|
Widford is a small village in Hertfordshire, 8 miles from the county town of Hertford, and the church itself dates from the 12th century. There were settlements in the area dating from Roman times and during recent excavations behind the church two skeletons were discovered, found to be Saxon by carbon dating. They have been reinterred in the churchyard and the Friends are meeting the cost of marking their graves with headstones in a Saxon design. Near Barrow Farm in Widford is The Barrow, an ancient burial mound.
Widford is mentioned in The Domesday Book and boasts several famous sons. Widford Church is mentioned by Charles Lamb, poet and essayist, in his tribute to his grandmother, whose grave can be seen in the churchyard - "Beneath a tapering spire the Grandame sleeps..." Charles Lamb knew and loved Widford and often took a glass in The Bell tavern, now a private dwelling.
John Eliot was one of the first men to speak out against the slave trade. John Eliot was born and baptised in Widford and moved to America in 1631, where he was a co-founder of Harvard University. The stained glass window in the church is a gift from the American people.
Richard Whately, writer and Archbishop of Dublin, was born and baptised in Widford, Hertfordshire.
NEWS
The Friends of Widford Church continue with the task of assisting with the maintenance of the ancient building of St. John the Baptist in this village, and are currently raising funds for an extension to the churchyard.
The land in respect of this extension has been generously donated by the local farmer, Henry Buxton, but the new fencing, gates and legal costs will be borne by the Friends. A letter received from the local Historic Environment Unit states “the application site has the potential to contain archaeological remains. It is immediately opposite the mediaeval manorial site of Widfordbury, and the adjacent mediaeval parish church is now confirmed to have had an Anglo-Saxon predecessor; there is some evidence for late Neolithic/Early Bronze burial nearby.”
We shall now support the necessary “testing” of the site, starting with a geophysical survey, and then perhaps moving on to trench cutting and further archaeological investigation. Any contributions towards the work will be most gratefully received and carefully used.
|
Gardens Open And Cream Tea in Widford, Herts
(B1004, between Ware and Much Hadham)
12.30pm to 4.30 pm
Sunday 12th June 2011
Come and enjoy the tranquillity of English Gardens at the heights of their summer loveliness. Stroll along country lanes and enjoy the gastronomic delights of a Cream Tea in our Village Hall.
At least 10 gardens. Some new to opening.
Entrance to all the Gardens £3.50
SORRY NO DOGS
For further information contact:
Margaret: 01279 843324
Gilda: 01279 842165
|
|
Friends of Widford Church, Registered Charity Number 278965 | C/O Little Cozens, Widford, Hertfordshire, SG12 8TH, England
|
