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Coordinates: 51°55′40″N 0°20′10″W / 51.9279°N 0.3361°W / 51.9279; -0.3361
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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
{{Infobox UK place
|country = England
|country = England
|official_name= Offley
|official_name= Offley
|static_image= [[Image:St Mary Magdalene Church.JPG|240px]]
|static_image= St Mary Magdalene Church.JPG
|static_image_width= 240px
|latitude= 51.9279
|coordinates = {{coord|51.9279|-0.3361|display=inline,title}}
|longitude= -0.3361
| population = 1307
| population = 1307
| population_ref = <ref>Office for National Statistics, [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=795325&c=Offley&d=16&e=15&g=455002&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1227900650297&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 2001 Census Parish Headcounts for Offley].</ref>
| population_ref = <ref>Office for National Statistics, [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=795325&c=Offley&d=16&e=15&g=455002&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1227900650297&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 2001 Census Parish Headcounts for Offley].</ref><br> 1,398 (2011 Census)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11127209&c=Offley&d=16&e=62&g=6434005&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1477941926268&enc=1|title=Civil Parish population 2011|access-date=31 October 2016|publisher=Office for National Statistics |work=Neighbourhood Statistics}}</ref>
|shire_district= [[North Hertfordshire]]
|shire_district= [[North Hertfordshire]]
|shire_county= [[Hertfordshire]]
|shire_county= [[Hertfordshire]]
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}}
}}


'''Offley''' is a [[civil parish]] in the [[England|English]] county of [[Hertfordshire]], between [[Hitchin]] and [[Luton]]. The main [[village]] is '''Great Offley''', and the parish also contains the nearby [[hamlet (place)|hamlets]] of '''Little Offley''' and '''The Flints'''. In the south-west of the parish, near Luton, there are the hamlets of '''Cockernhoe''', '''Mangrove Green''' and '''Tea Green''', and also the [[Putteridge Bury]] estate; these have LU2 postcodes and 01582 telephone numbers.
'''Offley''' is a [[civil parish]] in the [[England|English]] county of [[Hertfordshire]], between [[Hitchin]] and [[Luton]]. The main village is '''Great Offley''', and the parish also contains the nearby [[hamlet (place)|hamlets]] of '''Little Offley''' and '''The Flints'''. In the south-west of the parish, near Luton, there are the hamlets of '''Cockernhoe''', '''Mangrove Green''' and '''Tea Green''', and also the [[Putteridge Bury]] estate; these have LU2 postcodes and 01582 telephone numbers.


==Great Offley==
==Great Offley==


'''Great Offley''' lies on the top of a chalk escarpment ridge (521&nbsp;ft/159 metres above sea level) in the centre of the parish (the most north eastern ridge of the [[Chiltern Hills]]), and its population is 673.<ref name="HCC">Population figures are taken from [http://www.hertsdirect.org/yrccouncil/hcc/env/factsfigs/population/census/cenresults/cenpopsett/ Population and household counts for Hertfordshire settlements - 2001 census].</ref> [[Offa]], King of [[Mercia]] in the 8th century, is said to have built a palace here and thus gave his name to the village. There is a most interesting group of buildings, including Offley Place, which was rebuilt in 1810 but which retains a Tudor porch and a 17th-century wing.
'''Great Offley''' lies on the top of a chalk escarpment ridge (521&nbsp;ft/159 metres above sea level) in the centre of the parish (the most north eastern ridge of the [[Chiltern Hills]]), and its population is 673.<ref name="HCC">Population figures are taken from [http://www.hertsdirect.org/yrccouncil/hcc/env/factsfigs/population/census/cenresults/cenpopsett/ Population and household counts for Hertfordshire settlements - 2001 census] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310213804/http://www.hertsdirect.org/yrccouncil/hcc/env/factsfigs/population/census/cenresults/cenpopsett/ |date=10 March 2007 }}.</ref> [[Offa]], King of [[Mercia]] in the 8th century, is said to have built a palace here and thus gave his name to the village. There is a most interesting group of buildings, including Offley Place, which was rebuilt in 1810 but which retains a Tudor porch and a 17th-century wing.


The church named after [[St. Mary Magdalene]] contains some attractive monuments. Its [[nave]] is Early English, and the [[chancel]] was recased and its interior built by Sir Thomas Salusbury in the 18th century. The tower dates from about 1800.
The church named after [[St. Mary Magdalene]] contains some attractive monuments. Its [[nave]] is Early English, and the [[chancel]] was recased and its interior built by Sir Thomas Salusbury in the 18th century. The tower dates from about 1800.
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Housing development in recent years has been restricted to the following areas:
Housing development in recent years has been restricted to the following areas:


* Kings Walden Road (1980's)
* Kings Walden Road (1980s)
* Meadow Way, terrace of two bedroom houses
* Meadow Way, terrace of two bedroom houses
* Oflley Chapel, Luton Road, converted into housing units (1990s)
* Oflley Chapel, Luton Road, converted into housing units (1990s)
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* John Hall Court
* John Hall Court


