Cuffley
Encyclopedia
Cuffley is a village in the Welwyn Hatfield
district of south-east Hertfordshire
located between Cheshunt
and Potters Bar
. It has a population of just over 4,000 people. Politically, Cuffley is part of Broxbourne
Constituency in the House of Commons, and sends a Councillor to Hertfordshire County Council
.
in 1910, as part of the plan to create the Hertford Loop Line
, as a strategic alternative to the main line out of Kings Cross to the North, by extending the line from Enfield Chase
.
The early history of Cuffley is recounted by one of its residents, Molly Hughes
, in her autobiographical book "A London Family Between the Wars."
On September 3, 1916 the German airship SL-11
was shot down and crashed in Cuffley during an aerial bombardment intended for London. This incident is commemorated by a Memorial on East Ridgeway to Lieutenant W. Leefe Robinson
, the pilot who shot the airship down. He was awarded the Victoria Cross
. There is also a model of the airship in the village hall. Contrary to many reports of the incident, the SL-11 airship was not a Zeppelin
but an army Schütte-Lanz
airship. Regardless, the local football team is still nicknamed 'The Zeps' after this event.
In 1939, the Scout Association purchased part of the Tolmers Park
Estate that lies within the Parish of Cuffley. Tolmers Scout Camp, was opened on Whit Saturday 1940 by Lord Wigram
. Today, Tolmers hosts thousands of young people annually from all over the UK and across Europe; not only Scouts and Guides but schools and youth groups as well.
and is part of the London commuter belt
. Cuffley railway station
provides a commuter service to Moorgate
and connects to King's Cross in the evenings and at weekends.
, which was built in 1938 to replace the original Victorian school room situated where St Andrew’s Church now stands. This modern church, built in 1965, replaced the ‘tin church’ built next to the old village green in 1911.
The village also has a lively and well attended Baptist Church, known as Cuffley Free Church. In May 2011 it changed its name to Life Church and started an additional campus of the church in Potters Bar.
There is also a Catholic church.
, former CEO of Tesco
, although this has not prevented other locals from objecting vehemently to plans to build a "Express" store in the village. Other famous residents include Premier League footballers Ledley King
, Jermain Defoe
, Niko Kranjcar
, David Bentley
and Armand Traoré
; and also former Sugababes singer Keisha Buchanan
, and Myleene Klass
.
Welwyn Hatfield
The Borough of Welwyn Hatfield is a local government district in southern Hertfordshire, England.Its covers the two towns of Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield, along with numerous smaller settlements from Woolmer Green in the north to Little Heath in the south. Each of the towns has a railway station...
district of south-east Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
located between Cheshunt
Cheshunt
Cheshunt is a town in Hertfordshire, England with a population of around 52,000 according to the United Kingdom's 2001 Census. It is a dormitory town and part of the Greater London Urban Area and London commuter belt served by Cheshunt railway station...
and Potters Bar
Potters Bar
Potters Bar is a town in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire, England, located north of Central London. In 2001 it had a population of 21,618....
. It has a population of just over 4,000 people. Politically, Cuffley is part of Broxbourne
Broxbourne (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-Elections in the 1980s:-Notes and references:...
Constituency in the House of Commons, and sends a Councillor to Hertfordshire County Council
Hertfordshire County Council
Hertfordshire County Council is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Hertfordshire, in England, the United Kingdom. It currently consists of 77 councillors, and is controlled by the Conservative Party, which has 55 councillors, 17 Liberal Democrats, versus 3 Labour...
.
History
The railway had an important impact on the development of the village. Cuffley was reached by the Great Northern RailwayGreat Northern Railway (Great Britain)
The Great Northern Railway was a British railway company established by the Great Northern Railway Act of 1846. On 1 January 1923 the company lost its identity as a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway....
in 1910, as part of the plan to create the Hertford Loop Line
Hertford Loop Line
The Hertford Loop Line is a branch of the East Coast Main Line, providing a commuter route to London for Hertford and other Hertfordshire towns...
, as a strategic alternative to the main line out of Kings Cross to the North, by extending the line from Enfield Chase
Enfield Chase railway station
Enfield Chase railway station is located in Windmill Hill, Enfield, in the London Borough of Enfield in north London, and is in Travelcard Zone 5. The station, and all trains serving it, is operated by First Capital Connect. It is directly west of Enfield Town centre...
.
The early history of Cuffley is recounted by one of its residents, Molly Hughes
Mary Vivian Hughes
Mary Vivian Hughes , usually known as Molly Hughes and published under M. V. Hughes, was a British educator and author....
, in her autobiographical book "A London Family Between the Wars."
