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Historic Gadebridge Park
The history of the area now Gadebridge Park dates back to the late iron age. Excavations in 1963 and 2000 on the field north of Galley Hill revealed a farmhouse which was extended after the Roman invasion of AD43 to include stone built wings around a courtyard, a bathhouse, heated rooms and unusually a large swimming pool. See the Dacorum Heritage Trust website for more information on the excavations. http://www.dacorum.heritage.org.uk/
Gadebridge is on the northern edges of Hemel Hempstead and is Dacorum's principal park, forming a green wedge of urban countryside running into the heart of the town. The park is divided into two main areas, separated by the Leighton Buzzard Road, with a total area of about 32 hectares.
Of this, 20 hectares are to the west of the Leighton Buzzard Road, which includes a listed excavated and re-interred Roman archaeological site, a play area and the Field of Hope daffodil display. This section of the park slopes, with the gradient falling to the Leighton Buzzard Road, which runs along the bottom of the River Gade Valley. The area is used for occasional events, such as cross country competitions and fun runs.
To the east of the Leighton Buzzard Road lies the main section of the park, which is extensively used for recreation. Facilities include two bowling Chess Gadebridge Park greens (1 club and 1 public), a crazy golf course, petanque, croquet, giant chess and draughts, the King George V play area and a skate park. Two car parks within the site serve both the park and town centre and there are two blocks of public toilets. Ice cream, hot and cold drinks and snacks are available in the car parks. Usually there are about 10 special events held in the park each year, in addition to visits by the fun fair.
www.dacorum.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=3747 to see more infomation on the attractions
Through Gadebridge Park the river follows the course of a shallow millstream. The original river course in the valley bottom was filled in many years ago and the river diverted to its current position. The River through Gadebridge Park was re-profiled in a joint project between Dacorum Borough Council and the Environment Agency in 1997. Its purpose was to create a low flow channel along the centre of the River, allowing vegetation to establish on either side to broaden habitat diversity and encourage more species. Pools were left below each weir to allow public access to the waters edge. These conditions are ideal for fish with plenty of vegetation for cover and loose gravel for spawning.
In 2004, the SANDS (Hemel Hempstead and St Albans Still Birth and Neonatal Death Society) SANDS memorial garden was officially opened in the park. It was designed as a reflective and attractive garden for anyone who has been touched by the death of a baby from conception to shortly after birth. The design includes a statue "Hugging Couple" sculpted by Mark Humphrey.
Gadebridge Park and the Bury
The Walled Garden is the location of the original Bury House, although its exact Walled Garden and St Mary's Churchsize and shape are unknown. The Bury is an ancient name, usually referring to a fortified house, in this case the fortification may simply have been the marshy valley which is now Gadebridge Park. The first Bury was referred to in the 1289 Ashridge Charter where "Burymilne", the Mill near the Bury, was included. Prior to 1539 the Bury was the home of the Waterhouse family, whose name today is remembered by Waterhouse Street.
The Walled Garden is sometimes also known as the Charter Gardens, after the stone porchway leading to the gardens. The Charter Tower was originally the entrance into the second Bury House, which was rebuilt between towr charter1540 and 1595 by the Combes family. The arms of Richard Combes can still be seen carved on the upper story of the Charter Tower. Richard Combes inherited the Bury on the death of John Waterhouse. He built an elaborate and sumptuous building which remained there until 1790.
The name "Charter Tower " derives from a local myth that Henry VIII may have stayed there in 1539 and handed down Hemel Hempstead's Royal Market Charter from the upper window as a mark of gratitude for hospitality received. However this would have been a previous structure as the existing tower wasn't built until after this date. By the end of the 18th century the second Bury was demolished and the finaal Bury now the Regiser Office, was built by a Mr Ginger.
Walled garden in Gadebridge Park
Along the flower bed on the northern wall of the Walled Garden is a plaque commemorating the men and women from Dacorum who served in South East Asia Command and to the Burma Star Association, in memory of those who died in the Far East in World War II.
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