Harpenden
From Free net encyclopedia
Template:Infobox England place with map Harpenden is a town in the City and District of St Albans of Hertfordshire in the East of England.
Contents |
The locality
Its population is approximately 35,000. There are two civil parishes Harpenden and Harpenden Rural.
Harpenden is on a fast rail link to central London served by Thameslink. Some of the trains stop at 'all stations' on the route, others stop at St Albans before continuing non-stop to London King's Cross Thameslink (Harpenden to Kings Cross - 29 minutes). From London, the trains continue south to Brighton or Wimbledon and Sutton. The rail link gives direct access to London Luton Airport (one stop north) and London Gatwick Airport (approx 1hr 40m).
In common with much of the region Harpenden is an area of high property costs. Land Registry data indicates average house prices in St Albans District at £318,695 in the 3rd quarter of 2004, against a south east average of £227,991. Reliable data does not exist at the town level.
The River Lea flows through the Batford neighbourhood. The Nicky Line railway used to link Harpenden, Redbourn and Hemel Hempstead. It has since been converted to a path forming part of the National Cycle Network. The A6 used to run through Harpenden, the road numbering was changed to avoid congestion. The M1 runs nearby.
Twinning
Harpenden is twinned with:
Miscellany
- The Rothamsted Experimental Station is in Harpenden.
- St. George's School, Sir John Lawes School[1], and Roundwood Park School are all in Harpenden.
- Youth With A Mission an international Christian missionary organization, has an estate in Harpenden. [2] This is on the site of the old National Children's Home.
Notable residents
- Australian writer Henry Lawson lived in 'Spring Villa', Cowper Rd, Harpenden from July-September, 1900.
- Stanley Kubrick lived and died in nearby Childwickbury Manor.
- In 1892 Harpenden was the birthplace of the visionary poet Ralph Chubb.
- Football commentator John Motson
- Red Dwarf actor Craig Charles
- Former Arsenal footballer Lee Dixon
- Late comedian Eric Morecambe
- Martin Gore from the band Depeche Mode
- Various members of rock and metal bands SikTh, Firstborn and Aconite Thrill.
- Everest mountaineer, author, scriptwriter and director Matt Dickinson
- Christopher Strauli an actor who stared in Only When I Laugh and Full House was born in Harpenden.
- Albert Moses an actor who starred in Mind Your Language playing Punjabi student Ranjeet Singh and a number of James Bond films is a long standing resident of Harpenden
Sport
Harpenden is home to various sports clubs. Just a selection are listed below:
Images
 Harpenden High Street, looking north |
 Harpenden High Street, looking north |
 Harpenden High Street, looking south |
 Harpenden High Street, looking south |
 Harpenden War Memorial |