To get a quote on a Building Survey for a residential property or a commercial property in Harpenden, carried out by an Independent Chartered Surveyor, who is a member of RICS, then please click on the 'Get a Survey Quote' box above.

To find out more about the services we provide in Harpenden please click on the 'Information and Surveys in this Area' box above.

We always recommend that people have a building survey carried out by an Independent Chartered Surveyor. It is laughable to expect that a mortgage owned / estate agent owned surveyors will give impartial advice. Call an Independent Chartered Surveyor on 0800 298 5424 for an impartial survey.

Facts and places of interest in and around Harpenden

Interesting Facts about Harpenden

• The first settlers in the area were the Belgae who set up farms on the clecleared the land to set up farms, which became the "Ends" and "Greens" which are commonly seen locally.

• The church of St. Nicholas in Harpenden was formerly a Chapel-of-Ease from about 1217 until it needed to be extended due to the increasing population and the existing tower was added in 1470. The former chapel part was demolished in 1861 to make way for an evern larger building.

• The church tower contains a ring of eight bells; the oldest is from 1612.

• The Nicky Line railway which used to link Harpenden, Redbourn and Hemel Hempstead is now a path which is part of the National Cycle Network.

• Sir John Bennet Lawes (1814-1900), who is considered to be 'the father of agricultural science', founded Rothamsted Manor and its Agricultural Research Centre. Sir John's experiments on Hertfordshire farms resulted in artificial fertilisers being used on most modern farms today.

• Many of East Harpenden 's roads are named after English Literary figures. These include Milton Road , Shakespeare Road , Tennyson Road and Wordsworth Road (and others); the area is known as Poet's Corner.

• Craig Charles the actor who played Lister in Red Dwarf and now plays taxi cab owner Lloyd in Coronation Street has lived in Harpenden.

• Stanley Kubrick, film maker, used to live at Childwickbury Manor.

• Eric Morecame used to live in Harpenden.

• John Motson, the football commentator, has lived in Harpenden.

• The composer Tim Rice attended Aldwickbury School in Harpenden.

Places of Interest in and around Harpenden

Harpenden Farmers Market

Harpenden's Farmers Market takes place on the fourth Sunday of each month and has stalls selling local produce such as cheeses, fruit, plants and flowers, bread and cakes, preserves, craft items, vegetables, meats, eggs and organic products.

Harpenden Leisure Centre

At Harpenden Leisure Centre there is a 25m pool and a learner pool too. There is also a health suite with sauna, steam room, spa pool and sanarium. The centre also has a gym and badminton courts, tennis courts and football pitch for 5 a side. A crèche is also on site.

The Nicky Line

The Nicky Lone follows an old railway line and runs for about 8 miles from north Harpenden to Hemel Hempstead . This is a footpath and also a cycleway and there are lovely trees and shrubs along the route to enjoy.

Harpenden Common Nature Trail

The Common Nature Trail is a nice walk along bridleways and footpaths.

Batford Springs Nature Reserve

Batford Springs Nature Reserve is set in a floodplain of ten acres of land. It is where the watercress beds used to be grown.

Harpenden Railway Museum

The Harpenden Railway Museum is a set within a garden which has signals and such like all amongst the plants, which is a nice touch. The museum room has exhibits all about the history of the railway.

Harpenden Common

Harpenden Common is a lovely open area on the edge of the town. Lots of sports are played on the green and the yearly "Statty" fair is held here too.

Lydekker Park

Lydekker Park has two and half acres of land with shrubs, mature trees a big pond and seating areas. It used to be the home of one of Harpenden's oldest families the Lydekkers. When the last remaining family member died she left the gardens to the residents of Harpenden.  There is also a wild flower meadow to enjoy.

Ashridge Estate

Ashridge Estate is a large area of open countryside and mature woods set on the edge of the Chilterns Hills running across the borders of Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. There are some lovely walks here and a much wildlife to see, for instance the fallow and muntjac deer. You may even spot a red kite!

There are fantastic views from the 108 feet tall Duke of Bridgewater Monument and Ivinghoe Beacon.

The Duke of Bridgewater Monument was erected in 1831 in memory of canal pioneer, 3 rd Duke of Bridgewater. You can climb the 172 steps to the top.

Old Gorhambury House, St Albans

Old Gorhambury House was built in 1563-1568 by Queen Elizabeth I's Lord Keeper, Sir Nicholas Bacon. Now all that is left is the remains of this once huge mansion. The extravagantly two storey porch has survived along with parts of the hall, clock tower and chapel.

Verulamium at St Albans

Verulamium Roman City at St Albans is a very impressive Roman site and there is lots to see; for esample the town walls which defended the town and the foundations of the south-east gate. You can visit the hypocausted building and also a Roman Theatre . The museum and mosaics are also interesting places to visit.

The City was founded in AD43 after the Roman's invaded Britain and the settlement became a very important town. Verulamium was the only Roman town in England to be given self-governing status of ‘municipium'.

