Topic ID 2190
Just thought I'd start a new thread with facts about our wonderful town. For instance, everyone knows that the first General Synod of the Church was held here in 672 AD. But what about this one. Parliament Square is one of the very few - if any - streets, squares, road, avenue or any other type of thoroughfare outside of London. This is because during the Great Plague of London in 1665 (or Bubonic Plague), the government of the day relocated to Hertford.
Reply ID 29970
I think only one where parliament was held outside London. Also the "ford" in Hertford is thought to be down the little lane at the side of the Library. The mound in The Castle was the site original Mote and Bailey "castle".
Reply ID 29972
Richard Hale was the first school to introduce breakfasts. It made the 6 O'clock news in the early 80s!
Reply ID 29973
Is it know just how far up the River Lee towards Hertford the vikings came and settled? I understand Hertford was on the borders of the Danelaw.
Reply ID 29980
Hertford East is seen in all its glory in the film SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS (1960). Also, a more common know fact is that Hertford East and Hertford North used to be connected by rail.
Reply ID 30003
Wasn't Queen Elizabeth I imprisoned for a while in Hertford Castle?
Reply ID 30005
last witch sentenced to death was in Hertford
Reply ID 30008
quote:The new Withered Spoon pub, soon to impose itself upon Hertford was to be called The Last Witch, which at least would've kept some link with the past.
Originally posted by wingnut
last witch sentenced to death was in Hertford
Reply ID 30011
quote:The new name for their pub is from the Synod of 672AD.
Originally posted by Whoopeedoquote:The new Withered Spoon pub, soon to impose itself upon Hertford was to be called The Last Witch, which at least would've kept some link with the past.
Originally posted by wingnut
last witch sentenced to death was in Hertford
Reply ID 30012
quote:I've missed that one then - is it to be called 'Let's congregate at this large rock?'
Originally posted by Ewoowarquote:The new name for their pub is from the Synod of 672AD.
Originally posted by Whoopeedoquote:The new Withered Spoon pub, soon to impose itself upon Hertford was to be called The Last Witch, which at least would've kept some link with the past.
Originally posted by wingnut
last witch sentenced to death was in Hertford
Reply ID 30014
quote:The Three Bishops. And I think the Synod was 673AD, if I recall the inscription on the stone correctly.
Originally posted by Fish Wifequote:I've missed that one then - is it to be called 'Let's congregate at this large rock?'
Originally posted by Ewoowarquote:The new name for their pub is from the Synod of 672AD.
Originally posted by Whoopeedoquote:The new Withered Spoon pub, soon to impose itself upon Hertford was to be called The Last Witch, which at least would've kept some link with the past.
Originally posted by wingnut
last witch sentenced to death was in Hertford
Reply ID 30017
quote:Correct on the year, 24th of September is recorded - if that is Gregorian or whatever I don't know. But there were five Bishops - and St Stephen of Admin wasn't one of them. Theodore of Tarsus Bisi Bishop of the East Angles Putta, Bishop of Rochester Eleutherius, Bishop of the west Saxons, Winfrid, Bishop of the province of Mercia Bishop Wilfred, Bishop of Northumbria was represented by his proxies so if he had turned up there would have been six...
Originally posted by Ewoowar The Three Bishops. And I think the Synod was 673AD, if I recall the inscription on the stone correctly.
Reply ID 30018
quote:Tried and sentenced in Hertford in 1712 but actually an inhabitant of Walkern, Jane Wenham eventually received a royal pardon and lived to a good old age There is also, I now discover, some dispute as to whether or not she was the last woman to be sentenced to death for witchcraft. See the link for more info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Wenham
Originally posted by wingnut
last witch sentenced to death was in Hertford
Reply ID 30019
Assistant to Albert Pirrepoint, the last hangman in Britain, was Robert Baxter from Hertford. His hanging career began in 1923. Deep Purple were formed in Hertford in 1968. The founder of Hartford, Conneticut, USA, the Reverend Samuel Stone lived in Fore St. His house is now Baroosh. His statue is on Millbridge - commemorating someone who loved the town so much, he left
Reply ID 30022
Public hangings took place outside The Decorated Room in Fore Street
Reply ID 30026
There were Gallows also off ware Road hence "Gallows Hill" not exactly sure where though......need to get the books out again. Don't forget St Leonards, one of the oldest churches in the country.
