Barley, Hertfordshire

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 52.0272
longitude= 0.0415
official_name= Barley
population= 659 [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=795306&c=Barley&d=16&e=15&g=454863&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 2001 Census] ]
shire_district= North Hertfordshire
shire_county = Hertfordshire
region= East of England
constituency_westminster= North East Hertfordshire
post_town= ROYSTON
postcode_district = SG8
postcode_area= SG
dial_code= 01763
os_grid_reference= TL400385

Barley is a village and civil parish in the district of North Hertfordshire, England. According to the 2001 census it has a population of 659.

Located on the Royston to Saffron Walden road, Barley has a church with a 12th century Norman tower. The church was rebuilt in 1871 using designs by William Butterfield.

The village also includes a 17th century lock-up and an early Tudor town house with a large timbered upper room, which was mentioned by Daniel Defoe in a travel book in 1726.

A well-known landmark in the village is the sign of the Fox and Hounds public house, which stretches across the road at the top of Church End. Although it is a long-established feature of the village, it has not always been at its present site. In 1955 the Fox and Hounds, with its famous sign, was a pub located in the High Street, at the time part of an important route to London. In 1955 the Fox & Hounds burned down in a disastrous fire. The sign, which was partially saved, moved to its present site and the existing pub (the Wagon and Horses) was renamed. There are two pubs in the village - the other being the picturesque Chequers. Pictures of both feature on the website of the [http://www.nherts-camra.org.uk/july04ramble.htm North Hertforshire Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale] .

By comparison to other villages in rural Hertfordshire, Barley has a substantial village infrastructure, with a junior school, playground, village green, tennis courts, [http://barley.play-cricket.com/home/home.asp cricket team] ( new players please ring Chris Allan - 01763 848171), stables,football team, petrol station and post office/general stores.

A local eccentricity is to embed objects into the flint walls. The Manor has a row of dentures set into its flint wall at one point and a cherub at another, while one of the newer houses in the village has a small figure of the Buddha set into its wall.

Although there is a steady flux of people moving into and out of the village, and a substantial commuter element (Royston station is only 10 minutes drive away - and then only 35 minutes to Kings Cross) - there are still a substantial number of long-established families resident in the village.

There is a regular bus service (6 buses a day in each direction) to Royston and Hertford run by Arriva (Service 331 [ [http://www.arriva.co.uk/shires&essex Arriva Routes in Hertfordshire] ] ).

Famous historical residents include William Warham and Thomas Willet future Mayor of New York. His house Willets Cottage still stands. [ [ http://www.britannia.com/bios/abofc/wwarham.html William Warham entry in Britannia] ] .

References