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E-scooters being confiscated and destroyed by police in Hertfordshire

 

E-scooters illegally ridden on the streets of Hertfordshire are being confiscated and destroyed by the police, the Chief Constable has assured the Police and Crime Commissioner.

PCC Jonathan Ash-Edwards asked the Chief Constable Charlie Hall about the enforcement of the laws around the electronic scooters during his monthly Accountability and Performance meetings.

In the discussion, which is broadcast live on the internet, Mr Hall said that action is being taken against riders who are breaking the law by using them on public roads and pavements.

Mr Ash-Edwards said: “E scooters are primarily on the agenda today because they have driven probably the largest amount of correspondence into my office over recent months compared to any other topic.

“There are particular community concerns from residents about the use of these scooters in town centres, specifically from blind people and those with disabilities, around the of impact of people whizzing around town centres.”

Asked for clarification on the legality of using E-scooters the Chief Constable replied: “It's not unlawful to sell these scooters. These scooters can only be used on private land but they are not lawfully to be used on public roads, pavements, or other pedestrian areas, and there is a reason for that is.

“An E-scooter is something called a mechanically propelled vehicle and effectively it becomes classified as a motor vehicle. You can only lawfully use a motor vehicle on the road if it fits certain criteria, and that would include it needing to be insured and taxed. It will need to have passed certain safety testing regimes set by the Department of Transport and as there is no such regime, as a result it is unlawful to use E-scooters on a public road.”

When questioned about what the police are doing about them being ridden in dangerous ways in public Mr Hall replied: “Firstly, we recognise the danger both to the individual riding these scooters, and we have in Hertfordshire dealt with a handful of cases where people have come off these and of course quite significant injury to themselves, so that there's definitely a risk to the people riding these.

“But I think many members of the public would equally rightly identify the risk to other road users, or particularly pedestrians, and we've had some examples of injuries have been caused to members of the public by people riding E scooters as well. So we absolutely recognise the need to bear down on this where it is happening.

“Our broad approach is to look, to educate and encourage people to comply with the law in the first place. We think that has some benefits and is a reasonable policing response to this. We've also worked inside schools and colleges.

“We have certainly looked to target that advice into places where we know people are constantly using E scooters. This year so far we've seized 22 E scooters, last year it was over 30 and the year before that it was also 30. So we're seizing those sorts of numbers of these scooters and they are being disposed of.

“I think ultimately it needs further support from government legislation to really make it very clear what position is on the use of these E scooters.”

Following the meeting Mr Ash-Edwards said:

 

“I know that the illegal and dangerous use of e-scooters on pavements in town centres is a concern for many residents. Due to the way the police deal with this challenge, the public won’t always see the follow up and intervention at a later stage where there is evidence. The starting point is to educate people about the law, which is sensible, but I am pleased that this can also lead to enforcement and seizures where appropriate.”

 

Feb. A new home for Harpenden police officers

Harpenden’s neighbourhood policing team is moving to a new base in the town centre this month. The move will enhance joint working with the Town Council and ensure residents continue to benefit from a visible, accessible local police presence.

Hertfordshire Constabulary and the Police & Crime Commissioner’s Office have worked closely with Harpenden Town Council to co-locate the neighbourhood policing team at the Town Hall in Leyton Road. The move keeps officers at the heart of the community while supporting modern, efficient ways of working and better value for money for taxpayers.

District Neighbourhood Inspector Paul Caro said: “Moving to the Town Hall ensures our new hub remains in the town centre. 

“My team spend most of their shifts out and about engaging with the public and dealing with crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB). The new location will be a base for them to complete paperwork and make calls.”

He added: “We already work closely with the town council to deal with crime and ASB and being in the same building is a real positive, as shown by our co-location at St Albans Civic Centre district council offices.”

Police & Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards said: “This is a positive move to strengthen local policing in Harpenden, continue joint working with the Town Council and improve value for money for taxpayers. Neighbourhood policing officers will be based in Harpenden, engaging with the public, responding and solving crime and keeping the town and surrounding rural areas safe”.