[[Bloor Homes]]<ref>http://www.eastofluton.com/ website accessed 11/01/2009</ref> who have been building on regeneration sites in Luton have submitted proposals for a large scale development on the Putteridgebury Estate. This is likely to be opposed by local residents and groups such as the Keep East of Luton Green<ref>http://www.keolg.org/ website accessed 11/01/2009</ref> and [[Campaign to Protect Rural England]] (CPRE).
[[Bloor Homes]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eastofluton.com/ |title=The East of Luton consultation website |access-date=2009-01-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119033520/http://eastofluton.com/ |archive-date=19 January 2009 |df=dmy-all }} website accessed 11/01/2009</ref> who have been building on regeneration sites in Luton have submitted proposals for a large scale development on the Putteridgebury Estate. This is likely to be opposed by local residents and groups such as the Keep East of Luton Green<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.keolg.org/ |title=KEOLG - Keep East of Luton Green - Green Belt - CPRE - campaign |access-date=2009-01-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214092644/http://www.keolg.org/ |archive-date=14 February 2009 |df=dmy-all }} website accessed 11/01/2009</ref> and [[Campaign to Protect Rural England]] (CPRE).


===Local services===
===Local services===


The village still has a Post Office/General stores, the butchers shop was closed in recent times to be replaced by an Ladies hairdressers, there had been one previously in the late 1970s located in a property adjoining the butchers shop.
The village still has a Post Office/General stores, the butchers shop was closed in recent times to be replaced by an Ladies hairdressers, there had been one previously in the late 1970s located in a property adjoining the butchers shop. There is now a butchers shop at Offley hoo farm which has been there for a few years.
The Village Petrol station closed in the late 1980s although a garage operated on the site until 2001 when the land was sold for development.
The Village Petrol station closed in the late 1980s although a garage operated on the site until 2001 when the land was sold for development.


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At one time Great Offley had six pubs in the village, these have now decreased to two with a third being converted into a Chinese Restaurant.
At one time Great Offley had six pubs in the village, these have now decreased to two with a third being converted into a Chinese Restaurant.


* Green Man<ref>[http://www.mypubheaven.com/greenmanhitchin/?ReferringSiteId=2/ My Pub Heaven]</ref> ([[Chef and Brewer]])
* Green Man<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mypubheaven.com/greenmanhitchin/?ReferringSiteId=2/|title=mypubheaven.com|website=www.mypubheaven.com}}</ref> ([[Chef and Brewer]])
* Red Lion<ref>[http://www.redlionoffley.co.uk/ The Red Lion, Great Offley]</ref>
* Red Lion<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.redlionoffley.co.uk/ |title=The Red Lion, Great Offley |access-date=4 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603221813/http://www.redlionoffley.co.uk/ |archive-date=3 June 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* The Bull (now closed and converted into a private dwelling)
* The Bull (now closed and converted into a private dwelling)
* The Cock became The Crusty Loaf and then the Lobster Tail restaurant which subsequently closed and has been turned into a private dwelling.
* The Cock became The Crusty Loaf and then the Lobster Tail restaurant which subsequently closed and has been turned into a private dwelling.
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** renamed as Astons (Restaurant and Bar)
** renamed as Astons (Restaurant and Bar)
** Reverted to Gloucester Arms
** Reverted to Gloucester Arms
** Converted into Chinese Restaurant The Offley Oriental<ref>[http://www.offleyoriental.co.uk/ Offley Oriental]</ref>
** Converted into Chinese Restaurant The Offley Oriental<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.offleyoriental.co.uk/|title=Offley Oriental - Offley Oriental-Luton Road, Great Offley, Nr Hitchin, Hertfordshire|website=www.offleyoriental.co.uk}}</ref>


===Recreation===
===Recreation===


* '''[http://www.oscricket.com Offley and Stopsley Cricket Club]''', play at the Recreation Ground.<ref>http://www.oscricket.com</ref>
* Offley and Stopsley Cricket Club,<ref name="Offley & Stopsley Cricket Club">{{cite web|url=http://www.oscricket.com/|title=Offley & Stopsley Cricket Club|website=www.oscricket.com}}</ref> play at the Recreation Ground.<ref name="Offley & Stopsley Cricket Club"/>
* '''Offley and District Riding Club have at least four shows at the Old Football Field, Luton White Hill.
* Offley and District Riding Club have at least four shows at the Old Football Field, Luton White Hill.
* '''Luton and District Aeronautical Society''' fly remote control model aircraft at a field at the top of Chalk Hill to the south east of the village.<ref>[http://www.ldmas.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=55 Luton and District Aeronautical Society website accessed 2008-10-22]</ref>
* Luton and District Aeronautical Society fly remote control model aircraft at a field at the top of Chalk Hill to the south east of the village.


There is also a fishing club which uses the Long Pond and the Pump Pond which are located along Salusbury Lane.
There is also a fishing club which uses the Long Pond and the Pump Pond which are located along Salusbury Lane.


