Harpenden lies on the dip-slope of the Chilterns, with the River Ver to the west and the River Lea to the east. With underlying chalk, and a top layer of clay with flint (well-known to local gardners), the area was covered with deciduous forest, but proved good farmland when cleared. The centre of Harpenden village lies within a shallower dry valley. Though there are no spectacular remains of earlier settlers, antler and flint tools from Stone Age hunters have been found. The river valleys gave access to Celtic (Belgae) settlers shortly before the Roman invasion. There are indications of pre-Roman trackways and settlements and burial sites. In Roman times there was a network of major and minor roads, as well as Watling Street from Verulamium (St Albans) to Dunstable. Roman finds have been located all over Harpenden.
Burial Mound in the Lea Valley
Romano-British sarcophagus found in the 1820s
Harpenden's 'Dry Valley'
A pictorial trail from Zouches Farm near Dunstable to the River Colne at Smallford
Harpenden, Batford and the Danelaw Boundary
A report on the presentation given to the Society by Alexander Thomas on 22 March 2016.
Hertfordshire Puddingstone
Almost unique to our area
Iron Age Burial in Harpenden
Pre-Roman settlements in the Lea Valley at Batford
The Coin Hoard from St Albans
Talk by David Thorold of Verulamium Museum
Traces of Roman occupation
Fragments found by builders or in field surveys