Redbourn: Village History, Mills and the Nickey Line

When choosing a stay in Redbourn, you can consider three distinct areas of interest: village history, the Nickey Line as a walking and cycling route, and mills with historical and craft connections. The Redbourn Village Museum focuses on the village’s history; the route follows a former railway line, and the mills represent historical mechanics and the production of flour and bread. You can shape your stay around the subjects that interest you most.

Mills and Craft Production

Redbournbury Mill is a mill building and watermill dating from the mid-18th century. Part of its milling mechanism has been preserved. Its construction date and mechanism offer different points of interest if you are interested in mill architecture or the technical aspects of watermills.

Redbournbury Mill is open year-round on Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm and Sundays from 1 pm to 4:30 pm; it is closed on 25 December. Check opening hours before your visit.

Redbourn Watermill & Bakery focuses on grain and baked goods: it produces organic stoneground flour, made mostly from locally grown grain. The bakery at the site makes artisan bread using its own flours.

The mills therefore offer clearly distinct themes: Redbournbury Mill represents a historic building and preserved mechanism, while Redbourn Watermill & Bakery focuses on flour production and bread. If you plan your stay around your interests, you can consider technical history and craft production as distinct areas of focus.

Nickey Line: Route and Path Conditions

The Nickey Line is an approximately seven-mile walking and cycling route along a former railway line. It connects Harpenden, Redbourn and Hemel Hempstead, passing to the south and east of Redbourn. The distance refers to the entire route; you can join and leave the Redbourn section at several points. Planning the full route is therefore different from choosing a local section.

The surface of the Redbourn section is mainly gravel and can become muddy during wet weather. Take this possible change in ground conditions into account when planning your route.

The Millenium Site on the Nickey Line is a picnic area and provides access to the High Street. Near the High Street, the Nickey Line crosses the River Ver over a brick bridge.

Ver Valley and Orchards

Along the Nickey Line section from the Five Ways junction to the edge of Redbourn, gaps in hedges and rows of trees offer views of the Ver Valley. At the crossing point on Chequer Lane, there is a small community orchard in Redbourn on the Hemel Hempstead side. Redbourn Orchard includes local varieties of apple and pear trees from Hertfordshire.

Village History and Cycling Information

The Redbourn Village Museum focuses on the village’s history. It is housed in the 19th-century Silk Mill House, which overlooks Redbourn Common. A colourful frieze depicts some local trades. The museum thus brings together local history, a building with its own historical context, and a visual insight into selected local trades.

There is a bicycle rack for four bikes at St Mary's Church.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Kings Langley, Boxmoor, Codicote, Borehamwood, Knebworth, Markyate, Hoddesdon, Buntingford.

For the main travel overview: Hertfordshire.