==Little Offley==
==Little Offley==
'''Little Offley''' is a small hamlet lying 1½ miles north-west of Great Offley, and it is reached via a bridge over the [[A505 road|A505]]. It contains a late [[Tudor period|Tudor]] brick-built [[manor house]].
'''Little Offley''' is a small hamlet lying {{frac|1|1|2}} miles north-west of Great Offley, and it is reached via a bridge over the [[A505 road|A505]]. It contains a late [[Tudor period|Tudor]] brick-built [[manor house]].


The [[Hitchin Yeshiva]] is based in Wellbury House which is a mile north east of Little Offley.
The [[Hitchin Yeshiva]] is based in Wellbury House which is a mile north east of Little Offley.
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==Cockernhoe==
==Cockernhoe==


'''Cockernhoe''' lies 2½ miles south-west of Great Offley, and its population is 191.<ref name="HCC"/>
'''Cockernhoe''' lies {{frac|2|1|2}} miles south-west of Great Offley, and its population is 191.<ref name="HCC"/>


Cockernhoe has a village school and a small church (St Hugh's).
Cockernhoe has a village school and a small church (St Hugh's).


<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:St Hughes Cockernhoe.jpg|St Hugh's Church, Cockernhoe
Image:St Hugh's Cockernhoe.jpg|St Hugh's Church, Cockernhoe
Image:Tea Green.jpg|White Horse and Water Tower at Tea Green
Image:Tea Green.jpg|White Horse and Water Tower at Tea Green
Image:Tea Green blacksmiths.jpg| Blacksmiths at Tea Green
Image:Tea Green blacksmiths.jpg| Blacksmiths at Tea Green
Image:Offley Chase - geograph.org.uk - 198959.jpg|The house and gardens of Offley Chase sourounded by fields and rolling hills
Image:Offley Chase - geograph.org.uk - 198959.jpg|The house and gardens of Offley Chase surrounded by fields and rolling hills
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Mangrove Green==
==Mangrove Green==
'''Mangrove Green''' lies just north of Cockernhoe and south of Putteridgebury, and its population is 108.<ref name="HCC"/> The village has one pub, the King William IV.
'''Mangrove Green''' lies just north of Cockernhoe and south of [[Putteridge Bury]], and its population is 108.<ref name="HCC"/> The village has one pub, the King William IV.


==Tea Green==
==Tea Green==
'''Tea Green''' lies 2½ miles south of Great Offley, and its population is 44.<ref name="HCC"/>
'''Tea Green''' lies {{frac|2|1|2}} miles south of Great Offley, and its population is 44.<ref name="HCC"/>
Tea Green sits on top of a chalk ridge on the opposite side of [[Lilley, Hertfordshire|Lilley]] Bottom/Mimram Valley. A major landmark is the tall water tower which is next to the White Horse Pub.
Tea Green sits on top of a chalk ridge on the opposite side of [[Lilley, Hertfordshire|Lilley]] Bottom/Mimram Valley. A major landmark is the tall water tower which is next to the White Horse Pub.


Two of the oldest barns in the area (dating from the 16th century) are located at Tankards and Crutchmore Farms<ref>[http://www.offleypc.org.uk/history.php Parish History, Offley Parish Council (website accessed 21st June 2010)]</ref>
Two of the oldest barns in the area (dating from the 16th century) are located at Tankards and Crutchmore Farms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.offleypc.org.uk/history.php|title=Local History - Offley Parish Council in Hertfordshire|website=www.offleypc.org.uk}}</ref>


==Offley Chase==
==Offley Chase==
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The land use in the parish is a mixture of [[arable land|arable]], and [[woodland]] with some minor seasonal grazing for beef [[cattle]] and [[sheep]]. To the east of the village all the round to the south east forms part of the [[King's Walden]] estate. During the winter months [[Common pheasant|pheasant]] and [[partridge]] shooting takes with several shooting syndicates operating to the north of the village as well as a big shoot organised by King's Walden Estate.
The land use in the parish is a mixture of [[arable land|arable]], and [[woodland]] with some minor seasonal grazing for beef [[cattle]] and [[sheep]]. To the east of the village all the round to the south east forms part of the [[King's Walden]] estate. During the winter months [[Common pheasant|pheasant]] and [[partridge]] shooting takes with several shooting syndicates operating to the north of the village as well as a big shoot organised by King's Walden Estate.


[[Red kites]] along with [[common buzzard]] and [[Eurasian sparrowhawk|sparrowhawk]]s can be seen in the area.<ref name="Chilterns">{{cite web|url=http://www.chilternsaonb.org/downloads/farm_birds_survey.pdf|title=Breeding Bird Survey of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 2002|last=Schurmer|first=Michael|date=November 2002|publisher=RSPB|accessdate=26 October 2009}}</ref>
[[Red kites]] along with [[common buzzard]] and [[Eurasian sparrowhawk|sparrowhawk]]s can be seen in the area.<ref name="Chilterns">{{cite web|url=http://www.chilternsaonb.org/downloads/farm_birds_survey.pdf|title=Breeding Bird Survey of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 2002|last=Schurmer|first=Michael|date=November 2002|publisher=RSPB|access-date=26 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613151528/http://www.chilternsaonb.org/downloads/farm_birds_survey.pdf|archive-date=13 June 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>


