Flamstead

“FLAMSTEAD, a parish in the hundred of Dacorum, county Hertford, 4 miles N.E. of Hemel-Hempstead, and 7 N.W. of St. Alban's. Dunstable is its post town. It is situated on the river Ver, close to the old Roman highway Watling Street, and was anciently called Verlamstedt from its situation near that river. It formed part of the demesne of St. Alban's Abbey, being afterwards given to the Saxon chief Thurnoth on condition of his keeping the roads free from robbers. There was formerly a priory at Woodchurch, mentioned by Leland as dedicated to St. Giles. At the Dissolution its site was given to Sir R. Page, to whose mansion Edward VI. when a child was sent for the benefit of the salubrious air. The village of Flamstead, which is considerable, stands on the summit of a high ridge, rising abruptly from the south-western side of the valley of the Ver. The hamlet of Pepperstock is included in this parish. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Rochester, value £117, in the patronage of University College, Oxford. The church is an ancient structure dedicated to St. Leonard. It contains some monumental effigies, a brass of 1414, a handsome screen, and a piscina. The charities consist of almshouses-those of Sir John Sebright for widows, with an allowance of £5 each, and Saunders's, with an endowment of £26 per annum. The Baptists, Wesleyans, and Primitive Methodists have each a chapel, and there is an endowed free school, also a National school, with residence for the master. There is a fair on Easter Tuesday."

"MARKET-STREET, a chapelry in the parishes of Caddington, Flamstead, and Studham, partly in the hundred of Dacorum, county Herts, and partly in that of Manshead, county Beds, 3 miles S.E. of Luton. This place was anciently called Merkgate, and comprises three hamlets On a hill where now stands an ancient mansion called "The Priory" was formerly a Benedictine nunnery founded in 1145 by Geoffrey, Abbot of St. Albans, on land given by the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's, London. Its revenue at the Dissolution was £143 138. 8d., when the site was given to G. Ferrers. In the village, which consists of one long street facing, the road from London to Birmingham, several industries are carried on, as the manufacture of hats, bonnets, and straw plait. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Ely, value £227. The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is situated in the Priory Park, and was erected about the middle of the last century. There are places of worship for Wesleyans and Baptists. The charities consist of £138 per annum, belonging to the grammar school. There is a National school."

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from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868