Horns Mill, Hertford facts for kids

Horns Mill is a small area and neighborhood located in the southern part of Hertford, a town in Hertfordshire, England. It's a place where many families live today.

A Look Back: Horns Mill's Past

Horns Mill used to be a busy place with a special kind of mill. This mill was a watermill, which means it used the power of flowing water from the River Lea to make its machinery work. It was located at the bottom of a path called Bullock's Lane.

What the Mill Did

For many years, the mill helped local people by grinding corn into flour. It also crushed oil seeds to make oil and even ground bones to create fertilizer for farms. This work stopped in the late 1800s.

From Mill to Leather

After the mill closed, the building was sold to a person named William Webb. He started a business making chamois leather, which is a very soft type of leather. Later, the business changed again and began making gloves. The glove factory eventually closed in 1971.

Horns Mill Today

Today, you won't find the old mill building. It was taken down a long time ago. All that's left are some sluice gates, which are like special doors that control water flow. The area where the mill once stood is now covered with houses, including streets like Waterdale, Tanners Close, and Glovers Close.

Horns Mill Today: What's Here Now

The Horns Mill area is now home to several housing estates. These are often known as Pearson Avenue (or 'the old estate'), Hornsmill (or 'the new estate'), Tanners Crescent, and Mandeville Road.

Local Shops and Fun Places

You can find two grocery shops in the area. One of them also has a post office, which is handy for sending letters or parcels. There's also a modern community centre where people can meet and hold events. Kids can enjoy a children's park with play equipment for both younger and older children.

The old Harts Horns pub, which is a Grade II listed building (meaning it's historically important), stopped being a pub in 2015. It is now a modern Indian restaurant called Ginger Bar & Restaurant.

Getting Around and Schools

The Hornsmill Estate includes streets like Cecil Road, Brickendon Lane, Purkiss Road, Cranbourne Close, The Dell, and Hornsmill Road. A local bus, the H3, serves this area, making it easy to get around.

The Hertford Loop Line, a railway track, runs along the western side of Horns Mill. The impressive Hertford Viaduct carries trains over the River Lea here.

Children living in Horns Mill usually go to Morgans Primary School & Nursery, which can be reached from Mandeville Road. For secondary school, students often attend nearby schools like Simon Balle School, Richard Hale School, The Sele School, or Presdales School. A special bus service runs in the mornings and afternoons for students going to Presdales School.

Rivers and Brooks

The Bayford brook flows into the River Lea near Horns Mill, close to a spot called Horns Mill Weir.

Images for kids

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  Horns Mill Viaduct