===Decline in farming===
===Decline in farming===
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===Chiltern Way===
===Chiltern Way===


The 152 mile [[Chiltern Way]] long distance footpath passes through the parish,<ref>http://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_id=1119</ref> as does the 170 mile [[Chiltern Cycleway]].<ref>[http://www.chilternsociety.org.uk/about-ChCyWay.php/ The Chilterns Cycleway , Chiltern Society website (accessed 04/07/10)]</ref>
The 152-mile [[Chiltern Way]] long-distance footpath passes through the parish,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Chiltern+Way|title=Chiltern Way - LDWA Long Distance Paths|website=www.ldwa.org.uk}}</ref> as does the 170-mile [[Chiltern Cycleway|Chilterns Cycleway]].<ref>[http://www.chilternsociety.org.uk/about-ChCyWay.php/ The Chilterns Cycleway, Chiltern Society website (accessed 04/07/10)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711181859/http://www.chilternsociety.org.uk/about-ChCyWay.php |date=11 July 2010 }}</ref>


<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Chiltern Cycleway.JPG|Chiltern Cycleway
Image:Chiltern Cycleway.JPG|Chilterns Cycleway
Image:Kerygma Cockers Echo & Pheasant.JPG|Spaniel with pheasant
Image:Kerygma Cockers Echo & Pheasant.JPG|Spaniel with pheasant
Image:Common Pheasant (Hybride).jpg|Common pheasant
Image:Common Pheasant (Hybride).jpg|Common pheasant
Image:Daniel wisniok.jpg|Fallow deer
Image:Daniel wisniok.jpg|Fallow deer
Image:Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Common Bluebell).jpg|English bluebell
Image:Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Common Bluebell).jpg|English bluebell
File:Milvus milvus R(ThKraft).jpg| Red kite
File:Milvus milvus R(ThKraft).jpg|Red kite
Image:Goat at Offley - geograph.org.uk - 245154.jpg|A goat at one of Offley's farms
Image:Goat at Offley - geograph.org.uk - 245154.jpg|A goat at one of Offley's farms
Image:Winter landscape at Offley - geograph.org.uk - 168831.jpg|Birkitt Hill from Clouds Hill, Little Offley
Image:Winter landscape at Offley - geograph.org.uk - 168831.jpg|Birkitt Hill from Clouds Hill, Little Offley
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== Offley at War 1939 - 1945==
== Offley at War 1939 - 1945==


Offley was Headquarters for an [[Auxiliary Territorial Service|Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS)]] Searchlight unit based in Hoo Lane, that had detachments in Hitchin along Bedford Road, Chapel Foot along London Road, as well as at [[Whitwell, Hertfordshire|Whitwell]] and [[King's Walden|Diamond End]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/57/a6336957.shtml BBC Peoples War, Una Bracey Remembers]</ref>
Offley was Headquarters for an [[Auxiliary Territorial Service|Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS)]] Searchlight unit based in Hoo Lane, that had detachments in Hitchin along Bedford Road, Chapel Foot along London Road, as well as at [[Whitwell, Hertfordshire|Whitwell]] and [[King's Walden|Diamond End]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/57/a6336957.shtml|title=BBC Peoples War, Una Bracey Remembers}}</ref>


===Lancaster bomber crash===
===Lancaster bomber crash===


At 7.15am on 18 July 1944 an [[Avro Lancaster|Lancaster Mk.111]] bomber belonging to [[No. 115 Squadron RAF|115 Squadron RAF]]<ref>[http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/results.php?type=Lancaster&pagefrom=90/ Lost Bombers, a database of bombers lost during World War Two, (Website accessed 03/07/10)]</ref><ref>[http://www.aircrewremembrancesociety.com/raf1944/2/lettssydney.html/ Aircrew Remembrance Society (website accessed 15.07.10)]</ref> crashed into the farm house at West End Farm ({{coord|51.934070|-0.343035 |format=dms}}) killing the crew as well as the farmer{{'}}s wife and two daughters (one of whom was home on leave from the [[Auxiliary Territorial Service]]).
At 7.15am on 18 July 1944 a [[Avro Lancaster|Lancaster Mk.111]] bomber belonging to [[No. 115 Squadron RAF|115 Squadron RAF]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/results.php?type=Lancaster&pagefrom=90/|title=lostbombers.co.uk|website=www.lostbombers.co.uk}}</ref><ref>[http://www.aircrewremembrancesociety.com/raf1944/2/lettssydney.html/ Aircrew Remembrance Society (website accessed 15.07.10)]</ref> crashed into the farmhouse at West End Farm ({{coord|51.934070|-0.343035 |format=dms}}) killing the crew as well as the farmer{{'}}s wife and two daughters (one of whom was home on leave from the [[Auxiliary Territorial Service]]).