Cllr Beth Fisher, Town Mayor of Harpenden, said “I am delighted that we’ve been able to work with the police to bring their team to the Town Hall, where they can remain close to the Harpenden community in our town centre location. We are committed to helping our communities feel safer and facilitating accessible services. Harpenden Town Council plays an active role in the partnership with local police and we are looking forward to continuing this work and addressing the concerns of local people.” Residents can contact their local officers directly at harpenden@herts.police.uk and make an appointment to see them. If you know the name of your local officer, you can email them directly using this format - first.surname@herts.police.uk

You can also contact your

officers via our website and

report incidents online

at www.herts.police.uk/report.

In an emergency,

always dial 999.

Are you looking for an independent property agent based in Harpenden who can help you find a home and guide you through the whole process from start to finish without any hassle?

Well, I met that unique person in Gail’s

just recently.

CAROLE BRATT is the agent you’ll be

hearing about here now. Carole has lived

in Harpenden for over 40 years and worked

in the property market for 30 years so she

knows the market inside out.

Finding a home is a laborious process.

Attending viewings and narrowing your

search from the mass of properties that

agents indiscriminately send you can be draining. Carole prizes herself on understanding a client brief so she will have a good idea about where the search is best focused.

She knows all the tricks of the trade estate agents will use in order to secure a higher price from buyers. Carole can negotiate on your behalf so a deal can be done quicker and with a better outcome. Having one person to deal with is a big bonus.

When it comes to selling Carole will devise a marketing strategy to reach the target market at a evidenced price to encourage potential buyers. She will attend viewings to check the suitability of buyers and most importantly, Close the Sale before taking actions on the necessary legal issues.

Having met Carole for the first time I found her friendly and easy manner made for an almost instant rapport. Her knowledge of Harpenden was quickly apparent delivered in a professional but modest style. A day or so after our meeting the Government announced changes for the Housing market on the long going issue of Gazumping.

I asked Carole for her comments:

The Government’s proposed housing reforms represent some of the most significant

changes the property sector has seen in years. Through my work with industry bodies and government forums, including RICS and MHCLG, I advised at a senior level and I have been closely involved in discussions around how policy changes translate into practical outcomes for buyers and sellers.

In markets such as Harpenden, success will depend on striking the right balance between housing delivery, market realities, professional standards and maintaining confidence throughout the buying and selling process.

There remains a considerable way to go before the detail is finalised, but reform is undoubtedly overdue. The current system is too often inefficient and frustrating for everyone involved in a transaction, from buyers and sellers to the professionals working to support them.

The challenge now is ensuring that

change delivers meaningful

improvements without creating

unintended consequences.

You can contact Carole on email:

carole@moveli, Instagram & Facebook:

@carolebrattproperty or

mobile: 07812 965363

(Right) Carole recently at The

Harpenden Collective.

JULY 16 St Albans And Dacorum Councils To Merge As New Unitary Authority

Hertfordshire will be divided into four new unitary authorities as part of Local Government Reorganisation, and St Albans will be merged with Dacorum under the new structure.

The Government initiative will replace the current two-tier system of St Albans district council and Herts county council with unitary authorities by April 2028.

SADC’s preferred approach was for the county to be divided into West Herts (Dacorum, Hertsmere, St Albans, Three Rivers, Watford) and East Herts (Broxbourne, East Herts, North Herts, Stevenage, Welwyn Hatfield), but this was rejected in favour of four different authorities.

Local experts considered this to be the least likely option for the county, but ultimately the decision was outside their hands.

A new unitary authority of North West Hertfordshire will bring together the places currently served by Dacorum and SADC into a single council for the west of the county.

The new council will cover around 312,000 people – roughly the same size as a London borough – taking in Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Harpenden, Berkhamsted and Tring, as well as the surrounding villages and countryside.

