Round and About the Heath

Round and About the Heath

Postcards and Photos from
“Hatfield Heath – The Village Group”
Posted by Terry Jameson & Robin Key

The White Horse

The building has been recorded as an inn since 1779. From the 1850's the pub had a succession
of long serving landlords.

The old garage was thatched and was originally a farm building constructed at the same time as
Beehive Cottage, but it was burnt down in a severe fire in 1923.

Beehive Cottage

Beehive cottage was built around 1710 and was one of five thatched cottages built at that time.
The only other still in existence is Clipped Hedge Cottage.

It was originally part of the Barrington Hall estate and was sold to John Witham in 1827 and
descended through two generations of Withams who carried on a business of corn and meal

chandlers as well as running a small grocery shop.

It was sold in 1889 to a Mrs. Button of Hatfield Broad Oak whose son, John Button, started up a
business of harness maker. He married Susan Witham in 1903, who had lived there fourteen
years earlier. Their son, also John Button, continued the business and lived at the cottage
until1962.

The Post Office

The Post Office was owned by Ted Harris who ran a cycle hire and repair shop.
Afterwards the shop was owned by Mr. Peacock who in 1937 moved his shop to where the

present Post Office is situated.
The Post Office closed in July 2018 and remains The Village Tea Room.

Mill Lane (formerly Griggs Lane)

Little Brewers (now Hatfield Haven)

Brewing came to the Heath in the following way: Peter Sullins, born in 1780, was an innkeeper of
the Cock at Hatfield Broad Oak and in fact lived there for the whole of his 82 years. In the 1861
census he was listed also as a farmer and maltster. His son Henry who also lived at the Cock

was managing the whole business as his father was 81 years by this time.

Peter Sullins had a house built on the Heath, which was completed in 1863 and called Little
Brewers. There is a tablet built into an end wall bearing the monogram P.S. and dated 1863.
However, there is some doubt as to whether Peter ever came to live at this house but Henry and

his wife left the Cock and moved into the newly built house.

Sir Charles Bright lived there who was the engineer responsible for the Atlantic cable installation;
also, Andrew Motion who was the Poet Laureate from 1999-2009 lived there for a while.

The Waggon & Horses

The building dates from around 1580 and was originally a farm barn latter converted into four
cottages.

In the early years of the 20th century it was altered to become a public house.

In the 1990's its name was changed to the Thatcher's.

The School

The School was built by E.H. Hockley a local builder. The foundation stone was laid on the 28th
September 1899. The School was opened on the 1st August 1900.

Broomfields

Heath Lodge

Built in 1891 it was owned by Aaron Hawkings, a coal merchant and ironmonger. Aaron
Hawkings was also the publican at the Stag Pub from 1862-1906.

The photograph shows a member of the family with the nickname Mrs Shaky.

The Mill

The flour Mill come around 1902.
Before that it was a Brewery.

The Fox & Hounds

The pub started in the 1870's. P.B.M. had it as a printers since 1992.
After P.B.M. it became a nursery as it is today.

The Wind Mill

The Wind Mill was built about 1841 and was demolished in 1909.

The United Reformed Church

The old Chapel was built in 1726. The School House was built in 1857.

On the 29th June 1875 the foundation stone for the new Chapel was laid. The new Chapel was
finished in 1876 at a cost of £3,300.

The old School House was demolished 1982/83 and the new Hall and car park was opened on
the 16th February 1985.

The Stag

The pub dates from the early nineteenth-century. It closed in February 2013 and was turned into
three shops opening in July 2014.

Hockley Cottages

No date for Hockley Cottages but it does appear on an old map that shows they were built before
1895.

Churchgate House

During the Second World War on the 13th December 1940 Churchgate House was completely
destroyed by a large bomb. The occupiers Nurse Freeman and the Bayford family were not
home at that time. Afterwards the Bayford family went to live at Hockley Cottages.

Pond Lane

Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity was built in1859. The oak tree was damaged by fire lit by "a boy called Brown” in
1899.

Bentley Villas, Ardley Crescent & Ardley End

Bentley Villas was built in 1931 whilst Ardley Crescent was completed in 1938.