wellhead

Site map

A History of Preston in Hertfordshire

Wellhead, Preston

Site Map

1946

Maydencroft Lane

Charlton Road

Wellhead Farm

Wellhead is around 3½ miles due north of Preston Green. It is therefore one of the remotest and, at 73 metres, lowest parts of Preston parish. The view shown above is taken from this point The parish line today (shown right as a dotted red line) runs a few metres west of Maydencroft Lane and turns west following Temple Close.

Temple Close

The history of Wellhead

Of Wellhead

Wellhead is the spring which is created by a meeting of soft chalk and harder chalk. After rain water drains through softer chalk deposits, its descent is halted by a layer of harder, more impervious chalk (Melbourne Rock) which causes the water to drain along the top of the layer until it reaches the surface on the Chiltern chalk escarpment where it emerges as a spring (right). At around the start of the 19thC, the Maydencroft manorial

Because the water has filtered through chalk its impurities are removed and the spring water is clean and pure at its source. In this way, a chalk stream is created. These streams are relatively uncommon - there has to be a juxtaposition of soft and harder chalk. (The BGS “Wellhead Borehole” at TL 1770 2770 recorded Middle and Lower Chalk sequences, Plenus Marls at 4.2–5.3 m depth and a buried valley gravel fill of the Hitchin Channel; underpinning the chalk stream spring that gives rise to the River Hiz [Chalk Spring & Borehole (1993]) There are several chalk streams in north Hampshire, which have their source in the chalk of the Salisbury Plain. They are known and admired for their slow-moving clarity. The Preston neighbourhood Plan described the stream as a ‘rare ecological asset in North Hertfordshire. There appears to have been a mill located near the source of the stream, which becomes the River Hiz, probably pronounced Hitch which is reflected in the name of Hitchin. The stream quickly forms the mill pond at nearby Charlton (see two images below) before flowing on to pass St Marys, Hitchin.

record refers to ‘Wellhead springs north’, which implies that there was more than one spring feeding the Hiz.

Because of the presence of springs at Wellhead, it is unsurprising that there is evidence of a Roman presence there. The Victorian County History reports, ‘Small coins of the Lower Empire (284 AD to 476 AD) near Wellhead, Charlton’. It is probable that Wellhead was grouped with Charlton (Cerletone) when the Domesday Survey was taken in 1086:

3 alias Moremead

However, Evelyn Lord wrote the following in The Knights Templar in Britain (with regard to historical place-names around Preston):

It should be noted that there were two Welei’s listed in Domesday within the Royal Manor of Hitchin. One consisted of two hides, the other of one. A ‘hide’ was a term which related to a taxable amount which is assessed by historians as being the equivalent of 120 acres. It would seem from looking at a map of Wellhead and Temple End, that it was unlikely for these locations to occupy an area of 240 or even 120 acres. As there is also no reference to water or mills in the description of the two Welei manors, this suggests that they had no connection to Wellhead. Rather, as Charlton/Cerletone manor was a virgate in size (the equivalent of 120,000 square metres) and only 550 metres from our subject, Wellhead was probably in the manor of Charlton. Wellhead and Temple End were certainly areas contiguous with or near Charlton. It may also be unwise to attach too much importance to the name, ‘Temple End’. Its historical association with Temple Dinsley does not guarantee perpetual inclusion within the manor of Temple Dinsley

Of Manors

Now a word comparing the boundaries of parishes and the property held by manors. Parish borders were generally fixed and stable. They provided a necessarily consistent framework for local administration of tithes, the poor law and justice. On the other hand, the list of properties held by manors were subject to alterations as holdings changed hands when the feudal system developed. The changing face of manors can be illustrated by what happened to the manors of Dinsley, Charlton and Maydencroft (Ippollitts). At Domesday, the manors of Dinsley and Charlton had a presence - Maidencroft manor did not exist. Following Domesday, some of the smaller, local manors (including Charlton) were absorbed into the Royal Manor of Hitchin and Dinsley. In the late 13thC, the manor of Dinsley was divided and a new manor of Furnival Dinsley was created when property was bought by the de Furnival family. They constructed a new manor house at Maidencroft near Ippollitts before 1287. Thus, in 1347, it was recorded that when Margaret de Kendale died, she owned ‘a tenement (or house) called Madecroft in the manor of Dynsle Furnival’. Edward de Kendale then became the new Lord of Maidencroft manor. The manor was acquired by the English royal family. There is a historical record of King Henry XIII hawking at Gosmore when he vaulted over a stream only to have his pole snap and leave him stuck upside down under water until he was saved by an attendant. This area was later known as the manor of Maydencroft