There will be 79 councillors representing 41 wards, with elections to a shadow council in May 2027 and the new authority going live in April 2028.

Mike Hobday, leader of the SADC Labour Group of councillors responded: “We are delighted at the Government’s decision to link St Albans and Dacorum Councils to form one of four new unitary councils in Hertfordshire.

“This is a long overdue change. At the moment, vital services are unnecessarily split between district and county councils. The district collects waste and tte county disposes of it. The district is responsible for parking, but the council owns the roads. The district provides housing for people in need, who get social care support provided by the county council. The new unitary councils will stop the frustrating confusion and buck-passing that inevitably takes place between the councils.

“Four unitaries is the right number for Hertfordshire. We need a council which is small enough to be local, but large enough to be efficient. Labour councillors supported this option as part of the debate at St Albans Council. And six out of 11 Hertfordshire councils supported this option.

“The merger of St Albans and Dacorum councils strikes the right balance. A larger unitary – such as one covering the whole of West Hertfordshire – would have felt very distant from local residents – just as the county council is now. The St Albans-Dacorum merger will provide a council that is aware of the aspirations and needs of local communities. 

“The proposal will also save money – it will reduce the numbers of councillors and council managers. Hertfordshire will move from 11 senior management teams down to four. We will also see financial efficiencies as the merged councils start to work together. 

“St Albans will benefit from the knowledge and expertise that Dacorum officers and transferred county council officers will bring – and likewise Dacorum will benefit from St Albans’ capabilities.

Sept 6.  LOCAL FOOTBALL SNIPPETS.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 6TH EASTERN REGION WOMEN'S FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION.

HARPENDEN TOWN WOMEN       5       HARINGEY BOROUGH WOMEN       1         HT 3-0.

PICKING UP THREE GREAT POINTS ON SUNDAY WERE THE HARPENDEN TOWN WOMEN WITH A 5-1 HOME WIN OVER HARINGEY BOROUGH WOMEN AND THEY ALSO HAD MORE TO CELEBRATE AS THIS WAS THEIR FIRST EVER VICTORY OF OVER THEIR RIVALS AND ALL THE MATCHES PLAYED BETWEEN THEM AS SEEN PLENTY OF GOALS SCORED BY BOTH SIDES. HARINGEY WERE SITTING TOP OF THE TABLE GOING INTO THIS FIXTURE AND THEY WERE REPLACED BY ROYSTON TOWN WHO WON ON SUNDAY AND SIT ONE POINT ABOVE THEM.

SERYAN KABONGO NEARLY SCORED EARLY ON BUT HER EFFORT WAS BLOCKED FOR A CORNER KICK WHILST BELLE SHANNON LATER ON WON THE BALL AND LET FLY WITH ONE OF FIERCE DRIVES WHICH ALAS FLEW JUST PAST THE NEAR UPRIGHT. PLAY QUICKLY SWITCHED TO THE OTHER END AND HARINGEY BUILT UP A GOOD ATTACK AND RENEA JARRETT SAW HER WELL STRUCK SHOT STRIKE THE TOP OF THE CROSSBAR AND GO OVER AND THEN IN THEIR NEXT ATTACK JARRETT HAD A FIRM LOW DRIVE SAVED BY DAISEY JECKELL THE HARPS KEEPER WHO WAS MAKING DEBUT FOR THE CLUB.

