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Sportspace - Hemel Hempstead
 
 
Thursday, 9th September 2010

 
THE LOCKERS

The Lockers, pictured in the early 20th century
BY LOCAL HISTORIAN ROY WOOD

THE Lockers still stands today, converted into homes, but dates back for centuries.
In 1248 a Lucas Lovel held a half virgate of land on this site. A Magister Lucas is mentioned in grants of land to Ashridge Monastery.
In 1532 it seems that there was a building described as a hunting lodge there known as Locus. It was first used as a dwelling by John Howe who occupied it from 1544 until his death in 1568, when it passed to his son Edward until his death in 1609. It was purchased by Francis Mitchell and on his death the ownership was conveyed to two sisters - Mrs Mary King and Mrs Hester Martyn. In 1659 Francis King inherited the Lockers, by which time covered 85 acres.
Francis King was bailiff to Hemel Hempstead in 1677, and by the time of his death in 1708 the estate had been extended by a further 50 acres, which was left to his daughter Elizabeth. Eventually in 1791, the property passed by purchase into the ownership of Richard Ginger, the brother John Collett acquiring the house and land. He immediately began its development into a countryman’s estate. Lockers was at one time used for community and educational purposes, as well as serving as an annexe to Cavendish School. Now however converted into dwellings.
 
 

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