Notable Occupants of the Grand Houses of Abbots Langley

web site researched and maintained by Lesley and Tim Brooks, Abbots Langley

Breakspear Farm

(also spelt variously Breakspeare, Brakespear, Brakespeare, Brekespear....)

demolished c1960.

Breakspear Farm was on the left as you entered Bedmond from Abbots Langley. Not strictly a 'Grand House', but included because of the importance of one of its occupants. Breakspear farm was demolished in the 1960's to make way for a small crescent of modern houses, built off the Bedmond Road. Today only a concrete plaque commemorates the site's significance.

Map showing location of Breakspear Farm on the road entering Bedmond from Abbots Langley.

According to local legend there was, within the boundaries of Breakspear, a well with miraculous healing properties. Now on private land, it was visited by members of the ALLHS in 2010, as described in this article by Robin Mann. published in 2010 in the Abbots Langley Local History Society Journal no 33.

The Notable Occupant of Breakspear Farm

Nicholas Breakspear - The first and only English Pope.

born Breakspear Farm, Bedmond, c1100.

Image Source - Britannia.com Adrian IV, portrait on a cameo. PHGCOM.

Pope Adrian IV (Latin: Adrianus IV) born Nicholas Breakspear (or Brekespear);the only Englishman to occupy the papal throne (1154–59) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 4 December 1154 to his death in 1159.

There is comprehensive information about Nicholas Breakspear here on the Abbots Langley Local History Society website,

Copyright. These web pages © Lesley Brooks. Where images and text are drawn from other sources, copyright is acknowledged whenever known, and links to those sources provided where required or appropriate.

Any use of this material, for any purpose, must be credited, with due reference, including the URL, and a link provided back to these pages when online.