Ickleford

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.97036
longitude= -0.28368
official_name= Ickleford
population= 1,848
shire_district= North Hertfordshire
shire_county = Hertfordshire
region= East of England
constituency_westminster=
post_town= HITCHIN
postcode_district = SG5
postcode_area= SG
dial_code= 01462
os_grid_reference= TL180316

Ickleford is a large village situated on the northern outskirts of Hitchin in North Hertfordshire in England. It lies on the west bank of the River Hiz.

Elsewhere, St Katharine's church, set amid cedar trees, has a 12th century Norman nave and blocked north doorway with beautifully carved zigzag arches, and a south aisle and chapel added by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1859. The east window has some fine stained glass of 1860. The Icknield Way, an ancient pathway passes through the village. The Hitchin to Bedford railway used to pass through the village, remnants of which can still be seen in places such as Gerry's Hole where parts of the old bridge and embankment are still present. The local Parish Council attempted to raise public awareness of the village through its lavish Parish Plan in 2006-07. Ickleford is less a village and more an annex to Hitchin and suffers from its proximity to the less desribale areas of the town, resulting in a high percentage of juvenile crime, anti-social behaviour and traffic problems.

Facilities

The village of Ickleford has a primary school (Ickleford Junior Mixed Infants School), a general store, four pubs (The Plume of Feathers, The Old George, The Green Man and The Cricketers), A Floral shop (Pixies which took over the old derelict Tony's News), a village hall and a village fish & chipshop that stops at 4.30 - 5.45 on Greenfield Road and 6.00 - 7.30on Arlesey Road on a tuesday evening. The Cricketers offers a small amount of reasonably priced B&B accommodation and the Old George & Plume of Feathers offer good quality meals throughout the day. The Cricketers is the first pub on the right as you enter Ickleford from Arlesey and the Plume of Feathers is a little off the main road through the village, turn right before reaching The George. The large Sports and Recreation ground which also contains a playground and pub. The Sports and Recreation Ground caters for a number of sports, including cricket, football, squash and petanque. Home to the Ickleford Cricket Club whose symbol represents two crossed farmers pitchforks. The club was founded in 1947 and in 2006 won promotion to Division 3 of the Saracens Herts League. Since 2006, the cricket club's first team has used the nickname "The Tigers". Also there is a equestrian centre with pony club..

Ickleford also has a Scout Troop (the 1st Ickleford (9th Hitchin)) with active groups for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. Meetings are held on Tuesday evenings in the Village Hall during term time. Also a Brownies for girls.

External links

* [http://ickleford.play-cricket.com/ Ickleford Cricket Club]
* [http://www.icklefordpc.com/ Ickleford Parish Council]
* [http://www.ickleford.herts.sch.uk/ Ickleford Primary School]