Wellhead from 1086 to 1280

The source of the Hiz is picked out (above the ‘l’ in Well Hd) and the course of the river to Charlton. Note the path the parish boundary takes between Wellhead and Charlton Mill. Wellhead Farm appears to be shown at the location it which it stood in the 19thC in Hitchin parish. Only now is a noteworthy fact spotted: an alternative name for the manor of Cerletone was Moremead. Moormead Farm was situated near Charlton Mill and Wellhead, which may further confirm that WellHead was indeed included in the manor of Charlton.

The next historical reference to Wellhead is from 1629 (although I can find no corroborating evidence of this). Daphne Rance in The Yeoman of Ippolyts (1996) writes:

The Hertfordshire historian, Chauncy, describes the history of the hamlet of Charlton as ‘scanty’ - despite its note in the Domesday Book. If that is ‘scanty’ history, the word that may be applied to Wellhead’s historical background is ‘meagre’. Concerning its origins, Wellhead certainly existed in 1279/80 because it is mentioned in the Rotuli Hundredorum, Temp. Henry III & Edward 1. This is a record of government enquiries into royal rights, including forests and liberties. Wellenhevede (sometimes rendered ‘Wellenhevet’). In the return for Hitchin Hundred it is explicitly listed among the ‘villeins and sokemen’ holding land of the manor of Hitchin and owing suit of court and customary services (such as the cartage service called avera and various tallages) to the hundred and to the lord of the manor. This date is near the time when the new manor of Furnival Dinsley was created. Someone has researched this in recent times as there is a modern house near Wellhead Farm christened, ‘Wellenhevet’, on the Charlton Road.

Wellhead from 1281 t0 1840

In the Survey of the Royal Manor of Hitchin (1676), the boundaries of the manor are given as follows: 'The bounds of Hitchin begin at Altonheade, thence to a place called Burford Ray, thence to a water- mill called Hide Mill, thence to a hill called Welberry Hill, thence to a place called Bosrendell, thence to a water-mill called Purwell Mill, thence to a river called Ippolletts Brook, thence to Maiden Croft Lane, thence to a place called Wellhead, thence to Stubborne Bush, thence to Offley Cross, thence to Fiveborrowe Hill, and thence to said Altonheade.' This is the first time the anglicised name, ‘Wellhead’, appears in a historical document. This description can be compared with the record of the beating of the Hitchin parish bounds in 1801: ‘…cross the road leading from Charlton to Madencroft Kiln inclosing a part of the garden at the bath to the footpath going into the park....inclosing the whole of Sluts Green....on a maple pollard, to the left up the river to the mill going through the arch taking the back water from thence up the stream to Bradden’s orchard and close....on an ash pollard at the corner going into the Offley road, the river then being the boundary to Wellhead, cross the river at the road leading to Tatmore Hill and keep it to the corner of a barn belonging to Mr Richard Oakley....then turn to the right across the garden belonging to Wellhead Farm into a field called Eight Acres and keeping straight into an ash pollard, on which......cross Antonys Close (in the occupation of Mr John Brown) to a gate at the bottom of a lane leading to Hillgrove Field…’ The maps that follow show the path of the parish border around Wellhead. Firstly, Wellhead was marked on Drury’s Map of Hertfordshire dated 1766. Here, the parish border is shaded blue) :

Today, there are four listed buildings associated with Wellhead Farm:

• A south-west barn at rear of yard facing north - late 17thC. • A granary - early 18thC. • An east barn - mid 17thC. • A middle barn linking the granary and the east barn - 18thC.

Wellhead Farm in 2009. Note the culvert carrying the River Hiz under the road today and the body of water beside the barn on the right.

