After initial excitement of being allowed to visit 1 family over the Christmas period, just a few days before I was to travel to Scotland to see some friends, the government decided that no travel was allowed at all… So – stuck at home… What to do instead?

Well… go for a walk to explore the local area… thoroughly…

Coal Posts

All around the Greater London Area boundary marks, set up by the Corporation of the City of London, can be found like the ones below:

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Many of these posts were erected under the London Coal and Wine Duties Continuance Act 1861. A very interesting website, tells me that already since medieval times the Corporation of the City of London had rights to measure and tax all coal that entered the port of London. When in 1666 a large part of the City of London was burnt down in the Great Fire of London, these coal duties paid part of the rebuilding of the city.

Whilst initially duties were levied on coal entering London via the Port of London, with the coming of canals and railways, coal duties were extended to coal entering London via any route – including road – as well. Hence 2 coal posts in London Colney on the roads that lead to London. To begin with, the coal tax area comprised an area within a 20 mile radius from London (or more precisely: from the General Post Office in St Martins le Grand). But in 1861 the London District was redefined to coincide with the Metropolitan Police District. As this area was much smaller, many boundaries were moved, but also – many new coal posts, including those in London Colney, were erected.

All Saints Pastoral Centre

When passing London Colney on the M25 during the time of year that there are no leaves on the trees, a rather grand building can be seen:

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As it is in London Colney, I was going to include it in my explorations, but when arriving at the beginning of the road leading to the site I was met with a sign saying that it was private property… However, as there was also a rather large sign saying that it is for sale, I thought I would ignore that and take a look at it anyway… Perhaps a new office… ?

The building looked to me to be rather old, but what do I know about that… apparently the main building was designed in 1899 and built in 1901, originally as a convent for the Anglican Society of All Saints Sisters of the Poor. The Comper Chapel is even newer: built between 1927-1963… The whole site was then bought by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster, which converted it to a conference centre, after which it was finally sold a property developer. And for sale again (or still?)…

Round the farm to Napsbury Park

Next my explorations led me to a nice path round the farm to end up at Napsbury Park (well, I think it actually goes between different parcels of land of the same farm).

What is now known as Napsbury Park, opened in 1905 as Middlesex County Asylum, designed for 1152 patients with varying mental illnesses: sick, infirm, epileptic, chronic, chronic refractory and working patients. There were separate wings for male and female patients, separated by a common dining hall (largest building with small tower in photo above). A water tower provided water to the different buildings.

During the First World War it operated temporarily taken over by the army. The hospital finally closed in 1998, and is now a Grade II listed park with residential housing, combining some of the existing buildings (mostly converted to apartments) with new builds. More information can be found here.

Bridge over Colne

According to what seems nowadays to be the source of all knowledge – Wikipedia – London Colney was first recorded in 1555: “Colney on the road to London”. The High Street (part of an old coaching route between London and St Albans) crosses the river Colne, originally by means of a ford, but since ca 1777 a bridge carries traffic across the river (unless you go walking with children, who like to cycle across the ford, and then fall in when they loose momentum in the water, and get stuck in the middle…).

The bridge is commonly known as “Telford Bridge”, however, apparently it is disputed that the bridge is actually by Thomas Telford… Nonetheless, a nice looking bridge!

Finally – near the bridge is also the parish church of St Peter, in the church yard of which apparently 7 commonwealth graves (1 from WW-I, 6 from WW-II) should be. A quick walk (it was getting late, and I really started feeling my legs…) over the church yard didn’t reveal much, so perhaps I’ll be back for another look round another time.