Weston, Hertfordshire Explained

Country:England
Static Image Name:Holy Trinity Church Weston.jpg
Static Image Caption:Holy Trinity Church, Weston
Coordinates:51.9569°N -0.1678°W
Official Name:Weston
Population:1,054
Population Ref:(2011 Census)[1]
Shire District:North Hertfordshire
Shire County:Hertfordshire
Region:East of England
Constituency Westminster:North East Hertfordshire
Post Town:HITCHIN
Postcode District:SG4
Postcode Area:SG
Dial Code:01462
Os Grid Reference:TL260303

Weston is a village and civil parish in the North Hertfordshire district of Hertfordshire, England. In 2011 the parish had a population of 1054.

It is located around 4 miles north of Stevenage, 2.5 miles south of Baldock and the same distance south-east of Letchworth, although it lies in the Hitchin post town. The A1(M) motorway passes to the west and the A505 Baldock bypass to the north, in a cut-and-cover tunnel that passes through the Weston Hills. These hills were made famous by the Robin Hood-style character Jack o'Legs, who was allegedly buried in the village's church graveyard.

Weston Road and the Village of Weston, both within Toronto, were named after this place.

The Legend Of Jack o'Legs

The legend of Jack o'Legs is connected to the village of Weston, and explained on a signpost in the village green. The legend is that a Jack o'Legs was an abnormally tall man who stole from shops in the nearby town of Baldock.

He took his lootings and hid them in a cave somewhere around Weston Hills. After he was captured and severely wounded by the shopkeepers of Baldock he shot an arrow from there 3 miles into the churchyard at Weston to show where he wished to be buried.

In the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church, Weston,[2] there is a grave for Jack o'Legs, which is unusually long, possibly placed there to fuel belief in the legend.[3]

Windmill

A traditional windmill survives in Weston, although it is in need of refurbishment.

See also

References

  1. Web site: Civil Parish population 2011. 3 November 2016. Office for National Statistics . Neighbourhood Statistics.
  2. Web site: Holy Trinity, Weston - Hertfordshire Diocese of St Albans. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100902135002/http://www.achurchnearyou.com/venue-7924 . 2 September 2010 .
  3. Web site: The Giant Jack O'Legs . 2007-06-07.