| Piccotts End | |
|---|---|
  Piccotts End Location withinHertfordshire | |
| OS grid reference | TL051090 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Hemel Hempstead |
| Postcode district | HP1 |
| Dialling code | 01442 |
| Police | Hertfordshire |
| Fire | Hertfordshire |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
| |
Piccotts End is a village inHertfordshire, England situated on the upperRiver Gade. While often mistaken for a hamlet, it became a village when its church – All Saints – was dedicated in 1907[1] and remained a place of worship until the 1970s.[2] It is in the Dacorum Ward ofGadebridge.
The village is home to several medieval cottages and a number of Georgian and Regency villas. One of these, Marchmont House, is now a pub. There is an extensively restored 19th century watermill. Piccotts End is positioned on the edge ofHemel Hempstead's extensive urban area, but careful planning has kept green space between it and the town.
The Piccotts End Pumping Station operated by Affinity Water takes its name from the village, but is actually located across the Leighton Buzzard Road on a dedicated utility site containing water treatment works and an electricity sub-station.
In 1953 some unusually finemedieval wall paintings were discovered in some cottages here. The paintings date to between 1470 and 1500 and show a number of religious scenes, including thebaptism of Jesus bySt John (wearing camel skin complete with head and hoofs) and a scene of theVirgin Mary holdingChrist's body in front of the cross. Also depicted areSt Peter,St Catherine of Alexandria with her wheel and sword andSt Margaret of Antioch emerging from the belly of the dragon.[3] It is believed that these wall paintings show a link to the 'heretical'Cathar beliefs of southern France and adjacent areas ofCatalonia and northern Italy. The building was also found to have a hidden room in the roof, suggesting it was apriest hole and anElizabethan 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 SirAstley Cooper, providing free medical services.[4]
Media related toPiccotts End at Wikimedia Commons