Codicote: History, Timber-Framed Buildings and Walking Routes

Codicote brings together three distinct themes: the early church history of St Giles, historic timber-framed buildings, and routes through fields, woodland and hilly countryside. These stories span very different periods, and the two walking routes also offer different ways to find your way. If you are looking for a holiday rental for a stay combining history and activity, you can start by considering which of these themes you want to shape your stay.

Church History and Historic Timber-Framed Buildings

St Giles was consecrated by the Bishop of Rochester around 1111. This approximate date places the consecration in an early period of the village’s history. It does not automatically date the construction of the church building: when exploring Codicote’s past, it is important to distinguish between the consecration and the building’s construction date. Together with the histories of later buildings in the village, this gives a broad timeframe without confusing the different dates.

The Pond House has a different historical role: during the First World War, it was used as a Red Cross hospital. Alongside the consecration of St Giles around 1111, this provides an example of a wartime use. The two places raise different questions about the past: When was St Giles consecrated, and what was The Pond House used for during a particular historical period? For anyone interested not only in architectural styles but also in how buildings have been used over time, these stories offer different points of connection.

The George and Dragon Restaurant was a former inn dating from the 16th century or earlier, and features visible timber framing. The Goat Public House is a timber-framed inn dating from the late 16th or early 17th century, also with visible timber framing. Both combine the history of inns with a distinctive timber structure, but their dates are not the same: The George and Dragon is dated to the 16th century or earlier, while The Goat dates from the late 16th or early 17th century. Timber framing is more than an indication of age; the visible structure makes the construction method itself a point of interest. Architecture enthusiasts can therefore pay attention both to the timber construction and to the different dates assigned to the buildings.

On Foot: Two Different Routes

The fourth section of the Hertfordshire Way leaves Codicote’s High Street via St Albans Road, reaches Codicote Bottom Farm and then continues through fields and woodland to Heath Hill. This sequence makes the route described concrete: from a named road, via a landmark, to the destination. A two-thirds-of-a-mile section runs alongside young plantations, parkland and farmland, with views of the hills around Codicote. The landscape details add a picture of both planted and open areas, as well as the surrounding hills, to the route’s waypoints.

The Codicote South-West Loop is 4.3 miles (7 km) long and has a total ascent of 91 metres. The route crosses the River Mimram twice and follows paths through hilly countryside. Distance and total ascent provide two different planning details; the river crossings and landscape describe other features of the route. In terms of the guidance provided, this makes the loop different from the fourth section of the Hertfordshire Way: here, the total distance and ascent are given, while the other route focuses on waypoints and a section of landscape.

Check trail conditions before setting out; one section of the Hertfordshire Way currently has no official waymarking.

The priorities for choosing a destination can be clearly distinguished: the historic places offer different stories about periods and architecture, while the routes provide different ways to experience the landscape. If you are looking for a holiday rental, your plans for the stay are a useful starting point: will you focus on local history or walking? Codicote offers specific points of interest for both.

Discover more destinations: Broxbourne, Stevenage, Waltham Cross, Hemel Hempstead, Hexton, Royston, Tring, Baldock.

For the regional travel overview: Hertfordshire.