Between Standon & Braughing · East Hertfordshire
Welcome to
Puckeridge
A village on the old Roman road, with a High Street of timber and brick and stories going back two thousand years. It was first written down as Pucherugge in 1294.
- 27 milesnorth of London on the old road
- Ad Finesa Roman town, c. 200 AD
- Puck’s Riggthe Saxons’ “Devil’s Hill”
- River Ribwinding through the parish
A short history
From Ad Fines to Puck’s Rigg
Puckeridge nestles in an area of natural beauty, 27 miles north of London, between the villages of Standon and Braughing both recorded in the Domesday Book. The earliest known settlement was founded by the Catavellauni, Celts from north-eastern France. The Celts began to arrive around 250 BC.
By 200 AD, rich from the proceeds of agriculture, they built a town at the northern end of the village identified as Ad Fines. This was a regional capital, the starting point for three major Celtic roads to Colchester, St Albans and Baldock - all important Celtic centres before the Romans took over. Ad Fines had a large temple dedicated to Minerva, at least two bath houses on the banks of the River Rib and survived until the end of the 5th Century AD.
The departure of the Romans caused the collapse of the grain trade. Commercially weak, the townspeople could not resist the Saxon invaders of 600 AD. The Saxons, typically, eschewed the ready-built township on the hill and built their rude settlements elsewhere, at Braughing and Standon. They referred to Ad Fines as the Devils Hill or in their tongue, "Puck's Rigg".
More from the history archive
Around the village
Pubs, shops & places
Two old coaching inns, the village café, the High Street shops and the community centre.
From the archive
Stories of the old village
Turnpikes and post coaches, a warship that carried the village’s name, and how Puckeridge got its name in the first place.
What's in a name
Lunardi Court Lunardi Court was named after a pioneering balloonist. Vincenzo Lunardi, born in Lucca, Italy, ended his first balloon flight in Standon Green End on 15th September, 1784. John Carrington, chief constable…
The Puckeridge Gate
Wadesmill Turnpike Trust TABLE of TOLLS Payable at this GATE by Virtue of an Act of Parliament passed in the 2nd Year of the Reign of King George the 4th. Desc Toll (d) For every Horse or other Beast drawn by any four…
HMS Puckeridge
During WWII the village was privileged to share its name with HMS Puckeridge, a Hunt Class, Type 2, Destroyer; built by J S White at Cowes, and launched in 1941. Sadly, she was sunk by two torpedoes from an enemy…
Galleries
Puckeridge in pictures
Village news
Notices & news
91 new homes for the field behind Café Fields
Puckeridge is to get 91 new homes on the 13.9-acre field south of the village, behind the Café Fields estate and close to the A10/A120 junction. East Herts Council’s development management…
Flood alert on the River Rib
After heavy rain at the end of September 2024, the Environment Agency put a flood alert on the Rivers Rib and Quin, which covers Standon and Puckeridge. Low-lying land and roads near Station Road…
Community centre passes to the Recreation Ground Charity
The Standon & Puckeridge Community Centre on Station Road is now run by the Standon & Puckeridge Recreation Ground Charity. Standon Parish Council agreed the transfer in February 2024…
Thousands back for Standon May Day
Standon May Day came back in 2022 after two years off for Covid, and more than five thousand people turned out on the bank holiday Monday. As always, it began at sunrise the day before, when…
Libraries
Borrow a book
Swap one at the Little Library in the old phone box on Station Road, visit Ware Library, or have books delivered to your door.