Reply ID 30030
quote:Where McDonalds is now.
Originally posted by Marilyn
There were Gallows also off ware Road hence "Gallows Hill" not exactly sure where though......need to get the books out again.
Reply ID 30032
The gallows were opposite the East Herts Hospital site at the top of Gallows Hill. The actual gallows is now in the Chamber of Horrors at Mme Tussauds.
Reply ID 30034
Colin Allcarz - Hertford's first Chief of Police had two glass eyes, two wooden legs but real feet.
Reply ID 30036
quote:are you ever serious ?[:D]
Originally posted by Herbert Lemons
Colin Allcarz - Hertford's first Chief of Police had two glass eyes, two wooden legs but real feet.
Reply ID 30045
quote:.........and those Gallows now live in Madam Tusauds I think! Oops I really should check if there are more pages before I reply, that one is already up here [:I]
Originally posted by Marilyn
There were Gallows also off ware Road hence "Gallows Hill" not exactly sure where though......need to get the books out again. Don't forget St Leonards, one of the oldest churches in the country.
Reply ID 30046
quote:Really? [:0] Now that's a real claim to fame! [:D]
Originally posted by Tazz
Deep Purple were formed in Hertford in 1968.
Reply ID 30052
quote:How do you spell the noise that's made by snorting coffee to the back of the throat, then spuming it all over the keyboard? Did both his legs reach the floor at the same time? [:D] [:D] [:D]
Originally posted by Herbert Lemons
Colin Allcarz - Hertford's first Chief of Police had two glass eyes, two wooden legs but real feet.
Reply ID 30062
In 1869 Robert Smith of Goldings diverted the Goldings road which ran through the estate and built the current road to Waterford (road to Stevenage via North Road) at his own expense. This was done so that the road would no longer run in frount of the old house. If you look at the bridges along the new road they match the style of the bridges at the entrance to the Goldings estate. He also built the Church and serveral cottages in Waterford its self. The southern end of Goldings road forms a junction with the new road at Waterford Church and leads to the top of the Goldings estate. It is very interesting to see how you would once have travelled to Waterford before the construction of the new route. For more info go to [url]http://www.goldonian.org/mem_sub_pages/history_goldings_frank.htm[/url]
Reply ID 30064
I've often wondered why Church Road in Bengeo is called Church Road when there is no church at the end of it - but what you have just said ties in with a story I was told. I was told that before Waterford Church was built, the Waterford villagers used to walk this way to church. I would guess that their route would have been a track along what is now the Waterford road, leading on to the footpath that now goes under the railway line and alongside the mill stream, turning up to what is now The Avenue by the Millers House, and along Church Road to St.Leonards. A very long walk! And I guess the only houses along the route that still exist today (pre-1869) would have been the Miller's House and Port Hill House.
Reply ID 30068
I think you will find that The Drive has similar origins.........probably the road used by the house owner and their carriages rather than the villagers.
Reply ID 30070
Queen Isabella of France died at Hertford Castle in 1358. A lovely lady by all accounts... Thirty(ish) years earlier, she and her lover had been implicated in the murder of her husband, Edward II. He was killed at Berkeley Castle (Gloucestershire) by having a red hot poker thrust up his you-know-where. His screams are apparently heard there to this day - I think mine would be too!!!
Reply ID 30071
Lots of interesting stuff here... http://www.hertford.net/history/
Reply ID 30080
quote:You are 2 bishops short of a pub name The Five Bishops,methinks[:D]
Originally posted by Ewoowarquote:The Three Bishops. And I think the Synod was 673AD, if I recall the inscription on the stone correctly.
Originally posted by Fish Wifequote:I've missed that one then - is it to be called 'Let's congregate at this large rock?'
Originally posted by Ewoowarquote:The new name for their pub is from the Synod of 672AD.
Originally posted by Whoopeedoquote:The new Withered Spoon pub, soon to impose itself upon Hertford was to be called The Last Witch, which at least would've kept some link with the past.
Originally posted by wingnut
last witch sentenced to death was in Hertford
Reply ID 30087
quote:I'll say - including the astonishing fact that "300 years ago there was go gas supply, electricity, mains water or sewerage system". What sort of backward dump was it? [:)] Hey - maybe the Hertford House Hotel is in a 300 yr old timewarp? [;)]
Originally posted by Admin
Lots of interesting stuff here... http://www.hertford.net/history/
Reply ID 30105
During the plague, bodies were brought upstream from London and buried in lime on the meads at Hartham.
