YWAM Harpenden

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Children were moved from the East End of London to the new leafy site in 1913. The
Oval was home to over 200 children at a time. On the grounds were a school,
orchard, chapel, workshops, a bakery, woodland and farmland. For many years
Highfield Oval was practically a self-contained community. The young residents were
trained in printing, baking, shoemaking, dressmaking, carpentry, engineering and
farming. Highfield Oval was also the site of NCH’s printing school.
YWAM moved in on a rental basis in 1984 and began purchase negotiations in 1986.
We gained full ownership in 1993 with a purchase of £2.1 million on faith.
The caring tradition of the Oval continues in the work of Youth With A Mission
(YWAM), a Christian youth organization that supports those in need in many parts of
the world. The site provides housing for YWAM staff and trainees, training facilities
and coordination for many local and international projects. It is also the founder of
the The Oval Café, which is housed on the property grounds.