The aircraft LM616 (KO J) had left its base at [[Witchford|RAF Witchford]] near [[Ely, Cambridgeshire|Ely]] several hours earlier to support [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] ground forces taking part in [[Operation Goodwood]] during the [[Operation Cobra|Normandy campaign]]. The [[Royal Air Force]] and [[United States Army Air Forces]] objective was to bomb units of the [[Luftwaffe Field Division|16th Luftwaffe Field Division]] and the [[21st Panzer Division]] which were located around the [[Manneville]] area in [[France]].<ref>[http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/jul44.html/ Royal Air Force Bomber Command 60th Anniversary Campaign Diary, July 1944 (website accessed: 07/07/2010)]</ref>
The aircraft LM616 (KO J) had left its base at [[Witchford|RAF Witchford]] near [[Ely, Cambridgeshire|Ely]] several hours earlier to support [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] ground forces taking part in [[Operation Goodwood]] during the [[Operation Cobra|Normandy campaign]]. The [[Royal Air Force]] and [[United States Army Air Forces]] objective was to bomb units of the [[Luftwaffe Field Division|16th Luftwaffe Field Division]] and the [[21st Panzer Division]] which were located around the [[Manneville]] area in [[France]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/jul44.html/|title=Royal Air Force Bomber Command 60th Anniversary Campaign Diary, July 1944 (website accessed: 07/07/2010)|access-date=3 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606110310/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/jul44.html|archive-date=6 June 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>


LM616 received severe damage during the raid, in which its controls and navigation aids were shot up. The aircraft had descended through low cloud only to see the high escarpment of the [[Chiltern Hills]] at Offley loom into view too late for the crew to take immediate action. The aircraft hit trees in a wood on top of Birkitt Hill before the colliding with the farm house at West End Farm.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/27/a7880727.shtml BBC Peoples War, Lancaster Bomber Crashes on Great Offley Farmhouse]</ref><ref>[http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=2578 Lost Bombers Database]</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/41/a6336641.shtml BBC Peoples War, Brian Limbrick's Wartime Childhood 1942 to 1945]</ref>
LM616 received severe damage during the raid, in which its controls and navigation aids were shot up. The aircraft had descended through low cloud only to see the high escarpment of the [[Chiltern Hills]] at Offley loom into view too late for the crew to take immediate action. The aircraft hit trees in a wood on top of Birkitt Hill before colliding with the farmhouse at West End Farm.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/27/a7880727.shtml|title=BBC Peoples War, Lancaster Bomber Crashes on Great Offley Farmhouse}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=2578|title=lostbombers.co.uk|website=www.lostbombers.co.uk}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/41/a6336641.shtml|title= BBC Peoples War, Brian Limbrick's Wartime Childhood 1942 to 1945}}</ref>


<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:ATS Search Light.jpg|Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) Search Light Unit
File:The Auxiliary Territorial Service in the United Kingdom 1939 - 1945 H36315.jpg|Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) Search Light Unit
Image:Avro Lancaster B I PA474.jpg|Avro Lancaster
Image:Avro Lancaster B I PA474.jpg|Avro Lancaster
Image: Avro Lancaster Mk 1 ExCC.jpg|Avro Lancaster in flight
Image: Avro Lancaster Mk 1 ExCC.jpg|Avro Lancaster in flight
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===Glebe Farm Explosion===
===Glebe Farm Explosion===


At 3pm on the 8 January 1945 a US Army lorry carrying [[munitions]] was involved in a road accident with a petrol tanker as it was passing Glebe Farm at the Flints.
At 3&nbsp;pm on 8 January 1945, a US Army lorry carrying [[munitions]] was involved in a road accident with a petrol tanker as it was passing Glebe Farm at the Flints.


The drivers managed to evacuate nearby residents however a bus from Luton came round the corner just as an explosion occurred, killing three US Servicemen on the bus and injuring 21 others. The explosion was so severe that it made a crater on the road 50 feet wide and 14 feet deep.
The drivers managed to evacuate nearby residents; however, a bus from Luton came round the corner just as an explosion occurred, killing three US servicemen on the bus and injuring 21 others. The explosion was so severe that it made a crater on the road 50 feet wide and 14 feet deep.


The Windmill and Farm were completely destroyed and Flint cottages were severely damaged, other houses in Offley suffered extensive blast damage.<ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/39/a6371039.shtml/ BBC Peoples War Alex Tooley remembers]</ref><ref name="Images">Hillyard. Angela M. Images of Old Offley. Published 1993</ref>
The Windmill and Farm were completely destroyed and Flint cottages were severely damaged, other houses in Offley suffered extensive blast damage.<ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/39/a6371039.shtml/ BBC Peoples War Alex Tooley remembers]{{dead link|date=July 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="Images">Hillyard. Angela M. Images of Old Offley. Published 1993</ref>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Offley}}
{{Commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.thesmith.org.uk/places/offley/village.html Great Offley] - a resident's page about local history with many images.
*[http://www.thesmith.org.uk/places/offley/village.html Great Offley] - a resident's page about local history with many images.
*[http://www.oscricket.com Offley & Stopsley Cricket Club] - Contains pictures, match reports, results, statistics and features from the cricket club
*[http://www.oscricket.com Offley & Stopsley Cricket Club] - Contains pictures, match reports, results, statistics and features from the cricket club
*[http://www.offley.herts.sch.uk/index.html Offley Endowed Primary School]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090615081920/http://www.offley.herts.sch.uk/index.html Offley Endowed Primary School]
*[http://www.cockernhoe.herts.sch.uk/ Cockernhoe Endowed C of E Primary School]
*[http://www.cockernhoe.herts.sch.uk/ Cockernhoe Endowed C of E Primary School]
*[http://www.offleypc.org.uk/ Offley Parish Council]
*[http://www.offleypc.org.uk/ Offley Parish Council]