Verulamium Museum, St Albans

The Verulamium Museum is located in a park which is near to the Hypocaust and the Roman Theatre . At the Verulamium Museum you can find out about what went on in the major Roman city at St Albans . There are rooms that have been recreated to how they would have looked in the Roman times and you can also see some of the best Roman mosaics around and wall plasters.

Verulamium Park, St Albans

The Verulamium Park is in about 100 acres of parkland. There is a children's playground here along with a paddling pool which is used in the summer and a lake. There is also crazy golf and tennis along with a café.

The Hypocaust

The Hypocaust shows a wonderful Roman mosaic floor and the under floor heating system which was once part of a Roman villa.

The Roman Theatre

The Roman theatre was built around 130AD and is the only example in Britain . There is banked seating facing a stage along with a stage column which has been re-erected. The theatre would have started off being used for religious events and combat and shows, but from around 180AD it was extended and in 300Ad more work took place. There was seating for 2000 in the audience.

Further archaeological digs have found first century foundations for shops and a Roman Villa along with a secret shrine.

The Museum of St Albans

The Museum of St Albans tells the story of St Albans from when the Romans left up to the present time.

You can discover how St Albans got its name. Alban was Britain 's first Christian martyr, and St Albans Abbey was built in his name.

You can view exhibits of objects used by people in medieval St Albans and learn how they lived.

Tales are told of how St Albans grew from a small market town into a bustling commuter city and find out about the life of Victorians in this area.

There is also the Salaman collection to look out which is considered to be one of the best collections of tools dating from the 1700s to the 1950s.

You can also visit the Wildlife Garden which is very nice and children can follow the trail through the garden.

St Albans Cathedral

St Albans Cathedral stands on a hill overlooking the river Ver valley and from beyond this is the remains of the Roman city of Verulamium . Some of the Roman bricks were used to build the Cathedral. The Cathedral was erected on what is said to be the site of St Alban's martyrdom. e cathedral is built on what is believed to be the site of the martyrdom of St Alban.

The church has a candlelit shrine dedicated to St Alban who was a Roman who was killed because of his faith in Jesus. There are written documents about this shrine dating back to 429AD.

Clarence Park, St Albans

Clarence Park is located near the centre of St Albans and is a lovely open space of ground with mature trees and shrubs and beds planted with flowers. There are lots of seats to sit and enjoy the atmosphere of the park. There is a band stand which is used for free concerts during the summer months and there is a children's playground too.

De Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre (Incorporates Mosquito Aircraft Museum)

This is the oldest aviation museum in the country and aims to preserve the de Havilland Mosquito and other aircraft engines along with exhibits of other de Havilland items. Exhibits range from Moths to modern DH military and civil jets.

Highfield Park, St Albans

Highfield Park is set in 60 acres of land with walks, playing areas, a pond, woodland and fields along with cycle ways. There is also a Mediterranean Garden area with two petanque (boules) courts and a tree trail. There is a community centre located in the park with a gym and games area.

Kingsbury Water Mill Museum, St Albans

Kingsbury Water Mull Museum is set with a 16th century restored water mill next to the Verulamium. Exhibits include farming tools and milling machinery.

Old Gorhambury, St Albans

Old Gorhambury is the remains of an Elizabethan mansion. The decorated remains of Old Gorhambury show the levels to which the Renaissance influenced architecture in England .

Beech Bottom Dyke, St Albans

Beech Bottom Dyke is a huge ditch, with banks on both sides; it is around 30m wide, and 10m deep, and can be seen for just under a mile along the northern edge of St Albans . The dyke was constructed towards the end of the Iron Age, in the early 1st century A.D. It was built by the Catuvellauni, who were a Celtic tribe in this area, and was built to delineate the areas of land around their tribal centre at Verlamion - the predecessor of the Roman city of Verulamium .

The Village of Redbourn

The Village High Street stretched along part of the Roman Watling Street ; Roman bricks were re-used in the Norman tower of St Mary 's Church. The nave and aisle are also Norman. Redbourn Common is edged with timber-framed thatched and Georgian houses.

Redbourn Museum

The Silk Mill House houses the Redbourn Museum and is what remains of a steam driven silk mill which was here from 1857 – 1938. The museum looks at Redbourn Priory and explores where it was located. You can also find out about the different types of industry that used to be carried out in Redbourn including straw plaiting and the hat industry. You can also find out about the history of the glass bottle and look at photos of Redbourn in years gone by. There is a lovely Millennium wall hanging to admire which was created by local people.

If you are interested in buying a residential property in Harpenden or taking a lease on a commercial property in Harpenden then we would be pleased to offer you our professional services. As Chartered Surveyors we provide building Surveys, structural surveys, engineer's reports, homebuyers reports as well as schedule of conditions, commercial building surveys, feasibility studies etc all carried out by independent Chartered Surveyors. We would always recommend that you have a survey carried out on a property you intend to purchase in Harpenden and the surrounding area.

If you want a Quick Sale process in the area of Harpenden then:

Contact us on 0800 298 5424 for help and advice.