IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Orchard Way, HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, HP3 0JD

Bovingdon was once a centre of straw plaiting for hatmakers in Luton. Looking south eastwards down the High Street, The Bell is the near public house on the left, with The Bull the next building but one.

Bovingdon's most recognisable landmark is the five-sided Old Well at the junction of Green Lane with the High Street. An inscription around the arches reads "This house with the well is dedicated to ye beloved memory of Ye Honourable Granville D Ryder, late of Westbrook Hay of this Parish, who was born on November 26th 1799 and died on November 24th 1879, and was raised by his relatives for the use and comfort of his friends. The Village of Bovingdon April 1881". Needless to say the well is now sealed...

Green Lane is on the right

The old part of a much-expanded village focuses on this staggered crossroads with a pond (in the greenery at the bottom left corner), well shelter and the hanging frame for a pub sign, sadly empty.

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.

Located at Bovingdon Green HP3 0LD, this information board has the following wording: First Column A healthy pond can provide many benefits to local wildlife. Restoration work carried out in February 2012 has aimed to restore the pond, through stripping back of surrounding trees and shrubs and dredging of local built up materials. Increased light levels will encourage the growth of water loving vegetation and help dormant seeds of plants that previously thrived burst into life. Many attractive and colourful plants flourish in the damp, wet conditions. As vegetation begins to emerge following the restoration, see if you can spot the pinky white flowers of bogbean in late spring, the bright flowers of yellow flag iris in early summer, or the tall stems of great willowherb in mid to late summer. The restored pond provides a perfect home for amphibians such as common frog and smooth newt, not least because there are lots of insects to feed on! Look out for little green heads poking through the surface of the water. Second Column Images of Lesser Bond Sedge, Bogbean and Yellow Flag Iris. Third Column Old farm buildings and mature trees close to Bovingdon Green are prime roosting spots for bats. At dusk, you may be lucky enough to see a common pipistrelle or a Daubenton's bat flitting around the pond, searching for insects. Ponds make great habitat for a variety of insects. Look out for common pond skater, skimming across the water's surface, boat-shaped backswimmers using their powerful lower legs as oars, and large, colourful dragonflies hovering over the pond in late spring and summer. Images of Daubenton's Bat, Common Pipistrelle and Pond Skater Fourth Column Images of Common Darter, Water Mint, Water Forget-me-not and Common Frog. In the pond are images of Great Pond Snail, Smooth Newt, Backswimmer and Great Diving Beetle. Bottom of the information board are signs for No Swimming and No Fishing.