A History of Preston
in Hertfordshire
Tucked away in a corner of St Martin’s graveyard is a mausoleum. It bears the inscription, ‘Barrington White 1906’.
The more keen-
Who were the Barrington-
James Barrington-
James held several prestigious posts in Armagh including being a member of the Committee of National Association of British and Irish Millers. In March 1896, he sold his property at 15 Wellington Park, Belfast and moved to England where he was appointed Lieutenant of the Hertfordshire Cavalry in 1897 – a commission which he resigned in 1899.
In January 1898, James and Mary were living at Roxley Court, Willian, Herts (a village near Hitchin). He then returned to Northern Ireland as he was appointed as the High Sheriff of Armagh. This meant that James was the English sovereign’s judicial (as opposed to personal) representative, being responsible for law and order. He was also appointed to the Commission of Peace for Armagh.
James Barrington-
Among the police constables who lived there were John George Hart (1909), Cumberland
(1910), Albert and Lilian Shambrook (1911). In the adjoining cottage lived John Mission
(1909-
Later, the two cottages were amalgamated and the resulting home is known today as Crunnells Green Cottage.
As his letter reproduced below shows, James was well aware of the history of Temple Dinsley.
In 1906, James had the mausoleum built at St Martin’s with its copper door and Celtic cross – an echo of his Irish origins. Mary, his wife, presented a litany desk to St Martin’s Church in February 1907. She was also a Preston school manager.
The Barrington-
James was mentioned occasionally in The Times as he was on the board of the brewers,
Ind Coope and Co Ltd. He also wrote a letter to the newspaper from the Carlton Club
at Pall Mall concerning shipping and freight prices. Later, it was reported that
he was a passenger in a carriage which took part in a meet of the Four-
Mary Barrington-
Postscript: In April 2010, the connection of John Barrington-
By 1901, James was back in Hertfordshire for he bought the Temple Dinsley mansion, The Cottage, Temple Farm (with associated land) and two cottages at Preston Green. With this acquisition, he became Lord of the Manor of Temple Dinsley. He also purchased part of Wain Wood.
Four years later, in 1905, he ordered the building of two semi-