Hexton Common Lane

PG: OBJECTS: PROMOTION: Hexton Common Lane

Annotated map reproduced courtesy of Googlemaps.	This route runs from Mill Lane generally northwards then west to meet Hexton 6 footpath. We need a volunteer to photograph this route for this year's Access and Riding Rights of Way Survey. It's easy - just take photographs (safely) when you use the path. Find out more!			View from Mill Lane Photo: Phil Wadey, 9 Mar 2025
As part of the British Horse Society's work to record paths before Path Extinguishment Day, it was spotted that Common Lane Hexton was neither recorded on the definitive map nor shown in the County Council's List of Streets. The historical evidence showed that most of the route carries vehicular and equestrian rights, and so an application was made in 2018 to record the route. Subsequently, it turned out that the East Herts Footpaths Society had already applied for the route and that the County Council had decided that an order should be made. No reason has been found for the lack of an order which appears to be an oversight.

Legal History
1837: Hexton Common Lane was shown on the Hexton tithe map as part of parcels 198 and 199, a road owned by the surveyor of highways and not subject to an apportionment.
1938: The route is not shown on the Hertfordshire County Council ROW survey. Map Hitchin West 3.
1 Nov 1953: The route was not recorded on the original definitive map and statement. DM sheet DM4-13.
31 Dec 1977: The route was not shewn on the special review draft map and statement. DM sheet SR-10.
15 Oct 1990: EHFS Application as part byway part footpath. HCC reference NH/43.
9 Nov 1995: HCC consulted on the application. It decided to make an order, but no order was published.
2 May 2006: NERC exemption s.67(3)(b) as surveying authority decided to make byway order prior to 2 May 2006.
20 Aug 2018: BHS Application for byway status. HCC reference NH/43.

Application Process - 2018 Application
Path Application Certificate Direction Inv Report Order Confirmed
EC062 20 Aug 2018 NH/43 24 Aug 2018

[This route is not yet recorded and so there is no definitive statement.]