Annotated map reproduced courtesy of Googlemaps.	This public byway runs from Rectory Lane to Mimms Lane, in Shenley parish. The route is actually a very old road, and the bulk of the evidence relating to the route was in the form of old maps and records. Unfortunately, some local people, even those with horses, didn't want the route to be reopened and entered objections, so a public inquiry had to be held. The Inspector was impressed with the evidence and had no hesitation in confirming the addition of the route to the map. Although sometimes overgrown in places at its southern end, this path offers a delightful change from the minor roads of Shenley. At the time of the BHS 2021 Access Survey (17 Dec 21), no gates or other obstructions were across the path and it was signposted at each end.
Looking NW from Mimms Lane Photo: Michael Rackham, 17 Dec 2021	Heading NW on route Photo: Michael Rackham, 17 Dec 2021	Heading NE on route Photo: Michael Rackham, 17 Dec 2021	Heading north past house Photo: Michael Rackham, 17 Dec 2021	Looking south from Rectory Lane Photo: Michael Rackham, 17 Dec 2021
Part of the path recorded as Ridge 21 (shown orange on the plan) has been used as a bridleway for as long as many can remember. It is actually another old road, like Shenley 33, dating from the time where a roadway bordered all three sides of the green triangle at the junction of Packhorse Lane and Mimms Lane. Read more at Ridge 21.

Legal History 1 Feb 1993: Application made to record route as a byway instead of as a footpath. 2 Jun 1994: Secretary of State directed Hertfordshire County Council to make a decision on the application by 31 Dec 1997. The Hertfordshire County Council (Shenley 33) Modification Order 1996 (confirmed 1998) changed the depiction of this path on the definitive map from footpath to byway.

Definitive Statement (10 Dec 2005) Path: [Shenley] 33.  Status: Byway Open to All Traffic Commences from Rectory Lane at TL 2019 0145 opposite Pinks Hotel thence S for approx 140m to cross FP23 at TL 2020 0130 continuing S for a further 30m to a junction with FP23a at TL 2020 0128 continuing S for a further 110m to TL 2020 0116, SW for 140m to TL 2010 0108 and SE for 240m to Mimms Lane at TL 2023 0087. Width: Varies from 6 to 22m as shown cross-hatched on order plan no. 4904 in the Hertfordshire County Council (Shenley 33) Modification Order 1996.

© 2021 Patchetts Green Bridleways Trust. File references: EC075 (Shenley 33) and EC135 (Ridge 21).