{{Civil parishes of Hertfordshire}}
{{Civil parishes of Hertfordshire}}

{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Offley}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Offley}}

Latest revision as of 19:20, 19 June 2023

Offley
Offley is located in Hertfordshire
Offley
Offley
Location within Hertfordshire
Population1,307 [1]
1,398 (2011 Census)[2]
OS grid referenceTL148262
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townHITCHIN
Postcode districtSG5
Post townLUTON
Postcode districtLU2
Dialling code01462
01582
PoliceHertfordshire
FireHertfordshire
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Hertfordshire
51°55′40″N 0°20′10″W / 51.9279°N 0.3361°W / 51.9279; -0.3361

Offley is a civil parish in the English county of Hertfordshire, between Hitchin and Luton. The main village is Great Offley, and the parish also contains the nearby hamlets of Little Offley and The Flints. In the south-west of the parish, near Luton, there are the hamlets of Cockernhoe, Mangrove Green and Tea Green, and also the Putteridge Bury estate; these have LU2 postcodes and 01582 telephone numbers.

Great Offley

[edit]

Great Offley lies on the top of a chalk escarpment ridge (521 ft/159 metres above sea level) in the centre of the parish (the most north eastern ridge of the Chiltern Hills), and its population is 673.[3] Offa, King of Mercia in the 8th century, is said to have built a palace here and thus gave his name to the village. There is a most interesting group of buildings, including Offley Place, which was rebuilt in 1810 but which retains a Tudor porch and a 17th-century wing.

The church named after St. Mary Magdalene contains some attractive monuments. Its nave is Early English, and the chancel was recased and its interior built by Sir Thomas Salusbury in the 18th century. The tower dates from about 1800.

Modern Offley

[edit]

The village was by-passed by the A505 dual carriageway in the 1970s. Close to the centre of the village is a water tower, which is painted white in response to a campaign started by a Liberal Democrat councilor candidate. Another landmark, within several hundred feet of the water tower, is a radio mast. It is often mistakenly identified as being part of the BT chain that includes Zouches Farm on Blows Down near Luton, but it is in fact owned by Arqiva and used by utility companies, the next one west being located in Isle of Wight Lane, on Dunstable Downs. Its use seems to have decreased in recent years with the number of microwave radio drums (dishes) declining.

The village has its own telephone exchange which is located on Offley Hill. The Hitchin Yeshiva, a Jewish rabbinical school, is based here.

  • The village sign located in Pond Gardens
    The village sign located in Pond Gardens
  • St Mary Magdalene, Great Offley
    St Mary Magdalene, Great Offley
  • St Mary Magdalene, Great Offley, in the snow December 2009
    St Mary Magdalene, Great Offley, in the snow December 2009
  • Green Man Public house
    Green Man Public house
  • The Green Man sign
    The Green Man sign
  • Offley Place, now a private hotel/restaurant formerly owned by Hertfordshire County Council from the 1960s as a teacher training college
    Offley Place, now a private hotel/restaurant formerly owned by Hertfordshire County Council from the 1960s as a teacher training college
  • Offley place during the snow in December 2009
    Offley place during the snow in December 2009
  • Offley place during the snow in December 2009
    Offley place during the snow in December 2009
  • Offley's War Memorial
    Offley's War Memorial
  • Red Lion Public house, Great Offley
    Red Lion Public house, Great Offley
  • Great Offley High Street, looking north, immediately on the right is the Old Post Office,
    Great Offley High Street, looking north, immediately on the right is the Old Post Office,
  • Chapel Cottges, Luton Road, Great Offley, (formerly the village Chapel)
    Chapel Cottges, Luton Road, Great Offley, (formerly the village Chapel)
  • View to the north from Luton Road, Great Offley
    View to the north from Luton Road, Great Offley
  • Looking north towards Offley Hill from Bakers Lane
    Looking north towards Offley Hill from Bakers Lane
  • Looking across the village pond toward the Pump and what is now the Green Man Public House (around 1900)
    Looking across the village pond toward the Pump and what is now the Green Man Public House (around 1900)

Development

[edit]

Housing development in recent years has been restricted to the following areas:

  • Kings Walden Road (1980s)
  • Meadow Way, terrace of two bedroom houses
  • Oflley Chapel, Luton Road, converted into housing units (1990s)
  • Westbury Farm, refurbishment of existing flats in Farm House, conversion of barns and sheds into housing, new houses also built.
  • John Hall Court

Bloor Homes[4] who have been building on regeneration sites in Luton have submitted proposals for a large scale development on the Putteridgebury Estate. This is likely to be opposed by local residents and groups such as the Keep East of Luton Green[5] and Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

Local services

[edit]

The village still has a Post Office/General stores, the butchers shop was closed in recent times to be replaced by an Ladies hairdressers, there had been one previously in the late 1970s located in a property adjoining the butchers shop. There is now a butchers shop at Offley hoo farm which has been there for a few years. The Village Petrol station closed in the late 1980s although a garage operated on the site until 2001 when the land was sold for development.