These indicate that the farm had been originally built in around 1650. But also, because the present-day farmhouse is not a listed building unlike its barns, it is a relatively new structure.

Farm house

Wellhead Farm was advertised for sale in the Hertfordshire Mercury on 19 August 1848. The cutting describes the farm house and out-buildings which suggests that the house was in a run-down state:

Wellhead Farm by Phillippa Romer (1891 - 1980)

Parish boundaries around Wellhead

Hitchin

Ippollitts

Hitchin

Until the end of the 19thC the parish boundary crossed a field in a north-westerly direction until it came the Maidencroft Lane, which it followed west for a short distance until it came to the River Hiz. It then turned abruptly east and followed the course of the river toward Charlton. This meant that the cottages at Wellhead (in the plots numbered 28, 30 and 31) were in the parish of Ippollitts ; whereas Wellhead Farm and its buildings (numbered 769 and 770) were in Hitchin parish. The parish boundary was adjusted in 1894 when the new parish of Preston came into being. But as this cutting from the Herts Advertizer announced earlier, on 3 December 1892, the boundary had been a bone of contention with regard to the maintenance of the Wellhead to Temple End section for some time. This was explained in 1870 when a contract was awarded to cart gravel seventy yards from Charlton Pit to the Wellhead road in order to repair its surface :

Hitchin

Ippollitts

Preston

The map shown above is dated 1897. Wellhead Farm was now in Preston parish. Note that some of the cottages had disappeared - two were recorded as empty in the 1881 and 1891 censuses.

Folk who lived at Wellhead: 1700 to 1900 1. At Wellhead Farm, Hitchin parish

Before listing those who lived at Wellhead Farm, the land which was included in the holding (though by no means the total area of its farm land) should be described:

The fields were listed as 7, 13 and 23 to 31. Most of these are shown in these two sections of a map from 1811; 7 and 13 were just to the south. The Farm/Homestead was in Plot 28 which also included the ‘Wellhead Springs North’.

There is a continuous link in the Maydencroft manor records of those who owned this holding from 1697. The annual manorial rent due (which didn’t change) was 7/6d. The record sometimes included the names of the occupiers who farmed the land.

When there were changes of owner or his circumstances, the record listed the holding in meticulous detail. The following catalogue of arable land was noted on 11 March 1771:

1 Six and a half acres in the manor of Temple Dinsley. This comprised of a three-acre field adjoining the hedge at Temple End(ing) (sic) at one end and which abutted Hillgrove Field at the other end. the other three and a half acres ran from the first field and abutted Wellhead Springs North (28). 2 Six acres next to Maidencroft Lane and abutting upon the way from Tatmore Hill to Hitchin. 3 Two acres (which were once called Hemp Field and then Turneys Field) lying next to Wellhead Lane and abutting Wellhead Way. 4 Two and a half acres in two fields in Sweetings Valley and a field called Moremead Field. 5 One acre in Hillgrove Field formerly the land of Nicholas Marshall and abutting the end of a field called The Three Acres Close. In 1771, these fields were in the parishes of Hitchin and Ippollitts and were occupied by George Welch. The total holding was 44 acres 2 rods and 6 perches.

Maydencroft Lane

Springs

Farmhouse

Based on the record of Maydencroft manor (at HALS), the succession of owners of this holding, which included Wellhead Farm, were as follows: To 1698, Thomas Poulter aka Wallen who was buried at Hitchin on 7 February 1698. From 1698, to Thomas’ son, John Poulter aka Wallen, yeoman. From July 1730 to Edward Pryor, carpenter of Hitchin. From March 1736 to Thomas Burr (formerly of Sussex, Doctor of Physic) of Ware, Herts. From 1770 to Thomas’ son, John Burr also a surgeon of Hitchin (died 1821). From 1824 to John Curling of Offley Holes, near Preston. From 1837 to John’s son, John Curling jnr. He ‘mortgaged the farm to raise the money to refurbish a small property in Maydencroft Lane’. This was made-over and became Gosmore House. In turn, this passed to Mr English Harrison who ‘entirely rebuilt it…and gave it its present name, Gosmore End.’ (source: St Ippolyts by Daphne Rance) In 1910, the owner of the farm was Robert S Curling.

