Cold Christmas is a small hamlet in the civil parish of Thundridge, in the East Hertfordshire district, in the county of Hertfordshire, England. Situated near the south bank of the River Rib, it lies in the valley below Wadesmill. Local folklore holds that the name 'Cold Christmas' refers to a period of high child mortality during harsh winters, associated with several burials recorded at the medieval church.[1][2]
The settlement's origins are linked to medieval times: land in the area is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, under the manor of Thundridge. A medieval church on the site, known as Old Church of St Mary and All Saints, Thundridge (often "Cold Christmas Church"), survives only partially.[3]
Geography
Cold Christmas lies in the Rib Valley, approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast of Ware and 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Hertford, Hertfordshire's county town. It is near the villages of Wareside, Thundridge, and Barwick.[citation needed]
The church known as Little St Mary's (also St Mary & All Saints) is a ruined medieval church near the hamlet of Cold Christmas in Thundridge parish. It is linked with land held by Hugh de Grandmesnil and originally functioned as a chapel dependent upon Ware Priory.[3] Measuring approximately 25 by 12 metres, it featured a Saxon chancel arch and a 15th-century tower with a 12th-century doorway and 14th-century window, topped by a "Hertfordshire spike" spire.[3]
By the mid-19th century, the parish population had shifted towards the modern village of Thundridge. In 1853, a new St Mary's Church was constructed on a different site, funded by Robert Hanbury of Poles, to replace the deteriorating medieval church near Cold Christmas.[3][5]
The old church at Cold Christmas was largely demolished in 1853, with the exception of its 15th-century west tower. The site includes the burial place of the Rev. William Hughes (1756-1821), fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge and honorary member of the Society for Affecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade.[6]
In April 2025 Historic England awarded £72,533 (matched by local partners) for structural repairs to preserve the tower.[6][7]
Folklore
The name 'Cold Christmas' derives from a local legend claiming a severe 18th-century winter caused several child deaths, with their mass burial in the churchyard fueling tales of hauntings.[8] Parish records show that three young girls were buried at the church between November and Christmas Day 1802.[3][9] Visitors have reported eerie sounds, such as growling or whispers, and sightings of a dark-robed figure in the surrounding woods.[10][11][12]
Cold Christmas Church attracts ghost hunters and urban explorers, including around Halloween, due to its eerie reputation.[10] The site was featured, by Hertfordshire Paranormal, during a 2024 radio programme on BBC Three Counties Radio.[13] The area features has also inspired fictional works, such as Alastair Gunn’s novel Cold Christmas.[14][15]
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