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About Hertfordshire
The County of Hertfordshire lies just North of London and was first created in Saxon times. It stretches from Rickmansworth and Waltham Cross in the South to Royston and Hitchin in the North. Westward it stretches out beyond Berkhamstead and at its Eastern border you will find Bishop's Stortford. There are old towns such as Potters Bar and Royston; and a number of post war New Towns - Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City, Letchworth and Hemel Hempstead. There are also a wealth of picturesque villages and sleepy hamlets nestling in the green countryside. Since the turn of the century the population has increased four-fold, making it the sixth most populous in the UK. Some of the reasons for this growth are its proximity to London, excellent transport links and modern industries.
Geography
The Southern boundary of the county lies just 12½ miles North of central London. It is also bounded by the counties of Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex. Much of the county is green belt, which means the countryside is protected by statute. It is a county of geographical contrasts, parts of it being large swathes of countryside dotted with farms and villages; others to the South being urban and industrial. Much of the geology is either chalk or clay, which results in a soil ideally suited to the growing of cereal crops, including barley (malting was a major industry up to the 19th Century). There are also rich deposits of gravel around the Lea Valley.
History
The history of the county can be traced back to the Stone Age around 8000 years ago. In the first century AD the Romans settled, founding the ancient city of Verulanium, close to what is now St.Albans. Some remains of the city can still be found, including the theatre, baths and a villa. In the fifth century the Romans departed and the Anglo-Saxons arrived, forming settlements of their own such as the county town, Hertford. The county was on the frontier of a struggle with the Danes that lasted 200 years. The county expanded following the Norman Conquest of 1066 and became increasingly important as a trade centre due to it's proximity to London. This also led Royalty and the Nobility to frequent the county - Elizabeth I grew up at the Old Palace at Hatfield and Hertford Castle was a royal palace for some three hundred years. Agriculture and industry both grew with the coming of improved river navigation during the eighteenth century and again with the establishment of the railways in the nineteenth century. This produced a dramatic increase in the population which resulted in the establishment of the first Garden City at Letchworth in 1903. This was later followed by a second at Welwyn. In 1946 the New Towns Act was passed by parliament resulting in the building of three new towns at Stevenage, Hatfield and Hemel Hempstead.
Economy
The major industries of Hertfordshire include financial services, IT and pharmaceuticles. The film industry too is well represented with studios at Borehamwood and Elstree. The Studios at Leavesdon are home to the James Bond films and the Star Wars prequels, whilst the BBC studios at Elstree host such programmes as Top Of The Pops, Casualty and EastEnders. Steven Speilberg's Saving Private Ryan was partly filmed at Hatfield on a large set constructed on the old aerodrome. Up until recently the aerospace industry was also present at Hatfield and Stevenage in the form of British Aerospace, but much of this has now declined and been relocated, although the skills associated with it remain. Unemployment is low at around 3.9% and has fallen consistently over the last five years. Business development agencies such as Herts Business Link, the Training and Enterprise Council (TEC) and the Chamber of Commerce movement operate in the county giving consultation and assistance. The University of Hertfordshire have a Business school at its Hertford Campus and operate their own successful bus company.
Transport
Because of it's proximity to the UK capital, the county is well served with transport links. London's third airport, Stansted, lies to the North-East of the county, whilst Luton to the East also has an airport. The M1 and M11 motorways both travel North through the county on their way from London to East Anglia and The North. The M25 London Orbital Motorway also passes through the southern part of the county. Rail links are plentiful with the London Underground network reaching into the county. These factors have led to the county being home to a large number of commuters.
Leisure
A wide variety of leisure activities can be enjoyed in Hertfordshire. The countryside and its history offer numerous opportunities for walking, cycling and horseriding. Historic towns such as St.Albans and the market towns with their old buildings, not to mention the county's villages and waterways offer plenty of relaxation to the visitor. Provincial theatres such as the Watford Palace, St.Albans Arena and Gordon Craig Theatre at Stevenage often host touring productions, whilst smaller complexes at Hemel Hempstead and Welwyn Garden City too offer excellent entertainment. There is also an excellent range of shopping facilities from both High Street stores to smaller specialist shops, both in town and at retail parks. Eating out is especially well catered for with a wide variety of pubs and restaurants.
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