Wilstone village has changed little over the last two or three hundred years. Prior to the building of the Grand Union Canal and reservoirs in the 1790’s to the south was an area marshy land known as Moors’. Streams ran water mills to the north of the village known today as in local parlance as the 'milloppers'- mill hoppers for storage of corn.
The construction of canal provide new houses for the workers.Up to four pubs or ale houses, a chapel, a church, two or three shops, a forge and all the trades needed to support a village.
Walking through the village you may pick out these former establishment including what was the three story " Black Horse."
The attractive'Rainbow bridge' took the footpath across the canal to the surrounding hamlets, now replaced by the 'wooden bridge'.
In 1751 a dastardly act took place according to local legend at Dinah's pond in Watery Lane. Even today many old villagers would not stroll down there at midnight!
An accused Witch was subject to a trial by ducking, the last to take place in the county, having been outlawed for 16 years. The unfortunate woman Ruth Osborne drowned and the inquest was held in Wilstone. The main perpetrator was tried at Hertford and condemned to hang in chains on Wilstone Green.