ON TWELVE MINUTES THE HARPS OPENED THE SCORING WHEN THEY WON A CORNER KICK WHICH ELLA MERCER FLOATED INTO THE BOX WHEREUPON CHLOE FARRELL ROSE UP TO SEND A GLANCING HEADER INTO THE BACK OF THE NET PAST KATIE QUINN TO MAKE IT 1-0. NEXT UP BELLE SHANNON SHOT JUST OVER FOLLOWING A SOPHIA AMANOR PASS WHO THEN SENT JORDAN ROCKALL RACING CLEAR WHEREUPON SHE WAS TRIPPED INSIDE THE BOX WHICH RESULTED IN A PENALTY. SOPHIA AMANOR TOOK THE SPOT KICK AND DROVE IT INTO THE FAR RIGHT CORNER TO MAKE IT 2-0. ELLA MERCER THEN FOUND ROCKALL AND HER CRACKING STRIKE WHISTLED PAST QUINN'S RIGHT HAND UPRIGHT. FOR HARINGEY SAW BOTH RENEA JARRETT AND ELOISE CATTINI HAVE SHOTS AT GOAL BUT EACH TIME DAISY JECKELL DEALT WITH THEM AS SHE DID WITH ALL THE CROSSES THEY PUTTING INTO HER BOX.

IT THEN BECAME 3-0 WHEN JORDAN ROCKALL WINS THE BALL AND SLIPPED IT QUICKLY TO SOPHIA AMANOR WHO LOOKED UP AND SENT A FANTASTIC 20 YARD SHOT OVER THE HEAD OFF QUINN IN THE HARINGEY GOAL FOR A WONDERFUL GOAL AND INTO THE BACK OF THE NET. IT WAS NOT ALL ONE WAY AS JECKELL HAD TO BE QUICK OFF HER LINE TO PUNCH CLEAR A DANGEROUS IN SWINGING CORNER KICK FROM NIA GARWOOD AND THEN PLAY SWITCHED TO THE OTHER END WHICH SAW SERYAN KABONGO HIT THE FOOT OF THE POST AFTER SHE HAD BEEN SET UP BY A GOOD PASS FROM AMANOR.

        IN THE SECOND PERIOD SAW AMANOR HAVE A SHOT WELL SAVED BY KATIE QUINN WHO THEN HAD TO DEAL WITH A EFFORT FROM ROCKALL  BUT QUINN COULD DO NOTHING WHEN THE HARPS SCORED THE FOURTH GOAL WHEN BELLE SHANNON DELIVERED A GREAT BALL INTO THE BOX FOR SERYAN KABONGO TO LATCH ONTO AND AFTER A GREAT ONE TOUCH WHEREUPON SHE CONTROLLED THE BALL AND WITH HER NEXT TOUCH SHE CALMLY SLIPPED THE BALL PAST QUINN TO MAKE IT 4-0.

KABONGO THEN SETUP AMANOR BUT HER EFFORT WENT NARROWLY WIDE OF THE NEAR POST WHILST FOR THE VISITORS SAW ELOISE CATTINI HEAD JUST WIDE AND LEXI WADE HAVE A SHOT SAVED AS HARINGEY TRIED TO GET BACK INTO THE MATCH.

BELLE SHANNON THEN HAD A FREE KICK SAVED BY QUINN WHILST ANOTHER SHANNON EFFORT FLEW JUST WIDE OF THE FAR POST AND ROCKALL SHOT NARROWLY WIDE OF THE SAME UPRIGHT WHEN IT LOOKED CERTAIN SHE WAS GOING TO SCORE WITH LILLY KELLY SETTING THE CHANCE UP. PLAY WAS QUICKLY SWITCHING FROM END TO END BUT IT WAS THE HARPENDEN TOWN WOMEN WHO SCORED ANOTHER GOAL WHEN VICTORIA SCHELHASE PLAYED THE BALL THROUGH FOR JORDAN ROCKALL TO RUN ONTO AND AFTER RACING AWAY FROM HER MARKER SHE THEN SENT A SIZZLING SHOT INTO THE FAR LEFT CORNER PAST KATIE QUINN TO MAKE IT 5-0 ON 85 MINUTES.

    THE HARPS COULD NOT KEEP A CLEAN SHEET THOUGH AS IN THE FINAL MINUTE OF THE MATCH SAW HARINGEY WIN A PENALTY WHICH RENEA JARRETT TOOK AND TUCKED THE RESULTING SPOT KICK AWAY TO MAKE THE FINAL SCORE 5-1 TO HARPENDEN TOWN WOMEN, GREAT WIN GIRLS SAYS TEZZA.

