Walsworth

Walsworth
Hertfordshire
Location
Grid reference:	TL199301
Location:	51°57’23"N, 0°15’24"W
Data
Local Government
Council:	North Hertfordshire

Walsworth is a village about a mile north east of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, which has long since been incorporated into the swelling town. It is still referred to as a village by local people.

The Walsworth festival is held annually on Walsworth Common.

The village has a primary school (Highover Primary School) and a community centre. Another primary school.

Walsworth also has three pubs: The Sailor (formerly the Sailor Boy) on Woolgrove Road, opposite a playing field (Walsworth Common), The Millstream (formerly known as the Ship) on Cambridge Road next to the River Purwell, and the Anchor also on Cambridge Road, about 100 m to the East of the Millstream. All three pubs have been renovated in recent years.

St Faith's Church lies at the centre of the ward at the crossroads on the A505 with Willian Road and Woolgrove Road, built in the 1890s by the Rev'd Gainsford as a Mission Church.

There is a nature reserve and recreational area at Purwell Meadows.

The areas alongside the River Purwell were once notorious for regular flooding although in recent years, drainage improvements associated with house building appear to have alleviated the problem. However heavy rain has caused flooding at the Walsworth cross roads as recently as September 2011, causing the road to be closed by the college. Flooding to a depth of approximately 8 cm affects the entrance Chaucer Way with the meadows adjoining Chaucer Way and Purwell Lane regularly becoming flooded to a depth of 8 inches.

Since the construction of housing along the flood plain, the river can completely dry up during periods of drought.