Topic
Topic ID 5364
30/06/2010 by Malcolm Senior Citizen
Lost Churches of Hertford
None of Hertford's churches is above 150 years old. All Saints and St. Andrews were both rebuilt in the late 19thC, main benefactors being Earl Cowper of Panshanger and Robert Abel Smith of Goldings. St Andrews parish succeeds the old St. Nicholas which stood behind Maidenhead Street until 1700. Servants of the House of Lancaster in Hertford Castle were buried there.
All Saints includes old St Johns which stood in Railway Street until 1729 on the site of the priory of St Mary the Monk. Every time the site was redeveloped in my 72-year lifetime bones have been dug up when new drainage trenches were laid. Modern All Saints, of 1895, replaced the old church destroyed in 1891 in a terrible fire which took valuable relics and brasses, also Christs Hospital gallery, the Corporation's pews and funeral monuments of Hertford manor of Balls Park, a great historical loss to the town. An old eyewitness saw the fire from Queens Road, describing it thus "Flames were leaping from the tower, timbers cracked, and the bells crashed to the ground". The churchyard was cut short by Gascoyne Way in 1965, the John Briant clock came from the old Kingsmead School former Workhouse, and the old churchyard remains as a priceless conservation relic of the older town.
Replies
Reply ID 75205
30/06/2010 by Loving Whale
What about St Leonard's Church a good example of an unspoiled Norman village church, dating from about 1120. It is now the oldest building in Hertford....or am I falling into the old Bengeo isn't Hertford trap[;)]
Reply ID 75208
30/06/2010 by Marilyn
quote:
Originally posted by Loving Whale
What about St Leonard's Church a good example of an unspoiled Norman village church, dating from about 1120. It is now the oldest building in Hertford....or am I falling into the old Bengeo isn't Hertford trap[;)]
according to The post office it is [;)]
Reply ID 75227
30/06/2010 by Malcolm Senior Citizen
quote:
Originally posted by Loving Whale
What about St Leonard's Church a good example of an unspoiled Norman village church, dating from about 1120. It is now the oldest building in Hertford....or am I falling into the old Bengeo isn't Hertford trap[;)]
Reply ID 75228
30/06/2010 by Malcolm Senior Citizen
You are right about St. Leonard's as part of Hertford of course, I agree. But I also think that church deserves a special blog, I am working on it.
Reply ID 75230
30/06/2010 by Woody
Don't forget the Quaker Meeting House, built 1670.
Whilst not a typical "church" structure, their origin does lie as a place for religous gathering and Sunday worship continues today.
http://www.hertford.net/churches.asp
Reply ID 75278
01/07/2010 by Malcolm Senior Citizen
Good point. I was thinking more of CofE parishes, but Quaker FMH is I believe oldest in UK, is it?
Reply ID 75279
01/07/2010 by Marilyn
quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm Senior Citizen
Good point. I was thinking more of CofE parishes, but Quaker FMH is I believe oldest in UK, is it?
oldest in continual use I belive ...............
8 replies