TEZZA'S PLAYER OF THE MATCH FOR THE HARPS WAS DAISY JECKELL WHO ON HER DEBUT IN GOAL HAD A BRILLIANT MATCH BETWEEN THE STICKS WHILST FOR HARINGEY IT WAS RENEA JARRETT WHO WAS EVERYWHERE DRIVING HER TEAM ON.

SQUAD: JECKELL, WARREN, SHANNON, TUCKER, ROCKALL, AMANOR, OGUNTUGA, BURTON, MERCER, FARRELL, KABONGO, HENDY, SCHELHASE, FORD, KELLY(ALL PLAYED).

NEXT UP FOR THE LADIES IS AN AWAY FIXTURE AT ROYSTON TOWN LADIES ON WEDNESDAY EVENING KO 7-45 PM AND THEN ON SUNDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER THE HARPS LADIES ARE AT HOME TO ST ALBANS CITY LADIES KO 2-30PM.  ADMISSION   £6 ADULTS   £3 CONCESSIONS.  HARPENDEN TOWN SEASON TICKETS FREE.

TERRY EDWARDS. FOOTBALL AS IT'S MEANT TO BE.   

PHOTOS above by Freddie Clark

Harpenden Society Awards 2025      July 27th 2026.

Presentations to worthy winners of the Harpenden Society 2025 Awards commenced last week with :

Letter Of Commendation to Harpenden resident Sue Hobley,

In recognition of, more than 40 years' volunteer working for Harpenden & District Macmillan Cancer Support, as as active member of the charity's committee, for most of that time as its chairman.

You were one of the original trustees for the Runcie Day Care Hospice, now known as the Rennie Grove Peace Hospice, helping raise funds for the hospice's Macmillan Building. 

You have combined charity work with enthusiastic interest in gardening, having run the Grove House garden volunteer teams for 25 years. It should be added that, appropriately, in a horticultural connection, you ran a wedding flower business from home for some 50 years. Other charities in which you  has been involved, in the 54 years since you and your  husband Jim moved to Harpenden, include the Children's Society, the Natural Childbirth Trust and the Open Door mental health charity.

Pictured with Awards secretary Ron Taylor in her beautiful garden.

Also presented with a Letter Of Commendation to Harpenden resident was Mike Hodge.

In recognition of more than two decades of outstanding fundraising and service to the local community. Through golf events, musical performances, busking, leadership roles and voluntary work, you have raised in excess of £300,000 for a wide range of charities, always with a smile on your face and a kind word for others.

Having established your successful business in Harpenden in 1992, you ran it for 25 years, providing employment for many local residents. Throughout that time, you combined your professional achievements with a selfless commitment to supporting your community, giving generously of both your time and energy.

The scale of the funds you have raised, together with the countless hours you have devoted to so many worthy causes with the unfailing support of your wife Sarah, is truly remarkable. The positive impact you have made on the lives of local residents and their families will be felt for many years to come. Please keep bringing us sunshine!

Pictured with Awards secretary Ron Taylor in their beautiful garden.

And a presentation of a Certificate of Merit to Harpenden based ARTICHOKE BAKE & MORE

In recognition of how your business has transformed the previous Schoolwear shop into a full service retail bakery with a coffee bar. Not just a regular bakery, but one that makes breads to their own recipes and bakes them daily on the premises. Plus a range of their own pastries, cakes and desserts that are unique in flavour and freshness. Perfect for your home or to enjoy inside and out with a coffee made by their own barista or a chilled drink. ARTICHOKE BAKE AND MORE have made a positive impact to the retail trade in Leyton road.

Artichoke owner Seda (right) pictured with Aysegul (left) and Awards secretary Ron Taylor. 

Further presentations  for the Plaque and another Letter of Commendation will take place during August

WOMENS FA CUP SNIPPETS.

