Codicote
| Codicote | |
| Hertfordshire | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TL220188 |
| Location: | 51°51’16"N, 0°13’45"W |
| Data | |
| Postcode: | SG4 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | North Hertfordshire |
Codicote is a large village in Hertfordshire about seven miles south of Hitchin. It has timber-framed and chequered brick houses, of special interest being the 18th-century Pond House and the half-timbered "As You Like It" Peking restaurant (formerly the George and Dragon Inn).
Codicote Lodge is 18th-century and Codicote Bury 17th-century. A most unusual structure north of the village is the Node Dairy and Stud, erected in 1927. It is circular in design, and thatched, with a circular courtyard and a tower which is, in fact, a silo.
The village lies on a chalk ridge on the dip slope of the Chiltern Hills. The highest parts of the parish lie in the north and east, most of which is over 380 feet and at one point 450 feet is reached. The Mimram Valley is between about 220 and 250 feet in the parish. On the west side of the river the land rises to about 400 feet at Abbotshay.
A major survey of the landscape in the parish was started in 2007.
St Giles Church
The parish church is St Giles. It was dedicated by Ralph, Bishop of Rochester at some time during his period of office, 1108 - 1115. The church was mostly rebuilt in 1853 but retains 13th-century work in its nave and aisles. It contains a chapel of the Holy Innocents.
Early history
The earliest form of the name is recorded in 1002 as Cuthingcoton meaning the "Cutha's people's cottages".
In the year 1002 Codicote enters the written records for the first time when King Æthelred the Unready, its owner, sold it by means of a charter for the sum of 150 mancusae, or 900 shillings of pure gold to his 'faithful minster' Ælfhelm. It was described as being 'five measures of ground' (of uncertain extent) and known as 'æt Cuthingcoton'. Shortly after this it passed to the Abbot and Chapter of St Albans Abbey.
By 1086, the Domesday Book shows Codicote's value at six pounds. There was a total of eight hides in the manor, perhaps 960 acres, of which the Abbot's bailiff farmed three and a quarter hides as the Abbot's 'home farm'. The rest was shared between a number of tenants, 16 'villeins', three humbler cottagers and one 'Frenchman' who may have been the bailiff. In addition there were four (landless) serfs. This suggests a total population of about 100 persons including women and children. There were two profitable mills (now known as Codicote Mill and Fulling Mill), some meadow and pasture and some woodland.
A 2007 BBC programme Christina: a Mediæval Life, presented by Michael Wood, focused upon the life and times of Christina Cok (d. 1348) in Codicote, studying the archives relating to her father's acquisition of field strips and marketplace property, which she took over in the 14th century. She won a consistory court case over her claim to the rights to her land.
Public houses
Public houses in Codicote include The Goat, The Globe, and The Bell Motel which has a number of rooms behind the main building. There is also the Sports and Social Club off Bury Lane.
Sport and leisure
One of the most significant developments in the village of Codicote in recent decades is the ongoing development of enhanced sports facilities. The current sports field and facilities came about as a result of the tragic death in 1976 of John Clements, a local teacher who, sacrificing his own life, heroically rescued 35 children by leading them from a burning hotel. He was subsequently awarded the George Cross and a memorial trust fund was quickly established in his honour which led to the current sports field and a changing facility being opened in 1984 and an extension to changing facilities being added in 2000.
There are currently three main outdoor sports areas and activities in the village:
- 2 football pitches used by 2 senior teams in Herts Premier League, 1 under 18, 1 under 17, 2 under 11, 1 under 7 team and 2 Ladies teams.
- 3 tennis courts
- a cricket wicket used by up to 4 cricket teams
Full planning permission was granted on 30 April 2009 for a new £1.7m Sports Hall. The structure will measure 48.1 meters by 19.3 meters and will include a sports hall, function room, youth club and changing facilities. The new John Clements Sports & Community Centre is targeted to complete by the end of 2011. This enhancement will build on the village’s sporting success story by introducing indoor sports such as 5-a-side football, indoor tennis, cricket nets, bowls, basketball and netball. This will provide increased sport for more people in the area and will be a fitting tribute to the memory of John Clements.
Non-League football club Codicote FC are one of the senior teams that use the John Clements Memorial Ground.
There are numerous other Sports & Recreation clubs in Codicote.
Codicote Tennis Club has three floodlit hard courts and is based at Codicote Sports & Social Centre in Hertfordshire.[1]
Codicote Village Day is an annual one day festival which begins with a parade up the High St and proceeds to the Sports and Recreation field where a program of events, lots of stalls and attractions keep locals and visitors entertained throughout the afternoon.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Codicote) |
- St Giles, Codicote
- Codicote Local History Society
- Codicote Sports and Social Centre
- Codicote Cricket Club