The Hertfordshire parish of Colney Heath is conveniently located between St Albans and Hatfield, just off the A414. We found out more...
The village's main road, High Street, runs alongside the heath which gives Colney Heath part of its name. It is also named after the River Colne, which runs through it.
Colney Heath Parish Council was formed in 1947, and is comprised of the areas of Colney Heath village, Sleapshyde, Smallford and Tyttenhanger.
Today the parish has a population of around 6,000, about half of whom are in the village of Colney Heath itself.
Colney Heath Common is a 60-acre site bordering the River Colne, and is one of the four remaining acid heathlands in Hertfordshire.
The heath is classed as a Hertfordshire Heritage site, and provides a haven for wildlife and a popular spot for dog walkers.
Once owned by the Abbot of St Albans Abbey, ownership passed to the Crown following the dissolution of the monasteries.
The land was subsequently acquired by Sir Thomas Pope, whose country seat was at Tyttenhanger.
During the mid-18th and 19th centuries, the heath became a haunt for highwaymen, and was known for prize fighting, cock fighting and card gamblers.
Over the years, the area diminished and made way for residential development.
Today there is open public access to the Common, with a network of nearby footpaths - including the Alban Way.
The Common was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1997.
History
Four of south Hertfordshire's historic coal posts can be found in the parish - suggesting the village was once a busy trade route into London.
In the 17th century, coal and wine were taxed to help pay for the cost of rebuilding London after the Great Fire in 1666.
The distinctive white coal posts mark the 1861 boundary of the Metropolitan Police District - where if you passed the post you had to pay the levy.
This unpopular tax was finally abolished in the late 1880s.
There is also a London Coal duty marker on Coursers Road, adjoining the south corner of the garden to the former Queens Head pub.
Coal posts in Colney Heath parish can also be found opposite the former The Cock pub on the heath, near Coursers Farm on Coursers Road, and north of the River Colne on the heath near Church Lane.
Property
Properties in Colney Heath range from pretty period cottages to modern new build homes.
According to Rightmove, properties in London Colney had an overall average price of £479,427 over the last year.
The majority of sales in London Colney during the last year were terraced properties, selling for an average price of £508,665. Flats sold for an average of £292,512, with semi-detached properties fetching £533,033.
Properties currently on the market in the village include a semi-detached three-bedroom property at High Street for £420,000 and a five-bedroom detached property for £700,000 at Roestock Lane.
Amenities
The last remaining village pub in Colney Heath - The Crooked Billet - is 'temporarily closed', following an apparent vehicle accident near the pub recently.
The Queens Head and The Cock were both converted into residential accommodation, and following the more recent closure of The Chalkdrawers Arms on Roestock Lane, The Crooked Billet became the only pub remaining.
Other amenities in High Street include a newsagent/convenience store, and popular Indian takeaway The Rice.
A number of clubs meet at the well-used village hall, which is used as a community hub for a variety of events including private parties, quiz nights and celebrations.
The village is also home to St Mark's, which describes itself as an "active, charismatic, evangelical church".
Travel
Colney Heath is conveniently located just a short drive from both St Albans city centre and Hatfield, and is also under three miles from the villages of London Colney and Welham Green.
Colney Heath lies south of the A414, with both the M25 and A1(M) easily accessible.
The village is connected to St Albans by bus routes, while St Albans City and Hatfield stations offer direct rail services to London.
Sport and leisure
Colney Heath Football Club are based at the recreation ground, situated behind the primary school.
The 'Magpies' were founded in 1907 and run a number of adult and kids' teams.
School
Colney Heath School is a small primary and nursery in High Street, and was ranked ‘good’ by Ofsted at its last inspection.
The closest secondary schools include Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School in Colney Heath Lane, St Albans (‘good’) and Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School (‘outstanding’).
Twinning
Since 1982, the village has been twinned with Boissy-sous-Saint-Yon in France.
Boissy is about 20 miles south of Paris. Saint-Yon is situated between the villages of Boissy and Breuillet.
Colney Heath Parish Council chose Boissy because it was the same size as Colney Heath and a similar distance from Paris as Colney Heath is from London.
The Twinning Association hosts many social events in the Village Hall.
Two roads on the outskirts of the village, St Yon Court and Boissy Close, are named after Colney Heath's French twins.
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