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Elstree

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"Elstree or Idlestree, is a small village and parish in Cashio hundred, 11 miles N.W. of London, seated upon the confines of the county of Middlesex; a turnpike road, leading to St. Albans through Edgeware, passing through the village. The village stands on elevated ground,and affords pleasing views - amongst others, that of St. Albans abbey church. At no great distance from this place is the site of a Roman station, called Sulloniacae: many relics of that nation, consisting of urns, coins, Roman bricks, &c. have at various periods been found here and at Pennywells. The church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, which has been re-edified, has a neat appearance, but its interior is destitute of any claim to particular description. In this church are interred the remains of Martha Rey, who fell a victim to the ungovernable attachment of the Rev. Jas. Hickman, by whom she was shot on the 7th April, 1779, as she was entering her carriage after the performance at Covent Garden theatre; he was executed at the Old Bailey a few days after her interment. In the churchyard is buried Mr. Weare, who was murdered by John Thurtell at Gill's-hill cottage, parish of Aldenham, on the 24th of October, 1823. The reservoir belonging to the Grand Junction Company, and rented by the Regent Canal Company to feed their navigation, forms a delightful lake embellishment to the village. Population, 341." [From Royal National and Commercial Directory and Topography of Herts, Pigot & Co., London, 1839]

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Church Records

The Parish Registers for the periods:-

  • Baptisms - 1656-1969
  • Marriages - 1656-1991
  • Burials - 1656-1927
  • Bishop's Transcripts - 1575-1848

are deposited at Hertfordshire Record Office, County Hall, Hertford, SG13 8DE. [D/P36]

Entries from the Marriage Registers for the period 1656-1837 are included in The Allen Index at Hertfordshire Record Office.

The period 1755-1800 is covered by the IGI.

Transcripts of the parish registers for the period 1655-1837 are deposited at the Society of Genealogists, 14 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, LONDON, EC1M 7BA.

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Description & Travel

You can see pictures of Elstree which are provided by:

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Gazetteers

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History

There is a long extract from Hertfordshire: London's Country Neighbour by Arthur MEE, Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1939.

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Maps

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference TQ178954 (Lat/Lon: 51.645069, -0.298885), Elstree which are provided by: