Lilley, Hertfordshire Explained

Country:England
Official Name:Lilley
Coordinates:51.9222°N -0.3725°W
Civil Parish:Lilley
Population:386
Population Ref:(2011)[1]
Shire District:North Hertfordshire
Shire County:Hertfordshire
Region:East of England
Constituency Westminster:Hitchin and Harpenden
Post Town:LUTON
Postcode District:LU2
Postcode Area:LU
Dial Code:01462
Os Grid Reference:TL120261
Static Image Name:Lilley - The Church of St Peter's - geograph.org.uk - 202359.jpg
Static Image Caption:St Peter's Church, Lilley

Lilley is a small village and civil parish situated between Hitchin and Luton in Hertfordshire, England.[2] [3] Lilley stands on high ground: nearby Telegraph Hill is just over 600 feet above sea level.

The church, rebuilt in the 19th century, contains some original features and a fine Elizabethan heraldic memorial. According to tradition, Lilley was once the residence of John Kellerman, an alleged occultist described by Sir Richard Phillips as the "last of the alchemists."[4]

Lilley lies within the parliamentary constituency of Hitchin and Harpenden. Until recently it had two public houses, the Silver Lion and the Lilley Arms. The recent closure and conversion of the Silver Lion leaves the Lilley Arms as the village's only pub. The low-lying land to the south of Lilley is called Lilley Bottom.

The Icknield Way Path passes the edge of the parish on its 110-mile course from Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire to Knettishall Heath in Suffolk.

The village has a football team, although they presently do not play in Lilley due to lack of facilities. The village cricket club is one of the oldest in Hertfordshire, with fixtures dating back to the mid-1890s. The cricket club plays at the Geoff Banks-Smith Memorial Cricket Ground, between St Peter's Church and the village hall and are currently in North Herts League Division 2.

The church holds a flower festival every early May Bank Holiday weekend.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Civil Parish population 2011. 30 October 2016. Office for National Statistics . Neighbourhood Statistics.
  2. Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 166 Luton & Hertford (Hitchin & St Albans). 9780319232095 . Ordnance Survey. 2012.
  3. Web site: Ordnance Survey Election Maps. www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk . Ordnance Survey . 3 April 2016.
  4. Web site: Blatchley . Nicholas . The Hertfordshire Alchemist . Herts Memories . 29 April 2022.