|
Haleswood Road/Hales Park: Named after a field called Hales Wood shown on Hemel Tithe map of 1840-44.
Hardy Road (also Laurel Close): Roy has it 'on good authority that the road is named after Oliver Hardy of Laurel and Hardy. Hardy lived from 1852 to 1957, and Laurel from 1890 to 1965. Their partnership began in 1927 and survived the transition from silent films to 'talkies.' They made more than 200 short and feature length films.
Hazeldell Road: From field in the area called Hazel Dell as shown on Hemel Tithe map of 1840-44.
Herbert Street, Hemel Old Town: Possibly named after Alderman Henry Herbert (still being investigated.)
Highbarns: Not known at this stage.
Highfield Lane: From High Field Park shown on 1840 tithe maps and earlier. Was the home for Hemel Hempstead's film star of the eraly new town days, James Hayter.
High Street Green: This is recorded as early as 177,. Local istorian Roy Wood says that in theCounty Records Office it shows that this was known as a track in Roman Times, possibly even earlier.
Hill Common: Unknown at this stage.
Hobletts Road: Shown as Hobbletts Orchard on tithe map of 1843. But in 16th and 17 th century the land belonged to the Salter family who owned High Street Farm (hence High Street Green Road). They also owned the adjacent farm called Hobletts which consisted of 76 acres. There was a house on the site which became Hobletts Manor a sizeable house. We know that in the late 1940s it was occupied by a Major Cunnigham. In the 50s it was taken over by the development corporation building the new town and demolished
Hobbs Hill Road: Hobbs Hill Wood is shown on old maps of the area. It was known to locals as Objo! The wood consisted mainly of fir trees and covered about 12 acres. It started roughly where the school is today in Peascroft Road and stretched beyond Bennettsgate. During the war most of it was cut down for pit props for use in the country's coal mines.
Honeycross Road: Not known at this stage.
Horsecroft Road, Boxmoor: Named after a field on the site called Horsecroft. As a croft is an old name for a small field, it seems likely that at one time horses were kept in the field and gave it its name.
Horselers: Not known at this stage.
Horseshoe (The): So named because the road forms an almost perfect horseshoe.
Howards Drive: Unknown at this stage.
Jane Close: Another street named in connection with Hemel Hempstead's links to Henry Vlllth who granted the town its first charter. Jane Seymour was Henry's third wife. Henry was desparate for a sone and Jane obliged, giving birth to Prince Edward.Jane never fully recovered form the birth and died 12 days later.
Jarman Close:  Named after Alderman Arthur Harry Jarman (Pictured tossing a coin at Hemel Cricket ground for a special match to mark the jubilee of King George V in1935) who did much for the town during the firast half of the 20th century. He wrote his memoirs and tells of life as a youngster in Victorian Hemel. His father earned 15 shillings (75p) a week and they lived in a cottage in Plait Market yard by the High Street. He was one of seven children. His first job was working at the Posting House and he earned 4 shillings a day, working 6am to 8pm six days a week. His main interests became health and education in Hemel He was elected to the Hemel Borough Council in 1921 was Mayor of the topwn and retired from the Council in 1952. He died in May 1954.
There is a section about him in our local history section Just click here to see the feature (We are working to replace the pictures.)
Jennings Way: Not known at this stage.
Jocketts Road/Hill: Named after field called Jocketts Hill shown in Hemel Tithe map of 1840-44.
Kendale: (Answer from Helen Douglass (nee Kendall in Newbury, Berks) Just to let you know that the street "Kendale" in Leverstock Green was named by my father in about 1970. I believe street names had to be approved by the post office (and probably still do) and the developers/post office were looking for new names when these houses were being built. My parents had lived in Hemel since about the late 50's and Dad had worked at the main post office in Hemel all that time. We were moving from Hemel as my father had got a job as Postmaster at Edenbridge in Kent and suggested the name "Kendale" as a play on his surname, as a way of leaving his "mark" on Hemel. His suggestion was taken up and so you have the street "Kendale" - named by my Dad, Bill Kendall!
Kents Avenue: Named after Kents brush factory (pictured below soon after it was first built) which moved to Apsley in 1901. The firm was founded in London in 1777. Five villas were built in Kents Avenue for employees.
Kinderscout, Leverstock Green: Kinder Scout is in the Derbyshire Peak District and is the highest of all at 2,088ft. Hemel's Kinderscout is the highspot of Hemel. (Not all roads have names with a local connection.)
Kingsland Road, Boxmoor: Unknown at this stage.
Knights Orchard: No information at this stage
Lamsey Road: No information at this stage
Larchwood Road: New town road, named after larch trees in the woodlands in that area. The larch was introduced into England in the 17th century from central Europe.
Laurel Close: Roy has it 'on good authority' that the road is named after Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy. Hardy lived from 1852 to 1957, and Laurel from 1890 to 1965. Their partnership began in 1927 and survived the transition from silent films to 'talkies.' They made more than 200 short and feature length films.
