The Origins of Thundridge (Extract taken from British History Online)

Tonrich (1086); Tunrigge, Thanrugge, Thornrugge (xiii cent.); Thunrigge, Thunrych, Thurrich (xiv and xv cent.); Thundriche (xvi cent.).

There was no village of Thundridge properly speaking; all that remains of the original settlement are a 17th-century chimney stack of brick which belonged to the manor-house called the Bury (pulled down in 1812), the ruins of a cottage which once formed part of the stables of Thundridgebury, and the tower of the old Church, all situated close together in a bend of the river about half a mile east of the Buntingford road. The church is surrounded by fine chestnut trees, pines and yews, and in summer the spot is beautiful in spite of its deserted appearance. To the south of the church is Thundridge Hill, the slope of which is occupied by a long field planted with lines of elm trees. Leading to the Church from the west is an avenue of elms known as the Causeway. This at the further end is continued to Wadesmill by a picturesque path along the side of the river.

The village of Thundridge was originally located about one-half mile to the east of the current Thundridgelocation, also adjacent to the River Rib. There are references to "Tonrich" in the Doomsday Book with land being held by the Bishop of Bayeaux and tenanted by Hugh de Grentmesnil, with the record indicating that there was a drop in the value of the land from 100 shillings to 40 shillings. There had however been civilised habitation in the area earlier than that, with both Roman and Saxon remains being found in the adjacent estate known as "Youngsbury" just a few hundred yards away from the old Thundridge location.

With the 1826 improvement of the London to Cambridge road that runs on the west side of the currentThundridge village location - formerly it had run a more crooked path through "Ermine" or "Back Street" in the village - there was an increased populus migration to the "new" location of Thundridge, adjacent to the main road. All that now remain of the old Thundridge location are the 15th century church tower of the "Thundridge Old Church of All Hallows and Little Saint Mary, and a few bricks from the chimney stack of the Manorial home ofThundridgebury.

Thundridgebury was built during the reign of Henry VIII, possibly by Henry Gardiner - the Gardiners being a family that became prominent in later years giving name to the nearby wood "Gardiner's Spring". The last inhabitants of Thundridgebury were the Hollingsworth family, they having bought it from Daniel Giles, who had in turn purchased it from the Gardiners. The house was dismantled in the early 19th century, as was subsequently the church in 1854, with only the chimney stack and tower remaining respectively.

According to local legend, the chimney stack was left standing in order to allow the owners to continue to collect rent, but a later local legend (which was correct) was that it's presence allowed the owners to maintain a pew in the new Thundridge church - built in the "new" Thundridge location in 1851 and consecrated in 1854 - as technically the manorial land which had been absorbed into the Youngsbury estate when purchased by the Giles, now fell under the parish of Standon - the church for which was some 5 miles distant. So long as the chimney stack remained however, the pew in the Thundridge church was kept available for the owners of the (now combined) property of Youngsbury.