Timeline
The history of Hertford can be traced back to Anglo-Saxon times
- over a thousand years ago.
Since the establishment of the first fortifications in the tenth century, Hertford has grown over the centuries in to the town we know today.
This timeline charts the development and changes that the town has witnessed since Edward The Elder constructed a burgh on the north of the River Lea, 13 years in to his reign as king of the Anglo-Saxons.
912
A burgh (fortified place) was founded by Anglo-Saxon king Edward The Elder to the north of the River Lea crossing at 'Heorutforda' (Ford of the Harts) to defend aganst Danish advances. The site is thought to be in the area of Old Cross.
913
A second burgh is established by Edward to the south of the river, making Hertford a double fort. The site later became Hertford Castle.
1066
The Norman Conquest. William I become King of England.
1087
The Domesday Book records 146 burgesses (heads of family), two churches, two markets and three mills at Hertford.
1090
Around this time Hertford Priory is established by a tenant-in-chief of William The Conquerer, Ralph de Limesi, on land east of the castle.
1120
St.Leonard's Church in Bengeo is believed to have been built in the early 12th century
1170
Henry II begins reconstruction and strengthening of Hertford Castle.
1216
Siege and capture of Hertford Castle by the French Dauphin Louis. He held the castle until the following year.
1217
Falkes de Breauté becomes govenor of Hertford Castle
1223
Having fallen out of favour, Falkes de Breauté is forced to give up the castle and is replaced as govenor by William de Eynesford. In the following years, the governership frequently changes hands.
The Sheriff of Hertfordshire is ordered to construct a gaol in the borough.
1241
Gilbert Marshal, 4th Earl of Pembroke is severely injured and dies shortly after a grand tournament on The Meads, aged 34..jpg)
1249
1st Earl of Pembroke William De Valance becomes govenor of Hertford Castle.
1296
Hertford Castle reverts to The Crown (Edward I) after the death of William De Valances, ending his governership.
1298
The Freemen of Hertford elect the town's first MPs - John De Westreete and Simon De Balle.
1299
Hertford Castle entrusted to Margaret of France, wife of Edward I, on their wedding day.
1308
Knights Templars imprisoned in Hertford Castle
1346
The Black Death (bubonic plague) kills almost half the British population.
1358
Queen Isabella, wife of Edward II, dies at Hertford Castle.
1360
Hertford Castle granted to John of Gaunt, third son of Edward III.
1402
Joan of Navarre, wife of Henry IV, becomes governor of Hertford Castle.
1418
Princess Catherine of France, wife of Henry V, becomes governor of Hertford Castle.
1450
Around this time The Verger's House was built in St.Andrew Street.
1514
The church of St.Mary The Less in Old Cross is pulled down.
1536
Dissolution of Hertford Priory.
1554
Formal Charter granted to the borough by Queen Mary I in 17th February, incorporating the borough under the style of a bailiff and fifteen burgesses with power to have a common seal and to act in courts of law.
1563
Parliament and the courts move to Hertford Castle to escape The Plague.
1566
Town Hall built on 'waste land', thought to be to the south of the present site of Shire Hall.
1588
Second charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I. This charter governed the borough for sixteen years.
1602
Samuel Stone, founder of Hartford, Connecticut, born in Fore Street.
1605
Third charter granted by King James I. This reincorporated the town under the new style of the mayor, burgesses and commonalty.
1610
Speed's map published.
1617
Grammar school founded in All Saints churchyard by Richard Hale
1621
Detailed survey of the town by John Norden for King James I.
1625
Outbreak of Plague in the town.
1627
Hartham Common and The Meads purchased from King Charles I by Hertford Corporation.
1628
William Cecil, second Earl of Salisbury, is granted freehold of Hertford Castle by The Crown, ending its period as a royal palace
1629
St.John's Church built on the ruins of St.Mary's in the old Priory grounds.
1637
The Priory Manor is sold to Sir John Harrison of Ball's Park.
1647
Oliver Cromwell and Sir Thomas Fairfax reputedly spent the night of 13th November at The Bell (now The Salisbury) before suppressing a mutiny amongst his troops camped on Cockbush Field.
1649
England becomes a republic following the execution of Charles I.
1653
Mayor of Hertford, Andrew Palmer, imprisoned by Roundheads for reading royal proclamation.
1660
The Restoration of the monarchy. Charles II becomes king.
1666
Christ's Hospital School moves to Hertford after the Great Fire of London.
1669
Quaker Meeting House built in Back Street (now Railway Street).
1675
The church of St.Nicholas is demolished. The site is now Maidenhead Yard.
1681
Fourth Charter granted by Charles II, altering the incorporation of the town to 'mayor, aldermen and commonalty'. This was the form of the constitution until 1835.
1702
Gaol built in Fore Street.
1708
First water works established on the edge of Hartham Common by George Osmond.
1721
Ware Park Mill built.
1754
Young's Brewery opens in South Street. The cellar openings are extant.
1767
The River Lee Navigation reaches Hertford, providing an important transport connection to London.
1769
The Old Sessions Hall is demolished to make way for Shire Hall.
