“A village situated alongside the A412 road.” That’s how West Hyde is introduced. But let’s delve deeper into what makes this Hertfordshire village special.
West Hyde is a village in the Three Rivers District. It is located in south-west Hertfordshire. The 2011 census counted the village’s population. It was included in the Maple Cross and Mill End ward.
Now, about those notable buildings in West Hyde. There’s Ye Jolly Gardeners. It is believed to have been built in 1820. It was West Hyde’s local pub until 1956. The building was later converted into a house. Then there’s The Oaks. It was originally named The Royal Oak. It was later named The Fisherman’s Tackle in 1990. Since 2013, it has been known as The Oaks. It is the village’s current public house.
But perhaps the most striking structure is St Thomas of Canterbury. This church was built in 1845. Thomas Smith of Hertford designed it in the Norman style. It is a copy of his earlier Holy Trinity Church at Wareside. Pulhamite artificial stonework mouldings were used throughout. The building boasts high-quality knapped flintwork. This costed about u00a32,200.
An Ecclesiastical District was formed at West Hyde in 1846. St. Thomas church was erected in 1845. The structure has a cruciform shape. It is in the Norman style. The church is built of flint with stone dressings. It has a fine stained-glass east window. The church provides space for over 300 people. The living is a Vicarage. Its yearly value is about u00a3320. The Bishop of St. Albans is its patron.
West Hyde is about two and a half miles from Rickmansworth. It lies on the road to Uxbridge. A good National School was built in 1862. It was recently enlarged. There is a paper-mill on the River Colne. The population is 493. The number of acres is 1650.
Interestingly, a Methodist chapel existed here. It dates back to 1875. Billy Saunders, the baker, built it in his front garden. Services were held there until 1912. It then became a fish and chip shop. May Cottage is one of the oldest buildings in West Hyde. It dates from the early seventeenth century.
Today, St Thomas’ holds weekly Sunday services. These revolve around Eucharist and non-Eucharistic patterns. Services are at the same time each week.
So, as you explore West Hyde, remember its layers of history. From its church to its pubs and cottages, West Hyde offers a glimpse into England’s past. A past that continues to shape its present.