Reply ID 30118
Wasn't Mitre Court a plague mound? A while ago I mean, otherwise the bleedin' estate agents will be using it as a unique selling point... "Yes Sir, two bedrooms, delightful views over the basin though we mustn't discount the possibility of bubos".
Reply ID 30122
Was it Hartham or Ware? I ask this as it would appear that there are some survivors still stumbling around in the town slightly to the north of here......
Reply ID 30181
First crop circles reported here... in 1678. http://www.imagesonline.bl.uk/britishlibrary/controller/subjectidsearch?id=12093&&idx=1&startid=33643
Reply ID 30258
There was a Radio 1 DJ by the name a Neal James. He went to Richard Hale (79-84(?)), under the name James Bartholemew
Reply ID 30282
quote:Were they not buried on Folly Island?
Originally posted by Dude
During the plague, bodies were brought upstream from London and buried in lime on the meads at Hartham.
Reply ID 30287
quote:I thought it was the drains.[}:)] I think the burial ground was on Little Hartham or Brays Folly.
Were they not buried on Folly Island?
Reply ID 30288
I'm sure Sloop will put us right on this one, but as the Plague happened some centuries before the River Lea was diverted, Folly Island would not have existed as a "folly island" at that time. According to one of my books, the victims were buried in lime on The Meads.
Reply ID 30291
quote:Where is Brays Folly?
Originally posted by sloopjohnbquote:I thought it was the drains.[}:)] I think the burial ground was on Little Hartham or Brays Folly.
Were they not buried on Folly Island?
Reply ID 30306
quote:When was the Lea diverted? Are we getting mixed up between the Black Death and the Great Plague? I was wondering, even if we are looking at the Great Plague of 1665, then how far down did "The Meads" actually stretch? Would the area we now know as Folly Island have been, at that time, just another area of grass and marsh?
Originally posted by nora batty
I'm sure Sloop will put us right on this one, but as the Plague happened some centuries before the River Lea was diverted, Folly Island would not have existed as a "folly island" at that time. According to one of my books, the victims were buried in lime on The Meads.
Reply ID 30307
Thought it was Railway Street to the River (Plague) The Bury Fields thing in Ware [|)] relates to Ermine Street and Romans
Reply ID 30312
quote:1767
Originally posted by Deveraux
When was the Lea diverted?
Reply ID 30336
Initially I am now as confused as everyone else. I think the answer is most probably in Rosemary Bennets book on Folly Island. Must re-read it sometime. As for Brays Folly - it is the piece of land by Coopers Court that is known as Little Hartham but some of the older Island residents also know as Brays Folly. And I have not yet met anyone who has the slightest clue why we live on Folly Island. Even Rosemary Bennet is unclear. Memo to self - check it out.
Reply ID 30337
quote:I think it is because it means "fake island". When the river was diverted it became surrounded by water on all sides, creating an "island". I havn't read Rosemary Bennet's book - is it still in print?
Originally posted by sloopjohnb
Initially I am now as confused as everyone else. I think the answer is most probably in Rosemary Bennets book on Folly Island. Must re-read it sometime. As for Brays Folly - it is the piece of land by Coopers Court that is known as Little Hartham but some of the older Island residents also know as Brays Folly. And I have not yet met anyone who has the slightest clue why we live on Folly Island. Even Rosemary Bennet is unclear. Memo to self - check it out.
Reply ID 30339
quote:Having read Sloop's comment I intended to look for a copy of the book in the museum next week. Race you to it!
Originally posted by nora battyquote:I think it is because it means "fake island". When the river was diverted it became surrounded by water on all sides, creating an "island". I havn't read Rosemary Bennet's book - is it still in print?
Originally posted by sloopjohnb
Initially I am now as confused as everyone else. I think the answer is most probably in Rosemary Bennets book on Folly Island. Must re-read it sometime. As for Brays Folly - it is the piece of land by Coopers Court that is known as Little Hartham but some of the older Island residents also know as Brays Folly. And I have not yet met anyone who has the slightest clue why we live on Folly Island. Even Rosemary Bennet is unclear. Memo to self - check it out.