1771
Shire Hall completed. The building included a ground floor arcade for the trading of corn.
1772
The Hertfordshire Mercury first published.
1777
Around this time a new county gaol was built in Ware Road, replacing the gaol in Fore Street.
1793
Three ladies from the Society of Friends (Quakers) establish the School of Industry for Girls (also known as the Brown Coat School) to prepare girls for service in the large houses in the area.
1824
Clock designed by John Briant installed at Shire Hall.
1825
The first gas works is constructed in Gas House Lane (now Marshgate Drive) by the International Gas Co.
The 'Egyptian Building' in Fore Street is built on the site of the former Turks Head coffee house.
1826
Thomas Duncombe becomes MP for Hertford._(cropped).jpg)
1830
McMullens second brewery opens on what is now the site of The Woolpack P.H.
1833
Completion of Hertford General Infirmary, later the County Hospital
1835
Under the Municipal Corporations Act of 1835, Hertford loses its archaisms and Hertford Municipal Borough formed. The ratepayer burgesses elect twelve councillors, who chose four aldermen, aldermen and councillors composing the council. This body elected the mayor.
1836
Hertford Borough Police formed.
1840
The first postage stamps come in to use.
1841
The Cowper Testimonial School opens in London Road.
1842
Around this time a corn exchange was built in Fore Street in the site of the former gaol.
Trading in corn up to this time took place in an arcade on the ground floor of Shire Hall.
1843
First railway station opens in Hertford, opposite what is now the Great Eastern Tavern in Railway Place.
1845
All Saints Infants School built.
1848
At this time the town's population was around 4500
1849
Outbreak of Cholera in the town kills 48.
Chequers Yard was particularly badly hit. The dwellings were later demilshed to make way for the Post Office.
1851
New livestock market opened behind the Ram Inn in Fore Street. Previously animals had been sold in the street.
1854
The Hertford Sewerage Diversion Act leads to the establishment of a sewerage purification works on the Kings Meads.
1855
Holy Trinity Church built in Bengeo.
1858
Opening of second railway station at Cowbridge on the new branch line from Hertford to Welwyn.
1859
A new corn exchange was built in Fore Street, replacing an older smaller building.
The Ragged School in Butcherley Green opens.
1861
Water reservoir established in Port Vale.
1862
Construction of the United Reform church on Cowbridge.
1863
Housebuilding starts on Folly Island.
Catholic Church built in St.John's Street.
1868
Christ Church built on corner of Port Vale and Balfour Street (demolished in the 1970s).
Under the Boundaries Act of 1868, the number of MPs representing Hertford is reduced from two to one.
1869
Hertford Union Workhouse built in Ware Road. The building was later occupied by Kingsmead School.
1870
St.Andrews church rebuilt, replacing an earlier church in a state of disrepair.
1876
George Hill is the last person to be executed at Hertford Gaol, after being found guilty of murder.7
1877
The Ragged School in Butcherly Green closes.
Work completed on Goldings, a tudor style house eventually to become a Dr.Bernardo's home.
1879
The county gaol in Ware Road closes
1880
Police station opens in Queens Road.
1881
Around this time a water tower is built in Duncombe Road. The lower floors were a residence.
1888
Work starts on new Public Library in Old Cross.
Molewood Mill demolished and a new water pumping station built by Hertford Corporation
New Hertford East railway station built in Mill Road, replacing the previous 1843 station in Railway Place.
1889
Covered Market built in Railway Street
1890
Main Post Office built by H.Norris. A telephone exchange was situated on the first floor.
Fire destroys Sele Mill - burns for three days.
Market Street constructed.
1891
All Saints Church gutted by fire on 21st December.
McMullens build a new brewery in Hartham Lane.
The population of Hertford is 7,548.
1892
The Borough boundary was extended, and two wards formed, twelve councillors given to the town ward and three to Bengeo, and one alderman was added to the council
1893
Toll withdrawn at Mill Bridge
1895
A new church at All Saints is dedicated by the Bishop of St.Albans.
1897
Young's Brewery in South Street is demolished and the site become part of Christ's Hospital.
1898
Evelyn Cecil elected M.P.
1900
The first electric works are built by the North Metropolitan Electric Power and Distribution Co.Ltd.
1901
Fire station opens in Mill Road
The population of the town was 9,322 according to the 1901 census.
1903
The Green Dragon hotel is built on the site of a 16th Century Inn on the corner of Maidenhead Street and The Wash.
Hertford Museum opens.
1904
Christ's Hospital redeveloped for girls. Eight large red brick dormitories and a new chapel built. These were opened on July 23 1906 by The Prince of Wales.
1905
Completion of The Victoria Tower at All Saints Church.
1906
The Prince and Princess of Wales, later King George V and Queen Mary, open new girls accomodation at Christ's Hospital
Baptist Church built on the corner of Cowbridge and Port Hill.
1910
Opening of Hertford's first cinema, the People's Electric Theatre, on the corner of Maidenhead Street and Bull Plain. The site is now occupied by Hinds the jewellers.
