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Hexton |
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[click picture for enlarged image] |
Parish Church
Books A Harvest of Hexton - a comprehensive local history with some useful appendices and maps, including the map showing the village in 1900.
100 Years of Hexton - a collection of photographs, mainly from the first half of the 20th century. |
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Hexton is a parish and village at the foot of the hills, and on the borders of Bedfordshire, 7 miles west from Hitchin stations on the Great Northern and Midland railways, in the Northern division of the county, hundred of Cashio, Hitchin union, petty sessional and county court district, and in the rural deanery of Hitchin, archdeaconry and diocese of St Albans. A small stream rises near Ravensbury Castle. The church of St Faith, entirely rebuilt, with the exception of the tower, in 1824, through the munificence of the late Joseph Andrew De Latour esq. who died March 26, 1867, is an edifice of stone in the Perpendicular style, and consists of chancel, with a chapel on the north side dedicated to St Nicholas, aisle, south porch and an embattled western tower containing 3 bells; the first and third are respectively dated 1697 and 1688; the second is simply inscribed "Ave Maria" ... ... Hexton Manor, which stands in a park of about 120 acres, is now the residence of George Herbert Hodgson esq. who is lord of the manor and principal landowner. ... |
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About three miles and a half from Lilley is Hexton. The scenery in the neighbourhood is very pretty and diversified. The Manor belonged to the Abbey of St. Alban's. There is a beautiful Church, dedicated to St. Faith; it was in 1824 rebuilt, excepting the tower, by Mr. J. A. Lautour, late of Hexton Park, in what is called the Perpendicular style. It has a chancel with groined roof, aisles, and a square tower and spire with three bells. There is a chapel dedicated to St. Nicholas, appropriated to the interment of former Lords of the Manor, in which are monumental inscriptions to some of the Taverner family, who possessed the Manor in 1593. The living is a Vicarage, of the value of £100 per annum, in the patronage of W. F. J. Young, Esq. On the south side of the Church was formerly a fountain, which had a statue of St. Faith placed over it; it has been replaced by a wooden cross. There is a School-room built by the late Madame Lautour, and a Wesleyan Chapel. The population of Hexton is 241; the number of acres, 1453. In this Parish there is an ancient Roman Camp, called RAVENSBURG or RAVENSBOROUGH CASTLE. It is of considerable extent, occupying about 12 acres, is situated on a high hill, and must have been a fort of considerable importance; it is of an oval form, and is surrounded by deep ditches or moats. The Roman road called Icknield Street passes through this Parish, and near to Ravensburg Castle on the south. Dr. Stukely thought the name Ravensburg was of Danish origin, as there is a place near called Dane's Furlong, where a battle was fought with the Danes in 914, in the reign of Edward the Elder, in which they were defeated; and the long barrows between this place and Leagrave, in Bedfordshire, are thought to be raised to the memory of chieftains who were slain. Mr. Leman, however, thinks the remains, whatever they are, may be attributed to the aboriginal inhabitants of the island. There have been many Roman and Saxon coins, both of gold and silver, found in the vicinity. Several remarkable chalybeate springs issue from a hill in Hexton Park, and form a small rivulet. HEXTON HOUSE is a beautiful seat in the vicinity. Near the Church is a place called BURY STEDE, which it is said was formerly a residence of the Saxon kings. |
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