Offley Endowed JMI School is situated close to the village centre.

Public houses

[edit]

At one time Great Offley had six pubs in the village, these have now decreased to two with a third being converted into a Chinese Restaurant.

  • Green Man[6] (Chef and Brewer)
  • Red Lion[7]
  • The Bull (now closed and converted into a private dwelling)
  • The Cock became The Crusty Loaf and then the Lobster Tail restaurant which subsequently closed and has been turned into a private dwelling.
  • The Gloucester Arms
    • refurbished and name changed to Prince Henry
    • further refurbishment and name changed to Shaker Browns
    • renamed as Astons (Restaurant and Bar)
    • Reverted to Gloucester Arms
    • Converted into Chinese Restaurant The Offley Oriental[8]

Recreation

[edit]
  • Offley and Stopsley Cricket Club,[9] play at the Recreation Ground.[9]
  • Offley and District Riding Club have at least four shows at the Old Football Field, Luton White Hill.
  • Luton and District Aeronautical Society fly remote control model aircraft at a field at the top of Chalk Hill to the south east of the village.

There is also a fishing club which uses the Long Pond and the Pump Pond which are located along Salusbury Lane.

Little Offley

[edit]

Little Offley is a small hamlet lying 1+1⁄2 miles north-west of Great Offley, and it is reached via a bridge over the A505. It contains a late Tudor brick-built manor house.

The Hitchin Yeshiva is based in Wellbury House which is a mile north east of Little Offley.

The Flints

[edit]

The Flints lies just ½ mile west of Great Offley, and its population is 40.[3]

Cockernhoe

[edit]

Cockernhoe lies 2+1⁄2 miles south-west of Great Offley, and its population is 191.[3]

Cockernhoe has a village school and a small church (St Hugh's).

  • St Hugh's Church, Cockernhoe
    St Hugh's Church, Cockernhoe
  • White Horse and Water Tower at Tea Green
    White Horse and Water Tower at Tea Green
  • Blacksmiths at Tea Green
    Blacksmiths at Tea Green
  • The house and gardens of Offley Chase surrounded by fields and rolling hills
    The house and gardens of Offley Chase surrounded by fields and rolling hills

Mangrove Green

[edit]

Mangrove Green lies just north of Cockernhoe and south of Putteridge Bury, and its population is 108.[3] The village has one pub, the King William IV.

Tea Green

[edit]

Tea Green lies 2+1⁄2 miles south of Great Offley, and its population is 44.[3] Tea Green sits on top of a chalk ridge on the opposite side of Lilley Bottom/Mimram Valley. A major landmark is the tall water tower which is next to the White Horse Pub.

Two of the oldest barns in the area (dating from the 16th century) are located at Tankards and Crutchmore Farms.[10]

Offley Chase

[edit]

Lies approximately 2 miles south west of Offley along Lilley Bottom.

Putteridge Bury

[edit]
Main article: Putteridge Bury

Putteridge Bury belongs to the University of Bedfordshire, previously being used as the Management Campus of the University of Luton, it was originally acquired in 1965 as a teacher training college. The mansion was built in the style of Chequers by architects Sir Ernest George and Alfred Yeats and completed in 1911. The grounds were redesigned by Edwin L Lutyens, soon to be recognised as the foremost architect of the era, and planted by Gertrude Jekyll, one of the first lady Victorian gardeners. Particular features are the reflective pool and massive yew hedges. As well as the mansion house the estate has a farm and a collection of spread out houses.

The Putteridge estate is a mixture of arable farmland and woodland; as well as the occasional visiting muntjac and fallow deer, the estate is home to Lady Amherst's pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae) as well as the more common pheasant.

  • Putteridge Bury House
    Putteridge Bury House
  • Lady Amherst's pheasant
    Lady Amherst's pheasant

Agriculture and wildlife

[edit]

The land use in the parish is a mixture of arable, and woodland with some minor seasonal grazing for beef cattle and sheep. To the east of the village all the round to the south east forms part of the King's Walden estate. During the winter months pheasant and partridge shooting takes with several shooting syndicates operating to the north of the village as well as a big shoot organised by King's Walden Estate.

Red kites along with common buzzard and sparrowhawks can be seen in the area.[11]

Decline in farming

[edit]

Many of the farms in the area are no longer used for agriculture and some have been sold off for housing development. The fields being taken over by farms at a greater distance, this has happened due to technological advances which make small farms un-economical to run. Several farms up until the 1970s had herds of dairy cattle but low milk prices forced many farms to turn to arable farming.

Crops

[edit]

Main crops include:

Woodland

[edit]

Much of the woodland is not used for timber and is made up of oak, beech and horse chestnut trees, with smaller plantations of pine and spruce. During the spring many of the woods are carpeted with bluebells.

