Did you know that...
People have lived in this part of North London since the early ages. A rich water supply facilitated the development of human settlements. Archaeologist Sir John Bishop recorded the first evidence of humans living here. Abbots Langley name derives from the Saxon name Langlai and the word abbot. In the 11th century, Langlai Abbatis belonged to St Albans Abbey. The Domesday Book mentions the area as Langelai. Nineteen families were living here at that time. In the 16th century, military engineer Sir Richard Lee bought the area from King Henry VIII. In the 17th century, Francis Combe gave this WD5 area to the Sidney Sussex College and Trinity College.
Langleybury is a landmark of Abbots Langley. It is a grade II listed country house. The present building was constructed in 1720 on the site of an older house whose history was unfortunately lost. In 1949, the house was converted into a school. The now-closed school served as a filming location for Hope and Glory TV series, 2007 St Trinians, and 2015 In the Heart of the Sea. It’s also a popular site for Airsoft players. The old farm is now a children’s farm. Other movies shot in the area include Sleepy Hollow and the Harry Potter series.
Abbots Langley WD5 is the birthplace of Nicholas Breakspear who is known by his papal name, Pope Adrian IV. He is the first and so far the only pope from Great Britain. Streets that are close to the house where Breakspear lived in his early years carry his name. George Turnbull, one of the most famous civil engineers who is known for his work on the first Indian railway, lived his retirement years in Abbots Langley WD5. After his death, his widow honored his memory with a stained glass window as a donation to the local church.
