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General
Aldenham is a secluded village that has hardly changed since Saxon times when a large part of it was owned by the Abbots of Westminster Abbey. A lot of the land was later sold off so Aldenham was originally probably much larger than the present village. In the 2001 Census the population was 373.
The name may either have derived from the Old English ald and ham meaning ‘old homestead' or perhaps from a personal name hence ‘Ealda's homestead'. In the Domesday Survey of 1086 the name is given as Eldeham.
One of Aldenham's major features is the Country Park. This is owned and managed by Hertfordshire County Council and was created on green belt land in 1971. The area consists of thirty hectares of woodland, parkland and open water.
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Wall Hall Mansion
When Wall Hall Mansion belonged to the University of Hertfordshire it was haunted by the ghost of an old woman. One night the Housekeeping Manager and another cleaner were working in the Philosophy block offices. The manager was on her own vacuuming when she thought she heard the other cleaner come into the room. She made a comment but got no reply so she turned round and found to her surprise that it wasn't the other cleaner. She was confronted with a grey haired woman wearing a long grey dress, a bodice with a white collar and long sleeves. The woman was frowning as if she disapproved of the way the room was being cleaned. The manager told her to stop frowning as the room was only cleaned yesterday and she couldn't do any better. At this point the other cleaner entered the room and asked who the manager was talking to. When she was told about the ghost she rapidly exited the room.
The ghost was believed to be that of a former housekeeper from the days when the mansion was a private residence. Security staff had also seen the ghost and heard the sound of children laughing. One lecture room, M7, was always bitterly cold and the ghost had been seen there. In addition the room lights would turn themselves on and off while the room was occupied.
In 2004 Wall Hall was acquired by Octagon and they transformed the former university campus into a virtual hamlet with new houses and apartments.
To view a map of the area click on the button below
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