a) Owners of Wellhead Farm, Hitchin parish (1698 to 1910)

The occupiers of the farm from 1800 were as follows: 1800 - 1810 possibly Richard Oakley (who is noted in the 1801 beating the bounds). 1843 and 1851 - Farmer John Foot (67), wife Sarah (68) and son, James (26) farming 135 acres and employing six labourers (some drawn from Wellhead cottages?). Crops included peas. John Foot died in 1855. 1859, 1861 and 1871 - Farmer Joseph Turner (born 1805, Hitchin) with wife Mary (bn 1806) and children: Emily (bn 1844), Christiana (1845), Clara Jessie (1849). Joseph was farming 135 acres and employing six men. In 1871, although the enumerator’s walk included Wellhead, the farm is not included in the results, although Joseph, then residing at Tilehouse Street, Hitchin, declared that he was a farmer of 135 acres, employing four men and a boy. (See later cutting from December 1859) 1881 - Farm labourer, George Minnis (44), wife Maria (53) and son, Herbert (13) all born at Hitchin. 1891 - Farm labourer, Henry James Seaman (widower, 63: born Ipswich, Suffolk) and domestic servant Mary Ann Stewart (40) from Kings Walden. 1901- The Kingsley family from Pirton, Herts: farm labourer, Thomas (40), wife Clara (38), Lily ( 17), Eva Jane (13) and Leslie G (11). 1910 - George and James Throssell.

b) Occupiers of Wellhead Farm, Hitchin parish (1800 to 1910)

2. At Wellhead Cottages, Ippollitts parish (1841 to 1891)

Wellhead Cottages

Wellhead Farm

IPPOLLITTS Parish

HITCHIN Parish

The map shown above, which is dated 1811, indicates how the parish boundary neatly divided Wellhead Farm and Wellhead Cottages between the parishes of Hitchin and Ippollitts. It was a distinction often noted when news reports about the inhabitants of the cottages described them as ‘of Wellhead, Ippollitts’. There were certainly three, maybe four cottages, in the 1840s but as the 19th century wore on, so the cottages became less inhabited (probably because they were uninhabitable). By 1922, there was but one cottage, as the map shown below depicts:

The occupiers of the cottages when the census enumerators called: 1841 - The Abbis family: Ag lab David (35), his wife, Frances (35) and children, Emma (12), Mary (12), Ellen (8), George (6), Harriet (3), Charles (8 months). Ag lab Thomas (25) and Martha (25) Impey. Farmer James Taylor (65) and Emma (21), Charles (13), Jasper (7) and Amos (6) Ag lab Robert Sharpe (50), Martha (25), George (10) and Daniel (4). The Impey family: Ag lab Samuel (50) and Ann (50), Samuel (20) and Hannah (15). Earlier, in February 1840, there had been a falling out of neighbours:

Sawyers was arrested at Hitchin where he was attempting to catch a train. He was sentenced to eighteen months hard labour. Mary lived on for a further ten years. 1871 - the Street family: James (35, a labourer, born at Charlton) and Eliza (34, a straw plaiter from Cambridgeshire) and children, George (13, a labourer), Alice (12, a plaiter), Emily (8), Herbert (5), James (4), Edward (2) and William (4 mos) The Mead family: Henry (27, an ag lab born at Preston) and Elizabeth (27, a plaiter born at Breachwood Green, Herts), Ellen (4, born at Breachwood Green) and Harry (1 month, born at Charlton) The Hailey family: George (25, an ag lab, born Hitchin) and Mary (25, born Preston) and George (30) and Arthur (7 months) both of whom were born at Charlton. The Sturgess family: ag lab, William (57, born at Preston) and Mary (42, born at Langley) with Frederick (15, errand boy), Lizzie (12, a plaiter), Annie (8), Polly (6), Emily (4) and Hannah (1) all born at Charlton. Thomas Luck (72, ag lab) and Mary (60, a straw plaiter)

