Annotated map reproduced courtesy of Googlemaps.
15 Jul 21: The old footpath signs are still at the southern end of the route, three and a half years after the route was confirmed as a restricted byway. The Hertfordshire County Council were notified of this on 15 Jul 21 so that riders are not misled by the signage on site.
Sign at junction with (metalled) Turf Lane
Photo: Phil Wadey, 14 Jul 2021
View northwards from metalled part of Turf Lane
Photo: Phil Wadey, 14 Jul 2021
In 2013, the local Ramblers representative applied to add a footpath between the then recorded footpaths Graveley 15 and 18 and the metalled road to the north. As part of the BHS checks whenever an application is made to modify the definitive map, the BHS access officers spotted that this was a ridden route and consequently collected evidence that the route had been used with horses. However, an examination of the histric evidence revealled Graveley 15 to be an old road, and so it was an order was made to record it as a restricted byway. This was contained in an order making other changes, one of which was objected to, so the county council severed the order (a legal process) and added this restricted byway to the definitive map unopposed.
This is a good example of the need for riders and cyclists to check orders and applications even when they appear to be for footpaths, lest a path be incorrectly recorded at too low a status.
