Nettleden, Hertfordshire
Nettleden village is a rural idyll, set in a beautiful location in the Chiltern Hills bordering Ashridge common. Situated on an ancient Roman road, the village stands in a valley leading south to that of the Gade.
The village name of Nettleden, meaning ‘valley where nettles grow’ is believed to be Anglo Saxon in origin. The village was recorded as Neteleydene in manorial records dating from the late Twelfth century.
Historically, though surrounded by the county of Hertfordshire, Nettleden was a hamlet forming part of the parish of Pitstone in the county of Buckinghamshire. The village was made a parish in its own right and part of the county of Hertfordshire relatively recently, in 1895.
St Lawrence Church, Nettleden
The modern village with its church, Manor House and cottages retains the charm of days gone by.
The parish church of St Lawrence is a simple yet beautiful building with a rural charm. Dating from the middle ages, the church is of brick construction with a square tower. The first recorded reference to the church of St Lawrence at Nettleden dates from 1285 and shows the church as part of the endowment of Ashridge monetary. The church was rebuilt in 1470, and extensively repaired with some areas rebuilt in 1811.
The church has a number of interesting features including; a beautiful mural monument dedicated to Edward Bressey Esq. and his wife Lucretia dating from 1610, an interesting brass of a man in armour, an 18th century tomb with figures in bold relief and several stained glass windows.
