Wilstone History

Centre of Wilstone Village in the late 1800's Wilstone village has changed little over the last two or three hundred years. Prior to the building of the Grand Union Canal and reservoirs in the 1790’s to the south was an area marshy land known as Moors’. Streams ran water mills to the north of the village known today as in local parlance as the 'milloppers'- mill hoppers for storage of corn.
The construction of canal provide new houses for the workers.Up to four pubs or ale houses, a chapel, a church, two or three shops, a forge and all the trades needed to support a village.

Rainbow Bridge over Grand Union Canal at Wilstone circa 1890's Walking through the village you may pick out these former establishments including what was the three story " Black Horse."
Only the 16th century " Half Moon " survives. In 1622 William Smythe a landlord of Willesthorn was fined for suffering ale and beare to be soulde on the Sabbath.
The attractive'Rainbow bridge' took the footpath across the canal to the surrounding hamlets, now replaced by the 'wooden bridge'.

The Buckingham Arms around 1900In 1751 a dastardly act took place according to local legend at Dinah's pond in Watery Lane. Even today many old villagers would not stroll down there at midnight!
An accused Witch was subject to a trial by ducking, the last to take place in the county, having been outlawed for 16 years. The unfortunate woman Ruth Osborne drowned and the inquest was held at the Half Moon. The main perpetrator was tried at Hertford and condemned to hang in chains on Wilstone Green. Read the Full Story