Lawn Lane: Named after the big house called The Lawns which was home of Mr A.E. Seaton who gave his name to Seaton Road
Leys Road, Bennetts End. One of the early New Town roads. A name we have no information on at this stage, and would welcome help.
Lindlings: Named after Lindlings Field in Hemel Tithe map of 1840-44.
Lombardy Close: Part of new town Leverstock Green. Named after Lombardy poplar trees which were in the area. Lombardy poplars were first imported into the country in early 18th century.
Long Arrotts, Gadebridge: Comes from field name in area, Long Arcotts (Tithe map of Hemel, 1840-44)
Long Chaulden: As early as the 16th century there was a small strip of land under cultivation in this area called Chalden. In the Hemel Tithe map of 1840-44 there is a field called Long Chaulden. There was a 19th century house, built by a businessman using the new railway to commute to London, called Chaulden House which was demolished in the early days of the new town. The flint stableblock remains.
Long John: Named after Long John field, record of which go back beyond 19th century. The road was one of the early new town streets to be constructed in the early 1950s and it was designed by the acclaimed architect Geoffrey Jellicoe. The sweeping terrace of three storey houses with each alternate house having a balcony takes after a Georgian terrace and was much acclaimed. We have no information about a house being haunted.
Lower Yott, Adeyfield: Named after Lower Yott Field in the area and shown on the tithe (tax) map of 1840-44). Yott is an old English word meaning Gate.
Lyne Way: Not known at this stage.
Malus Close: Malus is the botanical name for the crab apple family. So the name fits with the history of the area - Crabtree pub and, originally, Crabtree Lane as a track ended on what is now Leverstock Green Road
Manscroft Road, Gadebridge: Another to come from field Name Manscroft(Tithe map 1840s)
Marchmont Green: Named after Marchmont Hiouse (also Marchmont House field as shown on Hemel Tithe map of 1840-44. Marchmont House was formerlycalled The Mansion and was the home of Thomas Partridge, whose granddaughter married the Earl of Marchmont and renamed it Marchmont House. In St Mary's Church in the old town there is a tablet in memory of the Countess Marchmont and the church clock was given by Lord Marchmont in 1783.
Marlins Turn: Named after Marlins Field as shown on Tithe map of 1843.
Market Oak Lane: Not known at this stage.
Marlowes: Still being researched.  There is a Marlowes Field shown on the Hemel Tithe map of 1840-44. There was a local family called Marlowes as the name shows up on the parish register from about the beginning of the 17th century. At one time there was no road link between the area and High Street (then Mareket Street) and there is reference made to 6d being paid for the repair of the style leading to 'Marloes.' In late Victorian times the area south of Albion Hill was known as League Square. Until the mid 20th century Marlowes was very much a residentail road with many houses, including Marlowes House, pictured.
Marnham Rise: Named after the Marnham family in Hemel (Late 19th early 20th century.) The family founded the the Oxford Club Brotherhood and Sisterhood which operated in the town. In 1926 the then Prince of Wales visited Hemel and laid the foundation stone for the new Marnham Maternity ward at the hospital - the building is still there today, but nota maternity ward.
Martindale Road: Not known at this stage.
Malmescroft: Another reference to the brick making activities of the area. Malm is a soft, easily crumbled limestone loam formed by the disintegration of such limestone. This mixed with clay and chalk was used in the brick making industry.
Maynard Road: There was a large house in this vicinity called Maynard Lodge. It was occupied by Frederick Leonard, Bailiffof Hemel Hempstead in 1866. Another occupant was Colonel E. Scott Docker
Melsted Road: Unknown at this stage.
Micklefield Road: Probably named after an old field like many other local roads, but we can find no trace of such a field name at the moment.
Midland Road: Named after the Midland Railway Company who operated passenger services on what has become known as the Nicky Line which ran from Hemel to Harpenden. The line was opened in 1877 and Hemel's Midland Station stood just opposite the Midland pub. It was in 1947 that the last passenger services ran, but the line was used for goods traffic after this and for the occasional special passenger service. The picture, left, is of Hemel's Midland Station.
Micklem Drive: Named after Thomas Micklem Nathaniel Micklem. Thomas Micklem built the house Northridge in 1860. His son, Nathaniel was a distinguished lkawyer who became a QC under Queen Victoria and served as a QC under and KC in the reigns of seven monarchs. Northridge Park, behind Warners End shops was part of the grounds of the house, Northridge which was demolished in the early new town days.
Middle Hill: Named after Middle Field in Hemel Tithe map of 1840 to 44.
Middleknights Hill: Named after field called Middle Knights Hill as shown on Hemel Tithe map of 1840-44.
Milton Dene: Named after the the great English poet/writer of the 17th century, John Milton whose works included Paradise Lost. Other nearby roads are named after poets and writers.
Missden Drive: Unknown at this stage.
Montgomery Avenue: Named after Field Marshall Montgomery, in charge of the vistory at the Battle of El Alamain in 1942 and in command of the British troops during the invasion of Europe in 1944. Montgomery was Deputy Supreme Allied Commander in Europe at the time the road was built in the 1950s.
Mountfield Road: Not known at this syage. | 