Wading through floods to find a 1300 year old border

Two weeks ago my car had its annual MOT inspection. The garage I have been using for 20 years had moved during Covid and me being a loyal type and the mechanic being amazing, I decided it was worth going to his new premises about 15 miles away. When I arrived at the garage I… Continue reading Wading through floods to find a 1300 year old border

A notorious local murder 200 years ago today!

Originally I started composing this blog post for halloween but then I noticed how today is the anniversary of this awful crime so I thought it was rather fitting to post today. Just 3 or 4 miles from where I live is the scarily affluent town of Radlett, brimming with actors, socialites and premier league… Continue reading A notorious local murder 200 years ago today!

The Devils Bridge in Spooky Lane, Hertfordshire

Not far from me out in the Hertfordshire countryside is a sunken Roman road, now sided by old trees with tentacle-like roots that top the high brick and flint walls as if they are climbing out of the road. Along the old holloway is a hidden bridge known by locals as the “Devil’s Bridge on… Continue reading The Devils Bridge in Spooky Lane, Hertfordshire

Nicholas Breakspear – the only English Pope

Not far from where I used to live until recently, in the small Hertfordshire village of Abbots Langley stands St Lawrence Church. The small church is located just off the high street and like many small parish churches is rich in history that is all but forgotten by many. Inside the church, a tablet on… Continue reading Nicholas Breakspear – the only English Pope

Coronavirus Diary 75 – Finding a Holy and Magical Well in St Albans.

I’ve been to a few Holy Wells in my time, some ancient pagan wells and some slightly less ancient but still extremely old Christian ones.  The problem with wells in cities and particularly near to London is that they are either blocked up or entirely built over.  Some times is simply due to the rise… Continue reading Coronavirus Diary 75 – Finding a Holy and Magical Well in St Albans.

Visiting WW1 trenches in the heart of England

As someone with a keen interest in WW1 or The Great War, I’ve written before on my visits to the Western Front in France and Belgium. Not many people know that there are still trenches in England and conveniently only about 15 miles from where I live. I’ve wanted to visit them since the 1990’s… Continue reading Visiting WW1 trenches in the heart of England

Looking for a neolithic burial mound in my local (Cassiobury) Park

It’s reached the time of year that I’ve gone a bit doolally  and I mean more doolally than I generally am from the 1st of January until around the 31st December each year. I’ve not had a day off for years and been out on tour every day for months.  I also feel that I’ve… Continue reading Looking for a neolithic burial mound in my local (Cassiobury) Park

A walk along the Grand Union Canal

It’s been a very warm and sunny Bank Holiday weekend in London and I managed to wangle it so that I didn’t spend every minute of it working.  During a few hours of spare time I decided to go on a 9 mile (15km) circular walk, the majority of which was through parkland and along… Continue reading A walk along the Grand Union Canal

A Guided tour walk around my neighbourhood

I love to walk whenever I can and I am fortunate that I live pretty much on the last street of the huge sprawl of London. I might not have as much as I want but I do have countryside almost on my door step so when I have time this is one of my… Continue reading A Guided tour walk around my neighbourhood