1851 - The Abbis family: Ag Lab David (48), his wife, Frances (47) both born at Hitchin, whereas their children were born at Ippollitts: Mary Ann (19, straw plaiter), Ellen (17, straw plaiter), Betsey (8, straw plaiter) and James (5). Ag lab William (65, born Eaton Bray, Beds) and Rhoda (67, Kings Walden) Ellard. The Impey family: Thomas (30, ag lab, born Kings Walden), his wife, Martha (38, Little Wymondley, Herts) and their children born at Ippollitts: James (9), Martha (5), Thomas (3) Eliza (1), Peter (2 mos) Gardener William (36, born Ippollitts) and Mary Ann (42, Hackney, London) Gray. More Impeys: Samuel (70, born Offley receiving parish relief), wife Ann (68, Kings Walden) and son, Samuel (32, straw plaiter due to bad health). The Sheppard family: two straw plaiting sisters, Martha (36) and Eliza (26), together with Amos (18) and Daniel and Martha’s brother, George (29, an ag lab) 1861 - The Abbis family: Brickmaker David (58), Frances (57), Mary Ann (30), Betsey (18), James (15, a shepherd and straw plaiter), together with grand-children Charles (3) and Martha (6 months). The Street family all born at Ippollitts: farm labourer James (25) and Eliza (26, straw plaiter), George (4), Anne (2) and Charles (1 month) with visitor Ann Sell (21) and nephew, Alfred Sell (3 mos) The Impey family: Samuel (81, a labourer), Ann (79, past work) and Samuel (49). The farm labourer, Thomas (62, born at Kings Walden) and Mary (50, Ickleford) Luck The Darton family who were all born at Ippollitts: Ag lab Thomas (33, ag lab), Hannah (34 straw plaiter), William (11, labouring boy), Emma (9), George (7), Amos (5), Thomas (3) and Mary Darton, Thomas snr’s mother (74) In July 1864, Mary Darton (76) was assaulted in a meadow by Robert Staveley Sawyers, a young journeyman tailor from Hitchin. He was interrupted by Samuel Lawrence and John Barker, who were walking to Offley Holes and who heard the prisoner say,

1881 - Martha Sheppard (65, a nurse) The Brown family: Frank (23, farm labourer) and Emma (25) and son, William (10 months) The Haley family: Charles (38, farm labourer) and Emma (38. a straw plaiter) with children, Lisa (10), Frederick (8), Henry (6), May (5) and Ann (11 months) Two unoccupied houses 1891 - The Peters family from Hitchin: the ag lab, Elijah (40) and his wife, Sarah (31) and children, Julia (15), Adelaide (14) Ernest (13), Noah (11) and another son (9). Two unoccupied houses. 1901 - The Brown family: Ag lab Joseph Brown (60, born Kings Walden) and Sarah (62, born St Pauls Walden) and daughter, Mary Ann (20). The Butterfields: Eliza (59, a widow and a straw plaiter from Kings Walden), Herbert (22, and an ag lab born at Kings Walden) and Ellen (11, a plaiter). Each house had four rooms. One house was uninhabited.

Selected 19th century newspaper reports re: Wellhead

News reports often add colour to a place. This next report from January 1878 supplies the information that the Hiz at Wellhead could be fished:

The existence of a mill at Wellhead is confirmed by this cutting from April 1867:

John Lewin is mentioned in both reports. He was born at Hitchin in around 1815 and lived next door to the Swan Hotel, in Market Square. he was described as a farmer, miller and baker. There is a note in Wikipedia (with no supporting reference) that, ‘There was, until the 1970s, also a water-wheel in the mill-race in the yard of Wellhead Farm’.

Wellhead in the 20th century

Interest in and concern over river levels and water quality between Wellhead and Hitchin has been a topic of conversations for centuries. In April 1900, this comment was made:

In the early 1930’s changes to the pumping plant at Wellhead and Temple End were discussed and implemented. This note is from March 1935:

This has been the pattern of events for decades - the natural spring water supply is given a helping hand by man. As recently as April 2025, the Comet reported ‘low water levels’ of the Hiz following the previous year’s clean-up. The balance tank needed a new valve which had to be specially made. Water quality is a concern. Biological quality for fish is bad and for invertibrates, poor. A report re: fish said, ‘Action to get biological element to good would have significant adverse impact on use.’ - without further explanation. From the clean, pure water at its source, the river is polluted within a mile by filth, mud and sewage. Even in 1810 this was a problem. This painting of Hitchin’s Portmill by Samuel Lucas shows the owner of the mill (dressed in white) William Bodger. For decades he fought against his liability to clean the river.

