Features
Industry in Hertford
Once an agricultural town, the arrival of the railway in 1843 brought modern industry to Hertford as enterprises grew up around the station and surrounding areas. Mead Lane and Dicker Mill were closest to the branch line, but a spur serving the Welwyn Junction Railway also took traffic to the town's breweries and a woodyard in Priory Street.
The early 20th century saw new industrial areas established in places such as the former Braziers Field quarry, which became Caxton Hill; and Mimram Road on the west side of town.
Factories and Works also sprang up along the Ware Road half way to Ware, although some of that employment land has since been lost to housing, but businesses can still be found on the Taylor Trading Estate and Windsor Industrial Estate.
Automotive, electrical and light engineering are industries often found on the town's industrial estates.
"The town has evolved its employment base over time to reflect changing needs and currently contains a broad spectrum of employment from industrial to prestige office accommodation with varying sized enterprises in its employment areas"
East Herts District Plan 2018
Mead Lane
The coming of the railway in 1843 brought important new links to London so it was natural that new business and industry established itself close to the station. The area along Mead Lane is actually made up of a number of industrial estates, including Lockhouse Industrial Estate, Centrus Business Park, Mead Business Centre and Mead Lane Industrial Estate. Together they form the largest of the town's industrial areas.
Residential development has taken the place of industry in the areas to the east and west of Marshgate Drive.
Dicker Mill
Dicker Mill industrial estate lies to the North of the River Lea close to Mead Lane. It is a collecton of small industrial units varying in age from mid to late 20th century.
Some of the older units are in a poor state of repair and feature corrugated asbestos-cement roofs, commonly found on industrial units built around the time.
A number of premises on Dicker Mill have been converted to residential use.
Mimram Road
This industrial area to the west of the town, with small light industrial units that date from 1954 to 1979, with the majority of properties built in 1975.
The estate comprises 36 units, ranging in size from 740-6000 sq.ft, some of which are poor quality and with limited suitability for logistics occupiers.
Warehams Lane
A coachworks was established in Warehams Lane in the late 19th century, but it is only during the latter half of the 20th century that additional businesses have arrived on the small site just off Gascoyne Way.
Living on an industrial estate
Recent changes to planning law have made it easier to convert commercial buildings into residential properties, including those on industrial estates.
Examples can be found at Conbar House in Mead Lane, and on the Dicker Mill industrial estate, where former offices have been converted into flats.
Great Northern Works
Established in 1908 with the building of Ekins & Co's headquarters on the approach to Hertford Cowbridge station, the site has grown with the recent addition of modern industrial units. Adjacent is the recently built Hartham View Industrial Estate.
The Ekins buildings was designed by James Farley, a director of the company, and is still home to the business. It is a Grade II Listed Building.
Hertford Logistics Hub
Completed in 2026, the Hertford Logistics Hub is a redevelopment of the Caxton Hill Industrial Estate, which was originally established in the 1950s on former gravel workings.
More recently, larger buildings were added to the north and west, occupied by engineering company Fluorocarbon and publisher Stephen Austin. These were both in separate ownership, although the Fluorocarbon buildings were absorbed in to the site when the business went in to administration.
Foxholes
Business premises at Foxholes became established on the former gravel workings in the 1990s, at the same time as residential development to the east. Premises are served by John Tate Road, with Foxholes Business Park being the largest area, along with Hartforde Court and sites occupied by Mercedes Benz, Fishpools, Azelis and HSS Plant Hire .
The site is well appointed for access to the primary A414 and A10 trunk routes.
Windsor Industrial Estate
A collection of six modern business premises on the Ware Road adjacent to the A10 Meads flyover.
The estate is a small, compact cluster of medium-sized industrial and commercial units, with tenants including Kwik Fit and Halfords Autocentre.
Taylor Trading Estate
Located at 312 Ware Road, the site was acquired by the Taylor family following the post-World War II expansion of their local agricultural and wholesale produce business. The site transitioned from a family greengrocery and wholesale depot into a multi-let industrial hub.
First published 11th August 2026