ON SUNDAY Sept 6 COLNEY HEATH LADIES WIN 2-1 AT HOME IN THE WOMEN'S FA CUP AGAINST GARSTON LADIES 1STS

AND AT THE BREAK THE LADY MAGPIES WERE 1-0 DOWN BUT IN THE SECOND PERIOD THEY FOUGHT BACK WITH MIA SIMMONDS SCORING AN EQUALISER ON 61 MINUTES AND THEN ON 87 MINUTES CALLY SALTER SCORED A STUNNING

WINNING GOAL TO SEE THEM THROUGH TO THE SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND WITH AN AWAY TIE AGAINST DUSSINDALE & HELLESDON ROVERS.

MEANWHILE IN THE WOMEN'S FA CUP HARPENDEN TOWN LADIES HAVE BEEN DRAWN AWAY TO DUNSTABLE WHILST ST ALBANS CITY LADIES HAVE AN AWAY MATCH AS WELL AT MILTON KEYNES IRISH. ALL MATCHES ARE TO BE PLAYED ON SUNDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER.

TERRY EDWARDS.   FOOTBALL AS IT'S MEANT TO BE.

COLNEY HEATH SNIPPETS:

SATURDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION.   COLNEY HEATH      2       POTTON UTD       1          HT 1-0.

COLNEY HEATH PICKED UP ANOTHER THREE POINTS IN A 2-1 HOME WIN OVER POTTON UTD WHICH SEES THEM MOVE UP TO FIFTH PLACE IN THE LEAGUE TABLE ON TWELVE POINTS ONLY FOUR POINTS BEHIND THE LEAGUE LEADERS RISBOROUGH RAIDERS. EARLY INTO THE MATCH SAW MYLES SHAHIDI WHIP OVER A DANGEROUS BALL INTO THE BOX FROM THE LEFT WING WHICH THE POTTON CAPTAIN CAMERON WATSON HEADED CLEAR AT THE BACK POST.

ON SIXTEEN MINUTES SAW THE YOUNG MAGPIES TAKE THE LEAD WHEN WILL ANDIYAPAN CROSSED THE BALL FROM THE LEFT TO THE FAR POST WHEREUPON TEDDY JONES RACING IN RIFLED THE BALL INTO THE ROOF OF THE NET PAST ALEX DESMOND GIVING HIM NO CHANCE TO MAKE A SAVE AND MAKE IT 1-0. FOR POTTON ERZA FORDE SHOT NARROWLY WIDE WHILST FOR THE HOME SIDE MYLES SHAHIDI HAD A SHOT BLOCKED AND RANDY BALUKIO ALSO WENT CLOSE WITH A LOW STRIKE WHICH WAS WELL SAVED BY ALEX DESMOND JUST BEFORE THE BREAK. THE FIRST HALF DID HAVE MANY CHANCES FOR EITHER SIDES AS BOTH TEAMS DEFENCES CANCELLED EACH OTHER OUT.

     JAMIE WILLING MAKING A WELCOME RETURN TO THE MAGPIES SAW CLEAR A HEADER OFF THE LINE WHILST FOR POTTON SAW SUB TOMMY BLENNERHASSETT SEND A HEADER JUST OVER THE CROSSBAR WHILST AT THE OTHER END RANDY BALUKIO FOUND HARRISON BURKE WITH A NEAT PASS BUT HE SHOT NARROWLY WIDE OF THE NEAR POST. WILL ANDIYAPAN FOR THE MAGPIES FOUND BALUKIO WHOSE WELL STRUCK SHOT WAS BLOCKED BY DESMOND WHEN HE COULD SQUARED THE BALL TO THE UNMARKED BURKE. THEN ON 65 MINUTES SAW COLNEY HEATH TAKE A 2-0 LEAD WHEN HARRISON BURKE'S INITIAL EFFORT WAS BLOCKED BY THE POTTON KEEPER BUT JED EJJAYHA REACTED QUICKEST TO THE REBOUND BY TAPPING THE BALL HOME FROM CLOSE RANGE TO GIVE THE MAGPIES A TWO GOAL LEAD. IT NEARLY BECAME 3-0 FIVE MINUTES LATER WHEN HARRISON BURKE AFTER SOME BRILLIANT BALL CREATED SPACE FOR HIMSELF TO GET A SHOT AWAY ONLY FOR ALEX DESMOND TO PUSH HIS CRACKING EFFORT AWAY FOR A FINE SAVE.