Hertford's second cinema - The Premier Theatre opens on Christmas Eve in Market Street.
1911
Hertford Castle leased to Hertford Borough Council.
The population of Hertford is 10,383.
1912
The Castle Gates are presented to the town by the Marquis of Salisbury.
1913
Record factory opened in Gas House Lane (now Marshgate Drive).
1914
The Castle Cinema opens in The Wash.
1915
Zeppelin Raid on town on 13th October. Buildings damaged include those at the west end of Bull Plain and North Road.
Port Vale School opened (now named Millmead).
1917
Fire destroys important part of Maidenhead Street on 6th May.
Bombs dropped on Queen's Hill from German Zeppelin.
1919
Addis takes over the buildings of the Hertford Steam Laundry in Ware Road for the manufacture of toothbrushes.
1920
Clearance of slums in Butcherley Green.
1921
First council houses constructed.
War Memorial built in Parliament Square.
1922
Goldings became the William Baker Technical School, a Dr. Barnardo's Home
1923
Hertford County Hospital extended and rebuilt.
1924
Cowbridge railway station closes.
Hertford North railway station opens.
1927
Extensive demolition work takes place on Mill Bridge so that road can be widened and new bridge constructed.
1929
The Premier Cinema in Market Street becomes a theatre of varieties.
Demolition of slum housing at Bircherley Green commences.
New water tower built in Bengeo
1930
Richard Hale School moves to new buildings in Peg's Lane.
1932
The Theatre of Varieties in Market Street becomes The Regent Cinema.
1933
Opening of the County Cinema.
The Maidenhead Inn, which gave its' name to Maidenhead Street, closes, prior to demolition and the building of a new store for Woolworths. The site is now occupied by Poundstretcher.
1935
New toothbrush factory in Ware Road constructed.
Bus station opens at Bircherley Green.
1938
Record Factory in Marshgate Drive closes.
1939
County Hall opens.
1940
German Land Mine damages houses in Ware Road and Tamworth Road.
1943
The Regent Cinema in Market Street closes.
1944
Extensive damage after a V1 flying bomb lands at Mill Bridge on 2nd July.
1945
Derek Walker-Smith becomes the town's MP
1946
Balls Park becomes a teacher training college.
Modernised Castle Cinema reopens.
1955
Major expansion at Addis's toothbrush factory.
Robert Lindsay (Con) becomes MP for Hertford.
1957
The Cowper School in London Road closes.
1959
The Castle Cinema closes. The building remained until well in to the sixties.
Photo: Peter Ruffles
1961
The population of the town was was 15,737 according to the 1961 census.
1964
Demolition work starts prior to construction of the relief road.
St.Andrew Street. Photo: Peter Ruffles
1966
Work progresses on building the relief road.
Photo: Peter Ruffles
1967
Closure of the William Baker Technical School at The Goldings.
Hertford Relief Road (Gascoyne Way) opens in November.
1971
New police station is built in Ware Road on the site of the former Kingsmead School.
The population was 20,378 according to the 1971 census.
1973
Horns Mill, home of Webb & Co in the 1950s, is demolished to make way for homes.
1974
Hertford Municipal Borough is abolished with the formation of East Herts District Council.
Shirley Williams (Lab) becomes MP for Hertford & Stevenage, replacing Robert Lindsay (Con), who had represented the town since 1955.
1979
The Covered Market closes.
Photo: Peter Ruffles
Castle Hall opens.
Bowen Wells becomes MP for the constituency of Hertford & Stevenage
1980
Road viaduct carrying the A10 across the Meads is opened.
1981
Bircherley Green shopping centre opens.
1982
The County Cinema in Ware Road closes.
1985
After 300 years in the town, Christ's Hospital Girls School leaves Hertford to join the boys school in Horsham, Surrey.
1987
Christ's Hospital chapel demolished to make way for Tesco supermarket.
1988
Tesco's opened a new superstore in Ware Road on 8th November. The site was previously playing fields for Christ's Hospital School.
1993
Addis's toothbrush factory in Ware Road closes.
1994
Fountain built in Salisbury Square.
1996
Major part of Hertford Castle grounds transfered to East Herts District Council as a gift from the owner, Lord Salisbury.
2001
Mark Prisk becomes MP for the constituency of Hertford & Stortford following the retirement of Bowen Wells after 22 years representing the towns.
2004
Redeveloped County Hospital opens.
2012
Sainsbury's open a new superstore on land formerly owned by Hertford Brewery.
2015
Post Office relocates from Fore Street to Maidenhead Street.
2016
Development of new homes on former railway sidings at Hertford East completed.
2017
Waitrose close their Hertford store in Bircherley Green.
2019
Redevelopment of social housing at The Ridgeway completed.
2020
Bircherley Green Shopping Centre demolished.
The Synod of Hertford
The first general council of the Anglo-Saxon Church was convened in 672 by The Archbishop of Canterbury, Theodore of Tarsus.
The historical author Bede records the location of the synod as Herutford.
There were four Heortfords recorded in the Domesday Book, and whilst modern day Hertford is considered the most likely, there is no firm evidence for the exact location.