Hertford in 50 Buildings

The River Lea and its crossing at Hertford lie at the heart of the town’s history. Before the Norman Conquest the river formed a natural boundary between the Danelaw to the north and Saxon Wessex to the south. Saxon villages already existed at Bengeo and Hertingfordbury and, in 911 and 912, Edward the Elder, son of Alfred the Great, founded two fortified burghs, north and south of the Lea crossing. Following the Norman Conquest, a castle was established at Hertford, together with a priory and a new mill. For the next 300 years, the castle was a royal residence. With the patronage of kings and queens, together with the town’s agricultural base, Hertford prospered. This continued throughout the centuries, most notably in the Victorian era, which saw increased building as transport links to London improved and industry grew. Today Hertford is a thriving and rapidly expanding town, with a wealth of history that is demonstrated through its rich architectural heritage.In this book, Paul Rabbitts and Peter Jeffree present a well-illustrated and accessible perspective highlighting 50 of Hertford’s significant buildings and landmarks. Each one has its place in the history of the county town and the lives of its people. From pubs to Priory and churches to Corn Exchange the buildings featured were used for a variety of purposes and designed in many contrasting styles. This engaging architectural tour is a fascinating exploration of a significant aspect of the town’s history and reveals its changing face across the centuries.This book will appeal to residents, visitors, local historians and all those with links to the town.

Paul Rabbitts is a chartered landscape architect and Head of Parks at Watford Borough Council and is the author of over 20 books, ranging from the history of public parks, the royal parks, to the iconic Victorian bandstand and has also written a number of books on architecture in Amberley Publishing’s ’In 50 Buildings’ series focusing on towns and cities across Britain. He is a Fellow of the Landscape Institute and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.Peter Jeffree is a retired architect who now applies his architectural eye and his lifelong interest in photography to documenting important historic buildings before, during and after conservation or restoration. Peter lives in Watford.