As you can see from the About Wymondley page of this website, Wymondley Parish has a rich and interesting history, with several buildings, churches, monuments and archaeological features of great interest.
Listed buildings in the Parish
Details of the Parish’s listed buildings can be found on Historic England’s list at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/results?q=wymondley&parish=-1&searchtype=nhlesearch&searchResultsPerPage=20
The Parish’s social history
If you are interested in the social history of the Parish, you may be interested to know that Robert Howard, (a life-long resident of Little Wymondley), has set up a Facebook Group called Wymondley Scrapbook, which can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1936331576680625/
The idea is that past and present residents of Wymondley Parish will join the group and share and enjoy old, (and more modern), photos of the Parish – and other related memorabilia and information for future generations to learn from and enjoy.
Although it is a closed group, all you need to do is request membership, and Robert will give you access. He can be contacted on r.howard96.rh8@gmail.com You can then post your own photos and memorabilia into an existing album on the page or create your own; and if you know someone who has information, but isn’t able to post the material themselves, then Robert will be happy to help.
Please pass this information on to anyone you know who has a link to the Wymondleys and surrounding hamlets, and who you think might be interested or wish to contribute.
The Parish’s past history from Roman times to World War II
The area is rich in history, particularly Great Wymondley. Shards of Roman pottery and a Roman cemetery reflect its proximity to a large Roman farm and villa in the valley to the east, on the outskirts of Hitchin. Great Wymondley is set high on the hill and its Norman church of St Mary the Virgin, (with its 15th century tower and castellated battlements), stands next to the mound of a ‘motte and bailey’. The adjacent green is the centre of the village, with the nearby, very attractive brick built ‘Delamere House’ standing on the site of an earlier house – where it is rumoured that Cardinal Wolsey lived for a time. Across the road is a pretty row of thatched cottages named after several of Henry VIII’s wives.
Originally, there was a Manor House in Great Wymondley near the church and motte and bailey, but all traces of this have disappeared. The Lord of the Manor was held in ‘Serjeantry’ to the Crown and his duty was to present the first cup of wine at the Coronation feasts in Westminster hall. This tradition continued up to the coronation of George IV, after which, the banquet was discontinued. The duties of this manor and that of Little Wymondley merged over the years and remains of the latter exist as Wymondley Bury.
There is a ‘minor’ sunken road between the two Wymondleys, which was probably laid out at the time of the Wymondley Enclosure Act of 1811. Beside this road are the remains of a priory, after which the current property and farm are named. The priory followed the rule of St Augustine and was patronised by the lords of the manor. Founded in the early 1200’s, there is a copy of a papal bull in the British Library from Pope Innocent III, giving protection to the Hospital of Wymondley dated 1207. Following the dissolution, parts of the nave of the church appear to have been incorporated within the current dwelling house and the tithe barn has been restored and is used for private functions.
To the south stands moated Wymondley Bury, parts of which date back to the 14th century. The Bury stands on a site that was probably fortified in the Saxon period.
On the west of the village stands Wymondley House, built by a rich and influential lawyer in the early 1700’s – who enclosed 8 acres of common land and ignored a court order to remove them, which was not enforced. (His wealth was such that he paid window tax on twenty-five windows!) After World War II, it became a Roman Catholic school for a few years, the chapel in the grounds having been used as a schoolroom for London evacuees during the War. It was subsequently commercial premises and is currently residential flats.