A History of Preston
in Hertfordshire
For returning visitors, the latest articles that have been added to this site are
listed below -
February 2012
More than forty wills, dated between 1640 and 1839, of folk with a Preston connection are epitomised. Link: Wills
Continuing to trace my forebears, the Bradding/Bradden family is investigated. Link: Bradding
January 2012
The Waller family, builders of modern-
Also included are more than fifty new news stories from the nineteenth century about Preston and its folk. What better way is there of absorbing the flavour of village life then! Link: C19 new news
To search the more than 200 news stories on this site for references to your family, use the ‘Search’ box on the home page.
December 2011
A method of discovering the history of Preston’s cottages is described -
Read how and why Preston Hill was straightened in 1819. Link: Preston Hill road
November 2010
A start is made to detail the people who lived in Preston -
Also, the first detailed map of the area is shown, dating from the end of the eighteenth century. Link: Early map
October 2011
Dick Middleditch, Preston gamekeeper, is spotlighted. Link: Middleditch
There is also a transcription of the 1807 census of Preston. Link: 1807 census
September 2011
The story of the community buy-
August 2011
Valerie Holland has transcribed sections of the St Mary’s, Hitchin Parish newsletter
(1900-
July 2011
My ancestors feature: Links: Early Fairey history and Breed/Barker forebears.
June 2011
This month, the following Preston people are spot-
May 2011
The owners of Temple Dinsley from 1929 -
April 2011
The history of the nearby manor of Stagenhoe is described: Stagenhoe
March 2011
Family History Monthly (April Edition, 2011) (right) includes the story of my investigations into the Fairey family. To read it, click link: ‘A Fairey Tale’
February 2011
This month, there is an educational theme. The relationship between Princess Helena College and Preston is described. Link: PHC
Also, there is news of the first school in the village. Link: Preston’s first school.
January 2011
The history of Kiln Wood is recounted. Link: Kiln Wood
Family Tree magazine featured an article about the ‘lost’ hamlet of Welei in its January 2011 issue. It may be read at this link: FT Welei
Luton News (15 December 2010) ran a ‘Yesteryear’ story that featured Ellis Wray’s emporium in Luton. The photo, article and reactions can be seen at this link: Alec Guiness
December 2010
Mrs Maybrick’s Preston Scrapbook (1953) is recreated with its original illustrations. Link: Scrapbook
November 2010
The Fenwick family who lived at Temple Dinsley (1908 -
October and September 2010
A celebration of Temple Dinsley! Included during the two months are eighty-
Family Tree magazine ran my article about Preston School from 1873 to 1901. Link: FTM Preston School
August 2010
The story of Sootfield Green is recounted -
The Scott family who lived on Blacksmiths Lane/Church Road for more than a century are featured. This page has several remarkable photos of Preston from the 1950s. Well worth a look! Link: Scott
July 2010
July sees the launch of the first part of a project to recount a detailed history
of Preston. All references to the village have been sought and collated. The section
up-