Piccotts End
| Piccotts End | |
| Hertfordshire | |
|---|---|
 Marchmont Regency villa, Piccotts End | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TL051090 |
| Location: | 51°46’14"N, 0°28’40"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Hemel Hempstead |
| Postcode: | HP1 |
| Dialling code: | 01442 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Dacorum |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Hemel Hempstead |
Piccotts End is a hamlet in Hertfordshire, standing on the upper course of the River Gade. It includes several mediæval cottages and a number of Georgian and Regency villas. One of these, Marchmont, is now a public house. There is an extensively restored 19th century watermill. Piccotts End is positioned on the edge of Hemel Hempstead's extensive urban area, but careful planning has kept green space between it and the town.
In 1953 some unusually fine mediæval wall paintings were discovered in some cottages here. The paintings date to between 1470 and 1500 and show a number of religious scenes, including the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist (wearing camel skin complete with head and hoofs) and a scene of the Virgin Mary holding Christ's body in front of the cross. Also depicted are St Peter, St Catherine of Alexandria with her wheel and sword and St Margaret of Antioch emerging from the belly of the dragon.[1] The building was also found to have a hidden room in the roof, suggesting it was a priest hole and an Elizabethan painted room in the next door cottage.
In 1827 the same building had been converted into the West Herts Infirmary, the first cottage hospital, by Sir Astley Cooper, providing free medical services.
Outside links
- Piccotts End Mediæval wall paintings Hemel Hempstead Gazette, Local History, Questions and Answers. Includes images of the paintings. Accessed April 2007
References
- ↑ "Wall paintings on the move", Financial Times, October 28, 2000, p. 18; and
- Hertfordshire Genealogy Accessed April 2007
- Inside story: Piccotts End Daily Telegraph, October 2000. Accessed April 2007