Knebworth
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Knebworth | |
---|---|
![]() Knebworth House, Knebworth | |
Population | 4,496 (2011 Census)[1] |
OS grid reference | TL252201 |
District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | KNEBWORTH |
Postcode district | SG3 |
Dialling code | 01438 |
Police | Hertfordshire |
Fire | Hertfordshire |
Ambulance | East of England |
UK Parliament | |
Knebworth is a village and civil parish in the north of Hertfordshire, England, immediately south of Stevenage. The civil parish covers an area between the villages of Datchworth, Woolmer Green, Codicote, Kimpton, Whitwell, St Paul's Walden and Langley, and encompasses the village of Knebworth, the small village of Old Knebworth and Knebworth House.
History
There is evidence of people living in the area as far back as Neolithic times and it is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 where it is referred to as Chenepeworde (the farm belonging to the Dane, Cnebba) with a population of 150. The original village, now known as Old Knebworth, developed around Knebworth House. Development of the newer Knebworth village started in the late 19th century centred a mile to the east of Old Knebworth on the new railway station and the Great North Road (subsequently the A1, and now the B197 since the opening of the A1(M) motorway in 1962).
At the turn of the century the architect Edwin Lutyens built Homewood, southeast of Old Knebworth, as a dower house for Edith Bulwer-Lytton.[2] Her daughter, the suffragette Constance Lytton also lived there, until just before her death in 1923.[3]
Knebworth has, since 1974, been famously associated with numerous major open air rock and pop concerts at Knebworth House, including Queen's final live performance which took place on 9 August 1986 and drew an attendance estimated as high as 300,000; most famously Robbie Williams, who for three nights in August 2003 performed to the largest crowds ever assembled for a single performer.
Twinning
On 16 June 1990 the village was twinned with the commune of Châtelaillon-Plage in France.
Facilities
- Knebworth Post Office
- Doctors Surgery
- Knebworth Village Hall
Education and leisure
- Knebworth Primary and Nursery school
- The Roebuck Inn, its oldest public house (now in Stevenage), which dates back to 1420
- The Lytton Arms (public house in Old Knebworth), an early Victorian building
- The Station, a public house, built in 1883
- Recreation ground, incorporating football pitches, tennis courts, bowling green and children's play equipment
Places of worship
- St Martin's, Church of England, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and consecrated by the bishop of St Albans, Edgar Jacob, in 1915
- St Mary's, Church of England, parts of which date back to 1120
- St Thomas More, Roman Catholic Church, built in 1936
- Trinity Church, a Methodist Church and United Reformed Church local ecumenical partnership built in 1996 with roots in the village dating back to 1880
- Redemption House Redeemed Christian Church of God (offices)
Sport and leisure
Knebworth has a Non-League football club Knebworth F.C. who play at Knebworth Recreation Ground. Knebworth Tennis Club and Knebworth Bowls Club are also based at the Recreation Ground.
Knebworth Park Cricket Club play at their ground in Knebworth Park. Green Dragon Bowmen, an archery club, are also based in the Park.
Nature reserve
Knebworth Woods is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Transport
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Knebworth3.jpg/220px-Knebworth3.jpg)
Knebworth has a railway station, which has four platforms, running on the East Coast Main Line. Southbound services run towards London Kings Cross while northbound services run towards Cambridge and Peterborough. The station and its train services are operated by Great Northern.
Employment
Many of Knebworth's residents are retired or work in the surrounding towns and villages but there is employment in the village:
- A D Bly
- Chas Lowe & Sons
- The Redeemed Christian Church of God administration centre
- Corehard Limited
Statistics
Statistics from UK Census:[4]
- All Residents: 5,247
- Number of households: 2,203
- Average household size: 2.30
- Residents in households: 5,136
- Residents in communal living: 111
- Area (hectares): 1,958
- Population density (people per hectare): 2.70
The developed part of Knebworth around the railway station is approximately 120 ha. This gives a density of approximately 17 dwellings per hectare.[5] Recent developments such as New Close, Kerr Close, Peter's Way and Woodstock and (the extension of) Wadnall Way have significantly increased this average density. The population of Knebworth has approximately doubled since 1970.[6]
Notable inhabitants
- A. Duncan Carse, painter, of Deards End 1922-1923[7]
- Barbara Follett
- Barry Norman, film critic and broadcaster lives in nearby Datchworth
- David Lytton-Cobbold, 2nd Baron Cobbold
- Earls of Lytton
- Edward Bulwer-Lytton
- Henry Lytton-Cobbold
- Ken Follett
- Martin Freeman
- Robert Wilson, MBE, founder of Music for Youth
- Samantha Fox, Page 3 model and pop star.
- Tony Byworth, notable country music journalist
- Tony Cascarino, retired Irish football player
Twin towns
Knebworth is twinned with:
Châtelaillon-Plage, France[8]
Local Publications
The Knebworth Parish News is published monthly and delivered to around 800 homes in Knebworth. Articles for submission should be emailed to knebworthparishnews@hotmail.co.uk. It is published on paper only.
The Stevenage Comet is delivered to a small number of homes in the village.
See also
References
- ^ "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- ^ Historic England. "Homewood (1000911)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ^ Jenkins, Lyndsey (2015). Lady Constance Lytton: Aristocrat, Suffragette, Martyr. London: Biteback Publishing. pp. 228–30. ISBN 978-1-84954-795-6.
- ^ UK Census Data for Knebworth
- ^ Google Maps area tool.
- ^ Private communication
- ^ Royal Academy Dictionary of Exhibitors: Summer Exhibition catalogue archives
- ^ "British towns twinned with French towns". Archant Community Media Ltd. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
External links
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