'Welcome to Bovingdon Village' Information Board (1)

Image: © David Hillas Taken: 27 Aug 2020

Located in Chipperfield Road HP3 0JN, this information board is maintained by Bovingdon Parish Council and has the following wording: WELCOME TO BOVINGDON VILLAGE The settlement of Bovingdon dates from the 1200s when the forest was cleared and arable farming began. Dwellings were clustered around individual farms, all being served by St Lawrence Church est. in 1235. The village gradually grew over centuries eventually appearing in its present form in the 1900s. The Americans arriving in WW2 to serve at the newly constructed airfield brought about the largest single change to the village, staying until the 1960s. Left column Photo Bovingdon c1907 In between the school and the Memorial Hall was the 1930s Fire Station, the original volunteer fire brigade formed in the 1920s used a shed. This fire brigade served the village until 2006 when it was closed and the building incorporated into our Memorial Hall. Photo: Bovingdon Fire Brigade Armistice Day 1930s The heart of the village contained 3 pubs, 17th century Bell, Wheatsheaf and Bull. Photo: Village Centre 1907 Middle Column Photo: Ladybirds entry Bovingdon Revels 2000 Photo: Maypole Dancing, Flower Show c1910 Map of Bovingdon village Photo: Millennium Village Sign Bovingdon's most well known feature is the Ryder Memorial. This memorial commemorates Granville Ryder, a great village benefactor. It was built in 1881 as a well cover for a hand pump. Photo: Granville Ryder Photo: Ryder Memorial c.1909 Right Column Photo: Bovingdon High Street c1928 Halfway down the High Street you are opposite our new school circa 1927, previously the school house was in Chipperfield Road. Photo: Mid High Street c1910 Next door stands Bovingdon Memorial Hall 1921; this is the village's memorial to those who died in World War One. The hall was built by public subscription on land donated by Granville Ryder. Image: St Lawrence Church St Lawrence Church rebuilt in 1840s, standing in the third largest churchyard in Hertfordshire.

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