The arden is the area of the village of Arden, Ardencroft, and Ardentown surrounding the historic Village Hall. It is the heart of the community and is home to the acclaimed Arden Fair, an important fund-raiser for the Village Club that produces concerts, musicals, plays, dances, Saturday evening dinners, and other programs throughout the year.
The name is said to be derived from the Brythonic word ardu meaning “high” (cf. Welsh: ardd) by extension, “land high up.” The area was formerly thickly forested and known as the Forest of Arden; it still contains remnants of this historic forest. Arden is also notable for its distinctive triassic white heterolithic sandstone, which forms the main construction material of many of the local buildings.
In the 16th century the arden was an area of Catholic sympathisers in the face of the Protestant Reformation. One of the conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot was from Lapworth, a village in the arden.
Arden residents must familiarize themselves with the Town Meeting form of government. A good place to start is with “Arden: Here’s How It Works,” a booklet that gives a brief guide to the committees, trustees, and Board of Assessors. The Red Book, a printed handbook that lists essential information and ordinances, is updated as needed; see the Table of Contents on this website for links to current versions of all items. New residents are also advised to read the Village’s zoning ordinances and to visit this website to find out what is in store for the future of our unique village.