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NEW FOR JANUARY
The Tithe Commutation Act, which enabled the payment of tithes in cash rather than in farm produce, was passed in 1836. Most of the consequent surveying and mapping was carried out by 1841, which is the date of the Wheathampstead tithe map and schedule that lists the name of the owner of each plot, the occupier, and how the land was being used. These can be viewed at HALS.
The Society has several copies of this map, including a set of three which a member of the Harpenden History Society has painstakingly colour-coded, one to show owners, one to show occupiers, and one to show land use.
The copies are not always easy to decipher, especially where there are several small plots close together, as in the village High Street. We are fortunate that a member of the Harpenden History Society has redrawn this section of the original map. To see this, go to 'Timeline' and scroll down to 1841. It is followed by two pages transcribed from the schedule.
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Wheathampstead History Society was established in 2011. We are a voluntary organisation set up to share our interest and enjoyment in our local history and heritage. We aim to promote knowledge and understanding of the village, past and present, by means of research, publications, talks and displays.
We encourage local people to take an interest in and/or to research their local history and heritage. We liaise with other interested groups in the village and further afield.
We publish occasional bulletins and an annual newsletter and enjoy talks and outings. Supported by ‘All Our Stories' Heritage Lottery funding, a group of us spent a year researching ‘Our changing High Street over the last 100 years' and used digital media to tell the story. Please see History of the High Street .
Members are active in archaeology, recording oral history, and researching aspects of local history. In 2015 members created and put on a community play entitled ‘Wheathampstead's War' telling the story of some village men who went to fight in World War I and the War's impact on those left behind at home.
We meet on the third Wednesday in the month in the Mead Hall in East Lane (behind The Bull, next to the free car park) and have a programme of speakers.
MEMBERSHIP is £8.00 a year for individuals and £12.00 a year for couples. Members pay a contribution of £1 per person per meeting attended and receive a free copy of our bulletins and newsletter. Visitors are charged £3.00 per meeting attended. Members are also affiliate members of Welwyn Archaeological Society and have free access to their meetings.
You can become a member at any of our meetings or by downloading this membership form and sending it to our Treasurer along with a cheque made out to Wheathampstead History Society.
Chairperson: Mike Smith
Hon. Treasurer: Stuart Lawson
Hon. Secretary: Ruth Jeavons, 44, Necton Road, Wheathampstead, St Albans AL4 8AU
Email address: whs@wheathampsteadheritage.org.uk
