History
In 1594, John Rolfe and Richard Pope conveyed land in Boxmoor and Hemel Hempstead to Francis Coombes, Seth Gladman and other named inhabitants (Feoffes), to be held in trust for the people of the town and the neighbouring hamlet of Bovingdon. The land is still held in trust for the current and future inhabitants of Hemel Hempstead and Bovingdon, although its original function has been reassigned over the years to accommodate the changing needs of the population. One of its purposes now is to maintain the natural habitat of the Bulbourne Valley as it meanders towards Two Waters. Recently, the Estate has been extended by the acquisition of Westbrook Hay Farm on a long lease.
Two words that sum up the next 100 years for the Nation could be 'communication' and 'growth'... But for the Trust, it was a Dark Age. Apart from the records of the land being transferred from generation to generation, few records remain concerning the Estate of Box Moor. However, the principle of the Trust remained intact for formal ratification in the next century.
These years saw the expansion of the Trust Estate when, for the first time since 1594, substantial new lands were added. These were Sheethanger and Roughdown Commons, first leased and later purchased for the benefit of the local inhabitants.
The last century started with the same euphoria as the other finished... But from these heights, decline soon set in. By 1914 the 'War to end all Wars' - followed by yet another war - altered the national and local perspective.
The period between the two wars saw a general strike, a depression and a considerable decline in agriculture: the grazing lands of Boxmoor became run down and overgrown. The new town was created after the Second World War.
In 1995, the Trust leased a large tract of land at Westbrook Hay from Dacorum Borough Council and the freehold was purchased in 2003.
It is still early days, but the land will be fundamental to the Trust's environmental and educational programme. One immediate benefit has been to enable the Trust to increase and develop its breed of Norfolk Horn sheep in conjunction with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
Since 1996, the Trust has welcomed those who express an interest in the Trust lands by joining the The Friends of The Box Moor Trust.
