Potten End is a small village on the northeasterly tip of Berkhamsted, joining the easterly side of the Berkhamsted market town, nestled around the River Bulbourne. Potten End sits within a network of neighbouring villages, including Frithsden and Nettleden, and is the newer of these three settlements. Surrounded by vast swathes of greenspace in the outskirts of the Berkhamsted market town, housing property in this area is characterised by large-scale country houses with abundant acerage, with house prices in excess of £1 million!

Whilst the newer of these three settlements, Potten End now has the significantly larger population than either Frithsden or Nettleden. The first mention and recording of Potten End comes from a local history of the county in 1728! It became part of the parish Nettleden with Potten End in 1937, a parish which is still in tact today. The history of Berkhamsted is much older, with the earliest written reference of Berkhamsted originating in 970 AD! Given its situation in the fertile valley of the Bulbourne River, there has been much archaeological evidence to suggest prehistoric settlement in the area, with Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman artefacts uncovered along the River Bulbourne!

Berkhamsted’s High Street runs along the River Bulbourne, and is built along a pre-Roman travel route known as Akeman Street. The High Street’s history is long and varied, with several unique architectural and design characteristics. Most notably from the 20th century is The Rex Cinema, built in 1938. Designed by David Nye, the cinema’s interior is furnished in a complete fine art-deco style, with geometric patterns, luscious golds and reds, and shell spotlighting, this cinema is a piece of great 1930s century design history!

Potten End’s housing stock is characterised by country houses with significant acerage attached at very high price points, sometimes over £3 million. Due to its small village status, development in this area is often slow and stagnant. However, the Dacorum Council has been drafting a local development plan from 2024-2040, which includes instrumental development in the Berkhamsted locale. This includes provisions for the development of over 850 new homes south of Berkhamsted, a new community centre, and a new primary school!