
• Probus
• Ladies' Circle
• Lea Singers

Scouting and Guiding

Scouting is active in Harpenden. The Scout groups are part of the "Harpenden and Wheathampstead District Scouts."

Scouts help with volunteer work and march in parades like Remembrance Day. They also take part in the Harpenden and Wheathampstead District Scout Gang Show. This is an annual variety show. The Harpenden Gang Show is the longest-running Gang Show in the world, performing every year since 1949!

There are also several Guide units in Harpenden. Guides, along with Rainbows and Brownies (younger groups), join the Scouts in parades.

Freedom of the Town

The "Freedom of the Town" is a special honor given to people or military groups. The Royal Anglian Regiment received this honor in Harpenden on September 12, 2013.

Images for kids

• 

  Harpenden Town Hall, where local decisions are made

• 

  Park Hall, a historic building in Harpenden

See also

In Spanish: Harpenden para niños