• By The Harpenden Society 

Long before today's Green Belt development wrangles or parking plan disputes, in fact a decade before the dawn of the 20th century, Harpenden was riven with controversy.

Residents were getting hot under their collective collar about the pond in the middle of the village, known by everyone as Cock Pond because of its position directly across the road from the Cock Inn.

Was it a popular attraction, according to Harpenden's atmosphere of bucolic tranquility? Or was it a muddy, smelly health hazard? The controversy raged, albeit in quite gentlemanly language, in the correspondence columns of the Herts Advertiser in 1890.

A Mr James Rothwell held the view that the pond 'is not in any sense ornamental... but very objectionable and unhealthy from the mud and refuse which is exposed to the sun's rays.

The time has come when it ought, and can, be done away with, and the remaining hollow filled up and grassed over, adding one more to our many gem-like village greens.'

He added that there by then only 'two or three gentlemen who use this pond for their cattle, but now that (mains) water is laid on throughout the village, it might, at very small cost, be made available (for watering the cattle)'.

From his rectory the Rev Edward Vaughan was quick to respond: 'I am quite unable to agree with my good friend and neighbour, Mr Rothwell, in his wish to get rid of the pond... which would destroy one of the picturesque features of the village, and inflict a real unkindness upon the animals, wild and time, which find it their most convenient drinking place'.

His Reverence continued: "Everyone knows that cows and horses prefer drinking the well-aerated soft water of an open pond, to the best water which can be given them from pumps or waterworks.

"Any notion of danger to health from the pond is quite groundless. I am quite sure that a very large part of my parishioners share my feeling on the subject."

A third correspondent, who preferred to shield their identity behind the pseudonym 'Improvement' - perhaps because of his or her somewhat garbled English - came out in firm support of Mr Rothwell, as follows: "This pond certainly is a nuisance. What beauty is there in a pool of water in the main street of the village? I say none, for the water is generally of a very dark and dirty colour, and after a horse and cart have been through, an unpleasant odour arises therefrom.

"It is also dangerous. The depth is not great, yet it happens, almost four days at the time of the whole moon, the gaslamps not being alight (another inconvenience), and the night being dull, one not used to the district might suffer considerably from a ducking."

That anonymous support prompted Mr Rothwell to return to the fray: "I admit that when the pond is full it is pleasing to see the feathered tribe enjoying themselves therein, and also to see the cattle contentedly taking their drink in passing.

"But the pond is not always full, and then the unsavoury part comes in. I have frequently seen a waggoner drive his team through the pond, churning up mud and water into the consistency of pea soup, after which the cattle enter for their accustomed drink.

"Cows, like other animals I have met with, don't exactly know what is best for them, and therefore we must educate them up. I agree with your 'Improvement' correspondent that a large trough be filled with mains water, thoroughly aerated and suitable for cattle. I would not forget the doggy tribe, and would provide a smaller trough for them and other small fry."

The Cock Pond survived for almost 40 more years before Mr Rothwell's wish was granted for it to be drained and grassed over in 1927/8. Its position is marked today by the sensory garden on the green in front of Bowers Parade.

A new book 'The Story of Harpenden from Village to Town', by local author Jean Gardner, is now on sale price £3, from Harpende Books and NEWS4U, 2 Station Road.