Nuthampstead

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Nuthampstead
Entering Nuthampstead
Nuthampstead is located in Hertfordshire
Nuthampstead
Nuthampstead
Location within Hertfordshire
Population141 (Parish, 2021)[1]
OS grid referenceTL411347
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townRoyston
Postcode districtSG8
Dialling code01763
PoliceHertfordshire
FireHertfordshire
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Hertfordshire
51°59′34″N 0°02′28″E / 51.9928°N 0.0410°E / 51.9928; 0.0410

Nuthampstead is a small village and civil parish in the North Hertfordshire district of Hertfordshire, England. It lies 5 miles (8 km) south-east of the town of Royston, and adjoins the border with Essex. The parish had a population of 141 at the 2021 census.

History

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Nuthampstead was historically a hamlet in the parish of Barkway.[2] The hamlet took on civil functions under the poor laws from the 17th century onwards, appointing its own overseer of the poor.[3] Nuthampstead therefore became a civil parish in 1866 when the legal definition of 'parish' was changed to be the areas used for administering the poor laws.[4] Despite becoming a separate civil parish, it remains part of the ecclesiastical parish of Barkway.[5]

During the Second World War, RAF Nuthampstead, situated next to the village, was home initially to the 55th Fighter Group and subsequently the 398th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces. This latter unit, the base's primary occupant, flew Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers on missions over occupied Europe.[6]

Known as USAAF Station 131 during the war, and less formally as AAF Nuthampstead, the airfield was constructed by U.S. Army engineer battalions starting in 1942. The site was formerly Scales Park, which was planted with oak trees after the Battle of Trafalgar. These were cleared to make room for the runways, hangars, and other wartime facilities. Visitors to the site will find that the main runways have since been removed, with a grass runway and service roads only remaining to allow the airfield to be used by light aircraft.

In 1968–71 the Commission on the Third London Airport (the "Roskill Commission") considered Nuthampstead as one of its four short-listed sites, along with Cublington, Foulness (later known as Maplin Sands) and Thurleigh.[7]

Barkway VOR is located at Nuthampstead Airfield.[8]

Areas of the former airfield have been converted into a shooting ground. Since 1992, when planning permission was granted, the ground has developed to enable it to hold major championships in four international shooting disciplines.[9]

Geography

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The Woodman Inn

The village has a pub/restaurant with bed and breakfast facilities, called The Woodman Inn.[10] Outside The Woodman Inn is a large memorial stone dedicated to the 398th squadron, and a museum of the airfield's history.[11]

Governance

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There are two elected tiers of local government covering Nuthampstead, at district and county level: North Hertfordshire District Council and Hertfordshire County Council.[12] Due to its low population, Nuthampstead has a parish meeting comprising all residents instead of an elected parish council.[13]

Population

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At the 2021 census the parish had a population of 141.[1] The population had been 142 in 2011,[14] and 139 in 2001.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "2021 Census Parish Profiles". NOMIS. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 31 March 2025. (To get individual parish data, use the query function on table PP002.)
  2. ^ "Nuthampstead, Hertfordshire". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  3. ^ Royston: Petty Sessions: Overseers, &c., Hertfordshire Express (Hitchin), 29 April 1965, page 3
  4. ^ Youngs, Frederic (1979). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England: Volume I. London: Royal Historical Society. p. xvi. ISBN 0 901050 67 9.
  5. ^ "Church of England parish map". Church of England Research and Statistics Unit. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  6. ^ http://www.thewoodman-inn.co.uk/memorial.htm[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Roskill (1971). Report, Commission on the Third London Airport. London: HMSO.
  8. ^ Diamond, Trevor (2 March 2003). "BKY - Barkway VOR/DME". UK Navaids Gallery. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  9. ^ "Home - Nuthampstead Shooting Ground".
  10. ^ "Home". The Woodman Inn. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  11. ^ "398th Bomb Group Web Site". www.398th.org. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  13. ^ "Nuthampstead Parish Meeting". North Hertfordshire District Council. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Civil parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  15. ^ "2001 Census". Retrieved 19 June 2007.
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Media related to Nuthampstead at Wikimedia Commons