ON 73 MINUTES SAW POTTON PULL A GOAL BACK WHEN TAYLOR KEELY HIT OVER A DEEP CROSS FROM THE RIGHT WING TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE MAGPIES BOX WHEREUPON ERZA FORDE SMASHED THE BALL PAST TOM MORRELL TO MAKE THE SCORE 2-1, GAME ON. COLNEY HEATH THOUGH STEPPED UP THEIR PLAY AND ALEX DESMOND HAD TO BE IN TOP FORM AS HE PULLED OFF SOME GREAT SAVES FROM JOE CAFFREY AND CURTIS DIBLEY WHO BOTH HAD A COUPLE OF EXCELLENT STRIKES AT GOALS ONLY TO SEE THE POTTON KEEPER IN TOP FORM TO STOP COLNEY HEATH FROM INCREASING THEIR SCORE.

TEAM: MORRELL, JONES, SHAHIDI, J. EJJAYHA, SEEBY, WILLING, HAJOUSMAN, S. EJJAYHA, BALUKIO, BURKE, ANDIYAPAN. SUBS PLAYED. CAFFREY, DIBLEY, O'HARE, STRAZZA. DID NOT PLAY. WILLIAMS.

TERRY EDWARDS.   FOOTBALL AS IT'S MEANT TO BE.

Click back to the Front Page

My wife and I were privileged to have a private viewing of the panels in February this year. They are incredibly beautiful and still in remarkable condition for their age.

A single image can change the face of History

Portrait imagery was the key aspect of the programme. Images whether painted or photographed could have an incredibly powerful influence on the population. Examples featuring Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, and Margaret Thatcher were used to demonstrate this power. Clever or deceptive dependent on your personal position.

Saving the Cottages for the Nation

The current owner, Ms Murphy, from Hertford, explained that she and business partner Alison Wright bought two adjoining cottages, which house the mural between them, specifically to find a way for the paintings to be brought into public ownership.

"The panels should be in the care of the nation - we are committed to finding a way of doing it."

"They are so rare that the paintings must be preserved for both present and future generations, as a sign of those past beliefs and turbulent times," he said.

"We have been pursuing this aim for a number of years and have now launched a public appeal as the only way to preserve them for posterity."

The owner added that if the money couldn't be raised, they would have to apply for a change of use to residential.

Hopefully Simon Schama’s programme will awaken the local Herts authorities to take action now.

Ron Taylor. Editor. Harpendia.com

Hemel’s hidden treasure featured by Simon Schama on BBC TV’s ‘The Face of Britain’

Simon Schama visited Piccott’s End Cottages to show an important aspect of the history of British portraiture, revealing some beautiful and compelling images that demonstrate their eternal power.

Defacing religious paintings

The cottages in Hemel were a resting place for Pilgrims on their journey from Ashridge to nearby St Albans Abbey in the 1530’s. The interior wall panels had been painted extensively with religious murals reflecting imagery of the Christ, the Virgin Mary, and Saints. Scenes include Jesus's baptism, St Catherine of Alexandria, St Peter and St Margaret. During the Reformation the faces of Jesus, Mary and the Saints were obliterated (defaced- see below) to make the images powerless in the sight of anyone who visited the cottages. At some time post Reformation the panels were covered by linen and NOT seen again until 1953.

September, Local journalist Charlotte Bateman investigates Charity Shops in Harpenden