Today, there is an annual clean-up operation as this photo in The Comet displays in 2024:

A tragic tale and Wellhead in 1909

Wellhead inhabitants 1901 - 1939

Although the nearby cottages continued their structural decline, Wellhead Farm continued, helped by its reconstruction. In 1901, its seven rooms were inhabited by the Kingsley family from Pirton, Herts: farm labourer, Thomas (40) and wife Clara (38), together with their three children, Lily (17), Eva Jane (13) and Leslie G (11). In 1911, the seven rooms were occupied by the farmer,James Throssell (44), his wife, Clara (46), and children: Edward (22), Mary (19), Hilda (15) and Philip (12).

In 1921, James, Clara and Philip were together at Ramridge Farm, Kimpton. The next farmer was ensconced at Wellhead Farm for more than twenty years from 1921. Arthur Ingrey (51, born at Stotfold, Beds) and wife, Alice (39, also from Bedfordshire), and two daughters, Alice Margaret (3), Joan (2), Evelyn J (born 22 Dec 1921) and Mary (born 1926)

The other farm taken by Philip’s father was Ramridge Farm, Kimpton, Welwyn, Herts. Whether this was a ruse or a genuine mistake, Philip has a war record and was awarded medals. He was officially recruited to the war reserve on 26 February 1917; sent to France with the 3rd Buffs as part of the British Expeditionary Force on 25 May 1918 and demobbed on 15 February 1919.

In May 1909. Annie Tomlin (20) of Hitchin was charged first with manslaughter and then wilful murder of her illegitimate daughter, Margaret Irene, aged twenty months. Annie had a relationship with Hitchin labourer, George Young Lewis, whose family lived at Verulam Road, Hitchin. A baby was born, but when Annie attempted to take out an affiliation order against Lewis in June 1908, it was refused due to lack of evidence. Almost immediately, Lewis (shown right) emigrated to Tasmania where he married and had a son. But while on active service in France during WW1, he died from influenza.

The baby was adopted by a couple living at Stopsley and Annie worked as a servant in Luton. However the husband at Stopsley lost his job and his wife took the baby to Annie’s father James Tomlin’s home at 11 Russells Slip, Hitchin. When he came home from work he told another daughter to take the baby to the mother at Luton as he couldn’t afford to look after it. This she did the following day. Annie decided to take the baby back to Hitchin, passing Wellhead on the way. Arriving just after 7 o’clock, she came to her father’s home with just the baby’s hat in her hand. Annie told her father she had drowned Margaret near Wellhead. her father advised her to report the matter at the Police Station, which she did. The river was dragged and a body was found. At the Coroner’s Court, the jury decided that she had drowned her child in a fit of desperation and advised that she be given ‘every consideration in law’. They also commented that Annie’s father be censured for his unkind and callous treatment. But, the court took a more serious view of her actions and she stood trial for wilful murder, to which she pleaded, ‘Not Guilty’. Although the prosecution proceeded, the jury brought in a verdict of ‘Not Guilty’. Annie was detained as a criminal lunatic. Two years later, in 1911, Annie was living with her father. She was also there in 1921, her mother having died shortly after the case. Also in the household was three-years-old, Eileen Larkins, whose mother (Annie’s sister, Florence) had died in early 1918. It’s almost as though Annie was caring for a child which had taken the place of her daughter Margaret. Annie and Eileen were still together in 1939 in James’ home at Russells Slip. Eileen married John Gallon at Hitchin later that year and the couple had at least two children, Judith and John Gallon.

These photographs of a low footbridge/walkway at Wellhead Farm in the 1880s were probably taken on the same day . They demonstrate that the ford was perhaps not too deep.