The parish had a population of 5,190 according to the 2001 census, most of whom live in Cuffley. It formed part of the Metropolitan Police District until 2000. The village has a population of around 590[2] people.
Northaw Church of England Primary School was founded in 1879 and the trust deed, which is the school's Christian foundation, remains integral to the ethos and beliefs of the school community. The school is a Voluntary Aided School and is part of the family of the Diocese of St Albans.[3]
The parish church of Thomas à Becket is Grade II listed. It was built in 1881, by C. Kirk and Son of Sleaford, replacing a church of 1809. The north aisle was added in 1887, with choir and vestry added in 1893. The church has complete and original stained glass. The east window is signed Ward Hughes 1882, the west window Ward & Hughes 1887 and the three north aisle windows c.1895 are by Heaton, Butler and Bayne.[4]
A Northaw ex-resident was former cabinet minister Cecil Parkinson.
Northaw House and manor
The manor of Northaw was held by St Albans Abbey in the Middle Ages. Following the abbey's dissolution in 1539, it was held by William Cavendish, with his first wife Elizabeth Parys and his second wife Bess of Hardwick.[5] The manor house became known as "Nyn Hall", "Ninn Hall", "Nyn House" or "North Hall". It was rebuilt in the 16th century, although the exact date remains unclear: according to John Stow, writing in about 1600, it was rebuilt by Cavendish before 1552; but according to John Norden in 1598, the builder was a later owner, Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick, some time after 1576.[6][7]
In March 1597, Anne Russell, Countess of Warwick, described Northaw as a "cold, bare and moist place, yet a near neighbour to Tibbols".[8]Lady Anne Clifford stayed in July 1603.[9] Northaw house was demolished in 1774 and the replacement Northaw House was built on a different site.[10][11]
^Slocombe, Emma (2016). "The embroidery and needlework of Bess of Hardwick". In Adshead, David; Taylor, David (eds.). Hardwick Hall: a great old castle of romance. New Haven: Yale University Press. pp. 110–132 (111–2). ISBN9780300218909.
^Harris, Oliver (2003). "Nyn Hall, Northaw: an alternative history". Hertfordshire Archaeology. 13: 99–100.
^Smith, J. T. (1993). Hertfordshire Houses: selective inventory. London: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. pp. 134–135. ISBN9781873592106.
