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> United Kingdom > England > East of England > East of England
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| Established | February 23, 1950 |
| Disbanded | Still Active |
| Contributor | RP |
| Last Modified | RBH November 19, 2021 07:24pm |
| Description |
An area Sir John Betjeman famously called Metroland, this constituency hosts Chorleywood and Rickmansworth at the top of the Metropolitan line of the underground. The constituency is a long thin strip stretching up to Berkhamsted and Tring. One of the more remarkable episodes in local history took place in 1846 when Fergus O'Conner, MP and Chartist Leader, purchased Heronsgate Farm and renamed it "O'Connorville : Land of Peace and Plenty". He intended to resettle families from the industrial north on parcels of land which they could farm to support themselves. Having no knowledge of cultivation the settlers failed miserably. Some almost starved while others returned home destitute. Mr O'Conner would not allow alcohol to be sold so an inn was built on adjoining land and was called "The Land of Liberty" - it is there today, close to the M25. Another unusual feature: the town of Rickmansworth, because of its geographical layout, is a notorious "frost pocket". Locals also claim that during the Ice Age, the glacier reached halfway across Chorleywood common. To the north, Berkhamsted is largely residential, but is home to some industry. It boasts considerable literary associations: William Cowper was born in the town, WW Jacobs and GM Trevelyan lived and worked here. And Graham Greene - one of the town's favourite sons - is honoured by an annual festival to celebrate his works. Labour and the Liberal Democrats receive a similar share of the vote, but in the past have rarely threatened the Tory lead which, in 2001, was a 17.3% majority.
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