The Ford

The Ford follows the course of the river Ash, passing the Village Hall and, opposite, the Ridgeway, which overlooks the village’s smaller playing field. The ford that gave the hamlet its name has gone. The Ash became too deep to allow the increasing volume of traffic to cross safely and a road bridge was built in 1961 despite objections from the village.

Beside one of the two footbridges across the Ash stands the village pump, which was erected by public subscription in 1880 but is no longer in working order. To celebrate the Millennium, a village sign was erected by the pump. It was carved by local resident Brian Burton, to represent key sites in the village.

Little Hadham once boasted several pubs, shops and a full time sub-post office. The Nags Head is now the only pub. Local shops have been replaced by Little Hadham Farmers’ Market, which takes place once a month in the Village School Hall, and by stores and supermarkets in adjoining villages and towns.

The road continues to the war memorial – a favourite spot for photographers and artists – and on into the countryside towards Much Hadham, passing the entrance to the Ash Valley Golf Club. Ford Hill runs east from the war memorial, through Acremore Street to Bury Green. Chapel Lane, beside the Nags Head, runs west past Pudding Row, Ford Field and New Road and on into the hamlet of Westland Green.