History - Puddingstone

Radlett is noted for its Puddingstone. Over the centuries large deposits have been dug up in Aldenham Avenue, Newberries and Christchurch. The stone can be seen today at Battlers Green Farm, Common Lane, in walls in Gills Hill and Aldenham Avenue, and in the buttresses to Aldenham Church tower.

It is known to geologists as a conglomerate and is made up of small flints bound together in a matrix. It is some 65 million years old and is peculiar to Hertfordshire.

The most recent discovery was made when the new A41 road was built at the back of King’s Langley when heavy digging equipment was damaged because of its hardness.

Over the centuries the stone has been surrounded by myth and legend, and was also known as motherstone because after a heavy nights rain, the recently ploughed field would appear to be covered with pieces of stone scattered all over, whereas the night before none were visible.