Hertford: A County Town?

Hertford is often referred to as "the County Town" - the capital of Hertfordshire.
But what exactly is a County Town?

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a County Town is "the most important town or city in a county, especially the one where the local government is based".
The Collins dictionary has a similar definition. Most sources emphasise the seat of local government as a defining feature, with others including judicial functions.

However, there is no legal definition of a county town, nor any formal designation

Hertford's status as a county town owes much to its Royal origins.

The Anglo Saxon king Edward The Elder put Hertford on the map when he established two fortifications on either side of a ford across the river in 911 and 912. At this time the settlement was part of the Kingdom of East Saxons (later to become Essex) but in 927 England was unified under Athelstan. It was around this time that the Shires were established, and with Hertford’s prominence, the surrounding Shire was named after the town.

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With the building of the castle and accompanying royal patronage, Hertford’s position as 'County Town' was ensured.

The following six centuries saw the business of crown and county centred on the castle and sessions house. Despite the abandonment of the castle in the early 17th century, the administration of the county continued to be based in Hertford, with a new Shire Hall being completed in 1770.

However, the town’s setting in the county changed with the arrival of the Industrial Revolution.

Whilst Hertford was once a prominent town in the county, its importance slowly declined as other towns grew both in size and importance. For example, in the 18th century Watford was a small market town with a single street, yet within a century the arrival of the Grand Union Canal and London to Birmingham railway gave rise to rapid expansion.

More recently, the post-war establishment of new towns such as Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and Hemel Hempstead has seen these former market towns transformed into large modern settlements.

In the 21st Century, Hertford is a relatively modest town compared to others in the county. Its role as a County Town remains as a legacy, chiefly as the home of local government at County Hall in Pegs Lane. Larger nearby towns provide a wider catchment for retail and leisure services, along with improved road and rail links that benefit the local economy.

County towns enjoy no special status - no funding or privileges. They are measured equally against other towns and cities in the county.

So is it fair to expect Hertford to be a beacon of culture and business?
"The most important town" as suggested by the Collins Dictionary?
Hertford certainly punches above its weight for its size, but given the advantages enjoyed by other towns in the county it may be optimistic to expect the county town to be anything more than just another market town.

Five Facts

The three largest towns in Hertfordshire are Watford, Hemel Hemstead and Stevenage.
St.Albans is the only city in Hertfordshire.
Hertford is the 14th largest town in Hertfordshire by population (2011 census)
Only two castles with stone walls remain in Hertfordshire, at Hertford and Berkhamstead
Hertfordshire County Council was created in 1888