Hertford

Hertford [ˈhɑːtfəd or ˈhɑːfəd] is a town in the county of Hertfordshire, about 20 km north of London. It is part of the district of East Hertfordshire and is the administrative seat of the county. Hertford has a population of approximately 24,000.

The town lies at the confluence of the rivers Rib, Beane and Mimram with the Lea, which flows further south to the Thames. Its name comes from the Anglo-Saxon language and means "ford crossed by deer" (ford = ford, hart = deer).

Hertford is home to many commuters who work in the nearby capital. Trains run from Hertford North to London's King's Cross and Moorgate stations and from Hertford East to Liverpool Street. The main employers in Hertford are Hertfordshire County Council, East Hertfordshire District Council and McMullen Brewery.

Although Hertford is only about 35 km from central London, the town is considered picturesque partly because of a centre with a medieval layout and many half-timbered buildings. In contrast to Hertford, the neighbouring towns of Harlow and Stevenage have developed much more modernly.

History

Before the Norman invasion under William the Conqueror in 1066, the River Lea formed the natural border between the Danelag to the north and the Saxon kingdom of Wessex to the south. Anglo-Saxon settlements were located at Bengeo and Hertingfordbury before the invasion. Edward the Elder had two fortifications built north and south at a ford of the river. This gave rise to two small towns. After the Norman invasion a castle, Hertford Castle, a monastery and a new mill were built at Hertford. The Domesday Book (1086) records 146 heads of families, two churches, two market places and three mills.

During the civil war, which had broken out because of the disputed succession to the throne after the death of Henry I, Hertford supported Henry's daughter Matilda in the fight against Henry's nephew Stephen. After the death of Stephen Henry II. After Stephen's death, probably in gratitude for his mother's support, but also to pacify the area, Henry II had Hertford Castle rebuilt between 1170 and 1174. In 1299, Marguerite of France, wife of Edward I, was granted the castle, which became the royal residence four years later.

The monastery was abandoned in 1536. During the plague the English parliament moved temporarily to Hertford in 1563. In 1628 the castle came to William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury. 1712 the last witch trial in England took place here. Later the castle fell into disrepair; today only the motte, some walls and the gatehouse remain as ruins.

In 1767 the River Lea was extended for shipping, linking Hertford with the important grain markets in London. As the town was surrounded by agricultural land, further expansion was out of the question and instead the existing buildings were increased. It was not until the connection to the railway in 1843 that an increase in area also took place.

Places of interest

The remains of Hertford Castle can be visited. The town's two largest churches, All Saints and St Andrews, date from the early 20th and mid-19th centuries respectively. In the northern suburb of Bengeo is the church of St Leonards, an architecturally interesting Norman church built around 1120.

Hertford is home to the oldest Quaker meeting house, built for this purpose and in use since 1670. Conspiracy theories link the town to the Holy Grail and the Knights Templar.