About Us
Stapleford Parish Council covers the villages of both Stapleford and Waterford. Please find some information on this page about the villages and local area.
Stapleford Village
​Stapleford is a small village and civil parish in the Beane valley which is located around
2.5 miles north of Hertford, off the main A119 road to Stevenage. The river Beane, originally forded at this point, gave rise to the village.
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Stapleford Primary is a small, rural 150-year-old church school in a beautiful setting. In its latest Ofsted inspection the school was found to be ‘good’ in all areas.
Stapleford's beautiful and historic parish church of St Mary's, is part of the diocese of
St Albans. It is located next to a picturesque walk along the river Beane. Regular musical evening events are also held in the church.
www.achurchnearyou.com/stapleford-st-mary/
In addition to the church there is a lovely, well maintained recreation ground with playground equipment, football nets and a basketball hoop. The small village hall is available to hire once again, after refurbishments were made. A well-known May Day flower festival and art show was held annually in the village until 2019 and it is hoped that the village will organise events again in future, as the hall is back in use.
Waterford Village
Waterford is located on the A119 road, around 1.6 miles north of Hertford. The river Beane flows through the village.
At the centre of the village is the well maintained and well-used village hall, where regular events are always popular with the local community. The village hall is on the site of the lovely riverside recreation ground with children’s play equipment and plenty of space for games and a picnic.
www.waterfordvillagehall.co.uk/
East from the village, along Vicarage Lane, is Waterford Heath nature reserve, which is managed by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and includes a delightful circular walk,
with a long section of the river included.
www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/
Waterford village is most notable for the delightful Victorian church of St Michael and All Angels, which was financed by Robert Smith, owner of the Goldings estate, close to the church. It is notable for its Pre-Raphaelite stained glass windows including one by William Morris and several by Edward Burne-Jones. All the wood used in constructing the church came from Golding’s estate, with its oak porch, bell tower and octagonal spire covered in cedar shingles.
www.achurchnearyou.com/waterford-st-michael-all-angels/
The view of the church from Waterford Marsh opposite has always been most popular with local artists and is grazed by ponies and cattle annually. The Marsh is managed by Stapleford Parish Council and the riverside path along it, part of the Hertfordshire Way, provides a pleasant walk towards Hertford.
River Beane
The River Beane which runs through both Stapleford and Waterford is a chalk stream and tributary of the River Lea, it is currently undergoing restoration to its water quality and biodiversity. It rises to the south-west of Sandon in the hills northeast of Stevenage and joins the Lea at Hartham Common in Hertford.
