Bricket Wood

History

The area of Bricket Wood was mostly occupied by farmers until Bricket Wood railway station was built in 1861. In 1889, brothers Henry Gray and William Gray bought up land in the area and built Woodside Retreat Fairground. The fairground attracted hordes of visitors to the area from London and nearby towns and a small village developed around the station. In 1923, a rival fairground named Joyland was built nearby by R.B Christmas. Both resorts were closed in 1929, and Christmas used his leftover land for building bungalows.

During the 1930s, the area became popular with naturists after Charles Macaskie set up the naturist camp Spielplatz on the outskirts of the village. Naturists bought up plots of land on the edge of the village and built their own communities, which at first did not have electricity or running water. The village also began to attract Wiccans after Gerald Gardner set up the Bricket Wood coven.

During the 1950s, housing estates were built for employees of aviation company Handley Page, who had a plant at nearby Radlett. More estates then followed, aimed at commuters desiring housing near the Green Belt with convenient access to London.

Civil organisation and notable buildings

Bricket Wood is in the civil parish of St. Stephen, part of the St Albans district which shares provision of local government services with Hertfordshire County Council.

St Luke's Church is the Anglican place of worship. The local primary school is Mount Pleasant Lane, situated in grounds that include a small pond.

Close to the village stands Hanstead House, built by Sir David Yule in 1925, who is buried in the grounds. It formerly operated as the Hanstead Stud, breeding Arab horses, as the UK campus of the Worldwide Church of God's Ambassador College, and as a corporate training centre. In 2022 it was converted into luxury apartments.

Transport

Bricket Wood railway station is served by a West Midlands Trains stopping service on the Abbey Line that runs between and ; both towns are three stops away with a frequent service. The station building was taken into private ownership in 2018, and is being developed into a sympathetic recreation of its original appearance. It will be a village hub and meeting room, as well as a station.

Morris Dancing

The village is home to the Morris Dancing team, Wicket Brood Border Morris.

Common

Bricket Wood Common is a 70 hectare Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Chiswell Green Aldenham Leavesden Green, Watford

Notable residents

• Frank Turner (1922–2010), three-time Olympic gymnast, died at his home in the village.
• Ralph Coates, footballer who played for England and Tottenham Hotspur, lived in the village until his death in December 2010.

References

References

1. "2001 Census".
2. "A Brief History of our Village". Bricket Wood Residents Association.
3. team, Herts Ad Property. (2021-08-27). "Area Guide: The popular Hertfordshire village of Bricket Wood".
4. "St Lukes, Bricket Wood".
5. "Mount Pleasant Lane Primary School". Mount Pleasant Lane Primary School.
6. "Bricket Wood Residents' Association - Development of Bricket Wood".
7. (2020-09-14). "Property Spotlight: A unique period conversion in Bricket Wood".
8. "Hanstead House, Hertfordshire".
9. team, Herts Ad Property. (2021-08-27). "Area Guide: The popular Hertfordshire village of Bricket Wood".
10. "Bricket Wood". Bricket Wood Station Trust.
11. "Wicket Brood Border Morris".