5. Cheshunt to Theobalds
Walks along the New River
By Nicholas Blatchley
Click on the thumbnails above for full-sized images
From Brookfield Lane, the New River flows between the Whitefield Estate and the back of the houses along the A10, at one point coming within a few yards of the road. There’s a well-made concrete path along the left bank, popular with dog-walkers in this heavily residential area. Just before reaching Church Lane, the river widens to accommodate an island.
Beyond Church Lane, the path runs along Churchfield Path for a short distance, then, at the second bridge, again runs along beside the river, with Whit Hern Park (formerly the grounds of a large house) to the right, after which it crosses a wooden bridge and passes the Borough Council offices at Bishops College, a mixture of old and new buildings. The old part was once an ecclesiastical college, first for the Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion, and then for the Church of England.
After College Road, the path runs again along the right bank, on a stretch that is partly tree lined and partly between open fields, the Bury Green Estate and the new St Mary’s School, coming eventually to the bridge for the path up from the new Paul Cully footbridge over the A10.
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That’s interesting, John. No, I don’t remember the gazebo, but then I didn’t often go along the river path back then – usually just stuck to Churchfields Path.
I worked on the new river in the 80s, there was a gazebo on the edge of the river for years near the college ,! I always wondered why it was pulled down ? John Skinner.
Hi.I lived in Cheshunt in 1970s and remember some kind of amphitheatre somewhere on the Whitefields estate.Also does anyone know how Whit Been got it’s name? Thanks