Charlton, Hertfordshire

Charltonm
Hertfordshire
Harvest time at Temple End
Location
Grid reference:	TL178280
Location:	51°56’18"N, 0°17’15"W
Data
Postcode:	SG5
Local Government
Council:	North Hertfordshire

Charlton is a hamlet in Hertfordshire, close to the town of Hitchin but retaining its separate identity, separated by Hitchin Hill. It has a population of fewer than fifty souls.

Charlton is the birthplace of inventor Henry Bessemer and the mill-wheel was adapted by his grandfather to power a small foundry. The watermill was therefore converted to a foundry during the occupancy of the Bessemer family and back to a mill again afterwards.

There are remains of a windmill less than half a mile from the Windmill Pub from which it may have taken its name. There was, until the 1970s, also a water-wheel in the mill-race in the yard of Wellhead Farm.

According to an article by Peter Harkness in Vol 1, No 1 of "Old Hitchin Life" the Harkness family's now world-famous rose-nursery was, in the late 19th century, based in Charlton as well as Bedale, in Yorkshire. With Robert Harkness moving into Charlton House (Bessemer's birthplace) in 1895.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Charlton, Hertfordshire)