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The 16th century was a time of great change in Britain. Henry VIII ascended to the throne in 1509 and reigned for 38 years. Apart from his momentous and well documented marital problems, which would hardly have been of interest or influence to the average working man, or peasant, his disagreements with the Church of Rome affected everyone when, by the Act of Dissolution of the Monasteries, he disenfranchised the church and confiscated all its land.

As we have read, Westminster and St Albans disputed much of the land in Aldenham, but there was nothing particularly valuable about most of the holdings in the area. Only one estate – that of the Manor of Aldenham – was disposed of by the King. Henry granted the Manor, together with the rectory and living of Aldenham Church, to Ralph Stepneth or Stepney and his wife Joan, people about whom history had nothing to impart.

This estate had nothing to do with Lord Aldenham, a Baron who was ennobled in 1896 and lived at Aldenham House. His ancestor’s lands, then known as Penne’s Place, were also seized by Henry VIII in 1536 and sold to the tenant, Humphrey Coningsby, a wealthy man who also owned Tyttenhanger. Darnells farm in Radlett was part of the holding of Penne’s Place.

The other principal estate at that time was Kendals but that was already owned by Henry VIII who inherited it from his grandmother, Henry VII’s mother. The property remained in Royal hands until 1607 when James I sold it to the Earl of Salisbury with whose family it remained until 1739 when it was sold to William Phillimore’s maternal uncle.

Also during this period, in 1560, Battlers Green House was built (until around 1900 it was only a farmhouse) and in 1597 Aldenham School was founded by Richard Platt a wealthy brewer.

Probably older than both these buildings is the house called Patchetts, which is opposite the main gate of Delrow House where Summerhouse Lane joins Hilfield Lane. It is a delightful Tudor cottage unspoiled by the hand of passing generations. Believed to have been built around 1550, this black and white half-timbered cottage has gathered around it many local rumours. One, that Dick Turpin often stayed there when operating in the district. Another, that once it was a Toll House.

© Philip Eastburn