Brent Pelham

Brent Pelham
St Mary the Virgin, Brent Pelham
Brent Pelham is located in Hertfordshire
Brent Pelham
Brent Pelham
Location within Hertfordshire
OS grid referenceTL4330
Civil parish
  • Brent Pelham
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBUNTINGFORD
Postcode districtSG9
Dialling code01279
PoliceHertfordshire
FireHertfordshire
AmbulanceEast of England
List of places
UK
England
Hertfordshire
51°57′17″N 00°05′16″E / 51.95472°N 0.08778°E / 51.95472; 0.08778

Brent Pelham is a village and civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district, in the county of Hertfordshire, England, and situated approximately 5 miles (8 km) east of Buntingford. It is one of the three Pelhams, with Stocking Pelham and Furneux Pelham. It shares a parish council with Meesden.

The parish church of St Mary the Virgin dates from the 14th century. It contains a tomb of earlier date, likely the 1200s, on which have been carved the name Piers Shonks and the date, 1086. By tradition, Shonks was a local lord who killed a dragon or, less commonly, a giant. The emblems of the Four Evangelists – angel, eagle, lion, and bull – have been carved around a dragon's mouth.[1][2] The church is part of a benefice with Anstey, Brent Pelham, Hormead, Meesden and Wyddial.[3]

Near St Mary's church are ancient stocks which could accommodate up to three people. A derelict windmill survives in the village.[4]

There is a Royal Observer Corps observer post just outside the village, but it is now in a state of disrepair. It has an Orlit, which is rare for posts in this area.[5][6]

Ancient stocks just outside the churchyard
  1. ^ Hadley, Christopher (2019). Hollow places: an unusual history of land and legend. London: William Collins. ISBN 9780008319519.
  2. ^ "GENUKI - Brent Pelham". Joinermarriageindex.co.uk. 4 October 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  3. ^ "About Us - The Benefice of Anstey, Brent Pelham, Hormead, Meesden and Wyddial". Quintetchurches.com. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  4. ^ "THE OLD WINDMILL, Brent Pelham - 1176043 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk.
  5. ^ "Brent Pelham ROC Post – Subterranea Britannica". www.subbrit.org.uk.
  6. ^ "ROC Post - Brent Pelham NOV 2015". Derelict Places - Urban Exploring Forum. 30 November 2015.