Arlesey is a long village with an equally long chronicled history. The entry in the doomsday book of 1096 reads; Alricesei : Bishop of Durham; Bernard from Willaim d'Eru; Herfast from Nigel d'Abigney; Wulfusi. 3 Mills. This entry records the principle landowners as being the Bishop of Durham (Arleseybury, which he gave to the monks of Waltham Abbey); William d'Eu Count of Eu, second son of Robert d'Eu, who came from the port of Seine-Maritime and owned Arlesey Manor (Etonbury - land to the north of Stotfold Road to Astwick) and Nigel d'Aubigney who came from St Martin d'Aubigney near Coutances. The village eventually became three distinct manors. Etonbury with land to the north of Stotfold Road, reaching as far as Astwick, Arleseybury from land south of Stotfold Road to around where Howberry Green now is, and the manor of Lanthony from Howberry Green to the south of the parish. This manor was owned by a Welsh order of monks.
I had often caught glimpses of Lamb Meadow from the train as it sped through Arlesey on the main East Coast line from Kings Cross. What was not so apparent was the distance between the ground and the railway station at the northern edge of town. Still we had time to spare and it was a pleasant enough walk.The match was a thrilling end to end cup tie which provided excellent entertainment for the bumper crowd and those anglers fishing nearby. One such angler was a colleague who told me that it was a bit noisier than usual!
The Pieman's subsequent visit to Hitchin Road (April 2004)