The area is home to a sizeable herd of fallow deer and muntjac can also be seen.

Chiltern Way

[edit]

The 152-mile Chiltern Way long-distance footpath passes through the parish,[12] as does the 170-mile Chilterns Cycleway.[13]

  • Chilterns Cycleway
    Chilterns Cycleway
  • Spaniel with pheasant
    Spaniel with pheasant
  • Common pheasant
    Common pheasant
  • Fallow deer
    Fallow deer
  • English bluebell
    English bluebell
  • Red kite
    Red kite
  • A goat at one of Offley's farms
    A goat at one of Offley's farms
  • Birkitt Hill from Clouds Hill, Little Offley
    Birkitt Hill from Clouds Hill, Little Offley

Offley at War 1939 - 1945

[edit]

Offley was Headquarters for an Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) Searchlight unit based in Hoo Lane, that had detachments in Hitchin along Bedford Road, Chapel Foot along London Road, as well as at Whitwell and Diamond End.[14]

Lancaster bomber crash

[edit]

At 7.15am on 18 July 1944 a Lancaster Mk.111 bomber belonging to 115 Squadron RAF[15][16] crashed into the farmhouse at West End Farm (51°56′03″N 0°20′35″W / 51.934070°N 0.343035°W / 51.934070; -0.343035) killing the crew as well as the farmer's wife and two daughters (one of whom was home on leave from the Auxiliary Territorial Service).

The aircraft LM616 (KO J) had left its base at RAF Witchford near Ely several hours earlier to support Allied ground forces taking part in Operation Goodwood during the Normandy campaign. The Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces objective was to bomb units of the 16th Luftwaffe Field Division and the 21st Panzer Division which were located around the Manneville area in France.[17]

LM616 received severe damage during the raid, in which its controls and navigation aids were shot up. The aircraft had descended through low cloud only to see the high escarpment of the Chiltern Hills at Offley loom into view too late for the crew to take immediate action. The aircraft hit trees in a wood on top of Birkitt Hill before colliding with the farmhouse at West End Farm.[18][19][20]

  • Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) Search Light Unit
    Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) Search Light Unit
  • Avro Lancaster
    Avro Lancaster
  • Avro Lancaster in flight
    Avro Lancaster in flight

Glebe Farm Explosion

[edit]

At 3 pm on 8 January 1945, a US Army lorry carrying munitions was involved in a road accident with a petrol tanker as it was passing Glebe Farm at the Flints.

The drivers managed to evacuate nearby residents; however, a bus from Luton came round the corner just as an explosion occurred, killing three US servicemen on the bus and injuring 21 others. The explosion was so severe that it made a crater on the road 50 feet wide and 14 feet deep.

The Windmill and Farm were completely destroyed and Flint cottages were severely damaged, other houses in Offley suffered extensive blast damage.[20][21][22]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Office for National Statistics, 2001 Census Parish Headcounts for Offley.
  2. ^ "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e Population figures are taken from Population and household counts for Hertfordshire settlements - 2001 census Archived 10 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ^ "The East of Luton consultation website". Archived from the original on 19 January 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2009. website accessed 11/01/2009
  5. ^ "KEOLG - Keep East of Luton Green - Green Belt - CPRE - campaign". Archived from the original on 14 February 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2009. website accessed 11/01/2009
  6. ^ "mypubheaven.com". www.mypubheaven.com.
  7. ^ "The Red Lion, Great Offley". Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  8. ^ "Offley Oriental - Offley Oriental-Luton Road, Great Offley, Nr Hitchin, Hertfordshire". www.offleyoriental.co.uk.
  9. ^ a b "Offley & Stopsley Cricket Club". www.oscricket.com.
  10. ^ "Local History - Offley Parish Council in Hertfordshire". www.offleypc.org.uk.
  11. ^ Schurmer, Michael (November 2002). "Breeding Bird Survey of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 2002" (PDF). RSPB. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  12. ^ "Chiltern Way - LDWA Long Distance Paths". www.ldwa.org.uk.
  13. ^ The Chilterns Cycleway, Chiltern Society website (accessed 04/07/10) Archived 11 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "BBC Peoples War, Una Bracey Remembers".
  15. ^ "lostbombers.co.uk". www.lostbombers.co.uk.
  16. ^ Aircrew Remembrance Society (website accessed 15.07.10)
  17. ^ "Royal Air Force Bomber Command 60th Anniversary Campaign Diary, July 1944 (website accessed: 07/07/2010)". Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  18. ^ "BBC Peoples War, Lancaster Bomber Crashes on Great Offley Farmhouse".
  19. ^ "lostbombers.co.uk". www.lostbombers.co.uk.
  20. ^ a b "BBC Peoples War, Brian Limbrick's Wartime Childhood 1942 to 1945".
  21. ^ BBC Peoples War Alex Tooley remembers[permanent dead link‍]
  22. ^ Hillyard. Angela M. Images of Old Offley. Published 1993
[edit]

Media related to Offley at Wikimedia Commons

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