Redbourn Common

An avenue of trees dates back to at least 1742.

The Common at Redbourn used to be a 9 Hole golf course in the early 1900s. During the First World War there was a rifle range. Cows last grazed on the common in 1951.

Cricket has been played in Redbourn since around 1666.

Ravenstone House on South Common was the old Boys school before the opening of the Infant and Junior schools.

The Lord of the Manor, (The Earl of Verulam), was owner of the common until the 1940s when it was given to Redbourn Parish Council by Deed of Gift with the ceremony taking place near the Cricket pavilion.

The Monks of St Albans claimed to find the remains of Amphilablus within one of the Mounds of the Banners. They erected Priory Buildings on the site of the two burial mounds in around 1178. Alan Featherstone suggests that the Priory site was in the Fish Street Farm and The Park area. The Fish Street Farm House being the site of the main chapel. The Common was larger in the 1100s than it is now.

Home of the Redbourn Museum, Greyfriars, Cumberland House, Methodist Church, and The Cricketers, Redbourn Cricket Club. See also: Lybury Lane, Fish Street and Church End

A number of memorial seats are on the common. See Memorial Inscriptions, Dr LMiller

A path has been constructed to join the corner of North Common and Flamsteadbury Lane with The Avenue and to Hemel Hempstead Road, by the Jolly Gardener. Redbourn Care Group is aiming to provide a riverside walk on The Moor to link up with the extension.

See also: A Redbourn Common Walk by Haydon Davies. This is Chapter 4 of his walks Booklet and it contains plenty of interesting information regarding the Common

See below for the Summer Nature Trail published by Redbourn Parish Council and drawn by Ernest Leahy

The Moor

The River Red enters the Common via culverts underneath the Hemel Hempstead road. And is also fed by run offs from local roads. High winds have damaged the willows. The height of the trees is to be reduced and some branches will be removed.

Work will be phased over the next few years.

The Environment Agency is drawing up a management plan to encourage wildlife.

• Summer Nature Trail: