Mill Bridge

Hertford owes its existence to the river and the crossing that was established over 1000 years ago.

Mill Bridge crosses the River Lee close to the site of the original ford that gives the town its name.

The bridge links Old Cross and The Wash, so called because of its tendency to flood in bygone days.

Until December 1893 tolls were charged for vehicles and animals crossing the bridge. This partition gave rise to boroughs on each side of the river, each with its own parish church, market place and high street. This evolution can be further traced back to the pair of 10th century fortifications established on each side of the river by the Anglo-Saxon King Edward The Elder.

Edward Wickham's Brewery stood on land now occupied by Town Mill Mews. It was destroyed by a German rocket in WWII and for many years the site was derelict, before being redeveloped in the 1990s.

Until 1967 a mill stood on the site that is now gardens next to the theatre.

It is believed that a mill stood on this site for nearly 900 years, one being recorded in The Domesday Book. The mill was bought by Edmund Illott in 1855, who put his 14 year old son in charge. Hertfordshire was a major corn producing area in the 18th and 19th Centuries and Hertford benefited from its links with London via the river and a thriving market existed in the town.

This map of 1880 shows Mill Bridge and the surrounding area

Mill Bridge was also the location of McMullen's first brewery, which stood on the site now occupied by The Woolpack. The brewery moved to its current headquarters in Hartham Lane in 1890.

The original Woolpack stood on the corner of Mill Bridge and Old Cross, before being demolished when the road was widened and the new Mill Bridge built.

New Bridge

The current bridge across the River Lea was built in 1927 and constructed using Portland Limestone. The previous bridge had buildings on both sides and there was no view of the river, The carriageway was significantly narrower than today.

The construction of the new bridge resulted in all the buildings on the north side of the road being demolished.

To the west of the new bridge were built the relocated Woolpack pub and a handful of shops. To the east another short row of shops was built further back from the original road.

One old building remains however, with its frontage reflecting the earlier line of the shops. As a result the building sits at an odd angle to its newer neighbours. The surviving no.18 Mill Bridge is now occupied by The Wash BBQ House.

No.18 Mill Bridge and its newer neighbours

This angle shows how the line of the road changed when Mill Bridge was widened in the 1920s.

The Town Mill

The town mill was recorded in The Domesday Book. Later, a corn mill stood in the centre of town on Mill Bridge. Following purchase by Edmund Ilott in 1855, it was locally known as Ilott's mill.

A view of Hertford Town Mill. All of the buildings in the background are still standing.

A contemporary view following demolition of the mill and construction of Hertford theatre

Flying Bomb

On 2nd July 1944 a German V1 flying bomb fell on Mill Bridge causing widespread damage. The premises sustaining most damage were Illots shop next to the Town Mill, Nicholls Greengrocer and Rush's leather goods, which stood on what is now the green next to the theatre.

Twin Towns

The partial partition of the town by the toll at Mill Bridge gave rise to two boroughs, each with their own markets, churches and high streets.

The northern borough shopped in St.Andrew Street, whilst folk on the other side of the river shopped in Fore Street and Maidenhead Street.

Anglican worship was held in St.Andrew's church in the north and All Saints in the south.

The northern borough held a market in Old Cross whilst the southern borough's took place in Market Place.

Whilst there was no administrative partition, the barrier of a toll discouraged movement between the two sides of the river.

Today's Mill Bridge

The immediate area around Mill Bridge has changed substantially over the last 100 years, with the demolition of many buildings for the road widening and new bridge in the 1920s. The new bridge opened up the area and provided views of the river.

A contemporary view of Mill Bridge looking north-west

The widespread damage caused by the flying bomb in 1944 and the clearance of the site in the years that followed WWII eventually gave rise to a new theatre that has now grown to dominate the streetscene.

Looking south-east from Mill Bridge.
The theatre (right) was built on the site of the Castle Cinema and Ilotts Mill.

The theatre opened in the late 1970s and was originally named Castle Hall. Following a £1m remodelling in 2010 in was renamed Hertford Theatre. Additional facilities included an extended foyer, cafe, gallery, dance studio and digital film facilities. Recent redevelopment has seen a complete overhaul and expansion of the building, with the addition of a second stage and three cinema screens.

One bridge or two?

Mill Bridge actually passes over two channels of water. The recognisable part of the bridge takes the road over the river, whilst to the south the old millstream passes through a culvert that would have been beneath the town mill.

The former millstream passes through a culvert adjacent to the river

Millenium Statue

The statue of Sam Stone was placed on Mill Bridge to mark the new millenium. Stone was born in Hertford in 1602 and attended Hale's Free Grammar School before graduating at Cambridge. He c0-founded the town of Hartford in Connecticut USA. An identical statue can be found in the American city.

Sam Stone was a Puritan Minister born in Fore Street