On September 3, 1916 the German airship SL-11
SL 11
The Schütte-Lanz SL 11 was a military dirigible airship built in Germany during 1916.-Operational history:The SL 11 was built by Luftschiffbau Schütte-Lanz and thus, was not classeD as a Zeppelin. Based at Spich and commanded by Hauptmann Wilhelm Schramm, on the early night of September 3, 1916,...
was shot down and crashed in Cuffley during an aerial bombardment intended for London. This incident is commemorated by a Memorial on East Ridgeway to Lieutenant W. Leefe Robinson
Leefe Robinson
William Leefe Robinson VC was the first British pilot to shoot down a German airship over Britain during the First World War. For this he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
, the pilot who shot the airship down. He was awarded the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
. There is also a model of the airship in the village hall. Contrary to many reports of the incident, the SL-11 airship was not a Zeppelin
Zeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
but an army Schütte-Lanz
Schütte-Lanz
Schütte-Lanz is the name of a series of rigid airships designed and built by the Luftschiffbau Schütte-Lanz company from 1909 until the last LS22 was delivered in 1917. One research and four passenger airships were planned for post-war use, but were never built...
airship. Regardless, the local football team is still nicknamed 'The Zeps' after this event.
In 1939, the Scout Association purchased part of the Tolmers Park
Tolmers Park
Tolmers Park is a manor house in Newgate Street Village near Hatfield in Hertfordshire, England.-Early history:The early history of the manor is obscure, but in a register of lands belonging to the Bishop of Ely compiled in 1277, a certain Walter de Tolymer was tenant-in-chief of lands close to...
Estate that lies within the Parish of Cuffley. Tolmers Scout Camp, was opened on Whit Saturday 1940 by Lord Wigram
Clive Wigram, 1st Baron Wigram
Clive Wigram, 1st Baron Wigram GCB, GCVO, CSI, PC , was a British soldier and court official. He was Private Secretary to the Sovereign from 1931 to 1936....
. Today, Tolmers hosts thousands of young people annually from all over the UK and across Europe; not only Scouts and Guides but schools and youth groups as well.
Transport
Cuffley is near to the M25 motorwayM25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
and is part of the London commuter belt
London commuter belt
The London commuter belt is the metropolitan area surrounding London, England from which it is practical to commute to work in the capital. It is alternatively known as the Greater South East, the London metropolitan area or the Southeast metropolitan area...
. Cuffley railway station
Cuffley railway station
Cuffley railway station serves the village Cuffley in the Welwyn Hatfield district in Hertfordshire. It also serves other surrounding settlements, namely Goffs Oak, Northaw and the west of Cheshunt. The station opened in 1910 on the Hertford Loop Line between Enfield Chase and Hertford North as...
provides a commuter service to Moorgate
Moorgate station
Moorgate station is a central London railway terminus and London Underground station on Moorgate in the City of London; it provides National Rail services by First Capital Connect for Hertford, Welwyn Garden City and Letchworth and also serves the Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan Lines and...
and connects to King's Cross in the evenings and at weekends.
Facilities
Cuffley has a primary school, Cuffley SchoolCuffley School
Cuffley School is a primary school situated in Cuffley in Hertfordshire. It is for children of both sexes, and is a Foundation/Comprehensive school for children aged 3-11 years old....
, which was built in 1938 to replace the original Victorian school room situated where St Andrew’s Church now stands. This modern church, built in 1965, replaced the ‘tin church’ built next to the old village green in 1911.
The village also has a lively and well attended Baptist Church, known as Cuffley Free Church. In May 2011 it changed its name to Life Church and started an additional campus of the church in Potters Bar.
There is also a Catholic church.
Famous residents
Its most famous current resident is Sir Terry LeahyTerry Leahy
Sir Terry Leahy is a former CEO of Tesco, the largest British supermarket chain.He lives in Cuffley, Hertfordshire, with his wife, Alison and his three children.- Early life :...
, former CEO of Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
, although this has not prevented other locals from objecting vehemently to plans to build a "Express" store in the village. Other famous residents include Premier League footballers Ledley King
Ledley King
Ledley Brenton King is an English footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur. He is the longest serving player at the club and captained Spurs since 2005. He is currently contracted to Tottenham until 2012...
, Jermain Defoe
Jermain Defoe
Jermain Colin Defoe is an English footballer who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, and the England national football team....
, Niko Kranjcar
Niko Kranjcar
Niko Kranjčar is a Croatian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Tottenham Hotspur and the Croatia national team.He represented two of the biggest clubs in his homeland, playing for Dinamo Zagreb before sparking controversy by making a move to their fierce rivals Hajduk Split in 2005...
, David Bentley
David Bentley
David Michael Bentley is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United as a winger, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur....
and Armand Traoré
Armand Traoré
Armand Mohamed Traoré is a French-born Senegalese footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers as a left back. Traoré is a product of the famous Arsenal Academy, he has also represented France at under-19 and under-21 levels, but has since opted to represent his parents' native country, Senegal,...
; and also former Sugababes singer Keisha Buchanan
Keisha Buchanan
Keisha Kerreece Fayeanne Buchanan is an English singer-songwriter and was a founding member of the BRIT Award-winning girl group the Sugababes. With the Sugababes, Buchanan had six number one singles and two number one studio albums, making the Sugababes one of the most successful British pop acts...
, and Myleene Klass
Myleene Klass
Myleene Angela Quinn is an English singer, pianist, media personality and occasional model. She was formerly a member of the defunct British pop band Hear'Say.-Early life:...
.