Radlett

For 42 years, from 1962 to 2006, my wife and I lived in Radlett, Hertfordshire. Radlett is a small town of about 10,000 people. It is situated along the London - Bedford railway line, about 20 miles north of central London. It only started to develop properly in the mid-19th century, although it is also sited on the route of the old Roman road called Watling Street, and there are ancient brick kilns to be found in the area dating back to Roman times. It lies in a valley which it shares with the railway line and a waterway called Tykeswater. This is usually just a stream, but is occasionally prone to flooding.

The general area has remained substantially unchanged since Saxon times, when the land was mainly owned by the Abbots of Westminster Abbey in London. In medieval times the abbots, who were the lords of the Manor of Aldenham, close to Radlett, encouraged cultivation by tenant yeoman farmers in areas cleared of woodlands.

In spite of this ancient history nearby, the community of Radlett dates back only some 140 years. Only the evidence of the ancient potters operating in the 3rd century take us back before the Middle Ages. It was the Midland Railway main line, built in the 1860s through the valley of the Tykeswater, with a station at Radlett, which secured the future of the village.

In the last few years, the general character of the village has changed, - at least, it has in our opinion. It has become much more affluent - more millionares than in any other like-sized towns in the country, so I'm told. Money and possessions seem to be the only focus for many residents, 4 x 4s abound, houses are bought, demolished and rebuilt, with basement, 3 - 4 bathrooms, etc., or if the garden is a large one, then build aother six houses on it and move away! Although we still have many friends in Radlett, it became no longer the place where we wanted to live. We sold up, shared the proceeds to help our children with their housing, and moved into a neighbouring village which is very friendly and welcoming, and with much more reasonably priced properties. It was a good move.