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General
Aldbury is a picturesque village five kilometres east of Tring. It lies at the foot of a Chiltern ridge and is almost completely surrounded by the National Trust owned Ashridge estate. The village green has a pond, stocks and whipping post.
The name derives from the Old English words ald and burh meaning ‘old fortification’. In the Domesday Survey of 1086 the village is called Eldeberie.
Mrs Humphry Ward the novelist used to live at Stocks House which is now a hotel and country club. Her grave lies in the churchyard of St John the Baptist in Aldbury.
Aldbury’s history goes back to the Bronze Age when it was first settled and it contains boundary dykes which were dug in the Iron Age.
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Station Road
People believe that a phantom coach is driven along the road from Aldbury to Tring by the former Lord of Aldbury, Simon Harcourt. The sound of horses’ hooves and the jingle of bells are heard but the coach is never seen. One resident heard the coach approaching and the horse he was riding shied away in fright but nothing was to be seen he just felt the coach pass him by.
To view a map of the area click on the button below
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Stocks
In 1891 three men went poaching in woods belonging to the Stocks estate. Unfortunately for them they were surprised by two of the estate’s gamekeepers and a violent confrontation took place. After a struggle both of the gamekeepers were killed. The men were caught and two of them were sentenced to death. The day of execution, 18th March 1892, sparked a leading article in The Times and a debate in parliament. Afterwards children would not go near the woods where the gamekeepers were murdered because they believed that ghosts walked the area.
To view a map of the area click on the button below
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