Welham Green

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude=51.73468
longitude=-0.21732
official_name= Welham Green
population= 3,639 (2001 Census)
shire_district= Welwyn Hatfield
shire_county = Hertfordshire
region= East of England
constituency_westminster= Welwyn Hatfield
post_town= ST ALBANS
postcode_district= AL9
postcode_area=AL
dial_code= 01707
os_grid_reference= TL232055

Welham Green is a village in the parish of North Mymms, Hertfordshire, England. It is situated close to the Great North Road coaching route that used to run from London to York and the north. The Great North Road is now by-passed by the A1(M). Even so, Welham Green has developed into a large village over the last 20 years, helped by the 1986 opening of its own railway station between Brookmans Park and Hatfield on the East Coast Main Line. Recent housing development has portended the joining of the village with the neighbouring town of Hatfield. Some residentsWho|date=August 2008, wishing to maintain Welham Green's character, have resisted such development.

First balloon landing in England

In the village, on the corner of Huggins Lane and Parsonage Lane, is a stone plinth marking a point close to which in 1784 (at 3.30pm on 15 September) the balloonist Vincenzo Lunardi, while on the first hot air balloon flight in England, made his first landing. The plinth states that on landing Lunardi handed a cat and a dog that had accompanied him from London before re-ascending and continuing north east. According to legend, the recipient of the animals was a local woman.

Public transport

The village is served by Welham Green railway station and Hertfordshire's first Monorail service.

External links

* [http://www.welhamgreen.com/ Official site]