|
|
Hertfordshire is more or less swallowed up by Greater London, therefore visitors will be hard put to know they are not simply in the far reaching suburbs of that city. Nevertheless, Hertfordshire is a county in its own right with its own attractions.
 Chief among the interesting towns is St Albans with its many historic buildings, especially those on Fishpool St near the cathedral and Holywell Hill. The Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Albans was founded in AD 793 as a Benedictine monastery and was rebuilt in 1077. It became a cathedral in 1877.
 It's a fascinating building with two completely different architectural styles. The west part is bare and plain in contrast to the rest, which is richly carved with a decorated ceiling and many different nooks and crannies. There is a shrine to St Alban, the first English Christian martyr. On the opposite wall are monk's sitting places where they spied on pilgrims so they wouldn't take bits and pieces of the red cloth canopy over the shrine for souvenirs.
 St Albans museum on Hatfield Rd gives an excellent write-up on the abbey and town and has some artifacts. Also on show are Roman and other historical information about the city. A bus ride or a half hour walk from the city center is one of England's best Roman museums, the Verulamium Museum. Full of artifacts found in the area, many of them are presented in the context in which they were used. This is a 'not to be missed' museum. Allow at least two hours for your visit. Down the road is the site of a Roman amphitheatre.
 Walk along the river Ver from the museum, and you will run into Kingsbury watermill (now a waffle restaurant). The mill dates back to Elizabethan times with a 200-year old waterwheel. Once three millstones crushed the grain.
Gorhambury house (HHA) and Old Gorhambury house (EH) are just west of St Albans. The first is an 18th century country house, and the later is the remains of an Elizabethan mansion, including the porch of a great hall.
The large town of Berkhamsted sits on the Grand Union Canal and river Bulbourne; part of the town is a conservation area. By the rail station is the remains of a double moat Norman motte and bailey castle, under the care of English Heritage.
Four miles north of Berkhamsted is the National Trust Ashridge estate where woodland, common, and downland walks can be enjoyed. There's a visitor centre as well. The town of Letchworth has a local history museum with celtic and Roman exhibitions.
Two other towns situated on water are the market town of Bishop's Stortford where the river Stort goes through the town centre and Broxbourne beside the river Lee and the Lee navigation canal. In the town on High road are 1728 almshouses and a 17th century priest's house. Canal enthusiasts will want to visit Rickmansworth where the historic canal site, Batchworth, has on show restored working boats and souvenirs.
Hitchin's market square boasts Tudor and Georgian buildings and a nearby medieval parish church of St Mary and late 18th century Adam designed priory. Hoddesdon's town centre is a conservation area with an 1835 town clock. On Rye road is 17th century Rye House gatehouse, scene of the Rye House plot. An exhibition and display give all the details. Harpenden is another town whose centre is a conservation area with many listed buildings.
Royston, a late medieval town in the north-east corner of Hertfordshire, is surrounded by countryside. Royston Cave has a circular, bell-shaped chamber with medieval pagan carvings on the walls. The cave's origins are unknown, but it is thought that the Knights Templar used the caves in the 13th century. Royston museum on Lower King St has displays on local history, ceramics and glass.
At Ware, a Hertford suburb wannabe, are many historic buildings including a 1338 priory and St Mary's church, rebuilt in 1380. It was in Ware that Lady Jane Grey was made queen in 1553.
 A 'must see' historic house is Hatfield, constructed from 1607-1611 by Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury and chief minister to Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. He chose the site of the former royal palace of Hatfield, childhood home of Elizabeth I. One wing of the palace still exists in the 52 acres of gardens. Inside the Jacobean house is a collection of world famous paintings, rare tapestries, and 16th-18th century furniture.
Lovers of the 'high Gothic fantasy' style of architecture will want to visit Knebworth (HHA), home to the Lytton family since 1490. You may recognize it and its 250 acres of gardens as the star in a number of movies. There's a Jacobean banqueting hall and a state drawing room among others on show.
Other Hertfordshire gardens are found five miles south of Hitchin at St Paul's Walden Bury, where the Queen Mother spent her early days, and the Royal National Rose Society collection near St Albans. Here are 1800 different varieties and 30,000 plants. Benington Lordship gardens (HHA) are sited on a hilltop with ruins, manor house, old roses, lakes, and teas.
George Bernard Shaw was a famous Hertfordshire resident, and his home, under the care of the National Trust, at Shaw's Corner near Welwynis is open to visitors.
Hertfordshire Attractions
For opening times and full details of attractions see the Attractions section of our website.
Ashridge Estate
Ringshall, Berkhamsted, between Northchurch and Ringshall just off the B4506; between the A5 south of Dunstable and the A41; car park at Steps Hill
Tel. 01442 851 227
Batchworth Lock Canal Centre
99 Church Street, Rickmansworth
Tel. 01923 778 382
Benington Lordship Gardens
Benington, off the A602 just east of Stevenage
Tel. 01438 869 668
Berkhampstead Castle
Garden of the Rose
2 miles south of St Albans and .5 mile west of the B4630
Tel. 01727 850 461
Hatfield House and Gardens
On the A1 southeast of Hertford and north of the M25 and south of the A414.
Tel. 01707 262 823
Hertford Museum
18 Bull Plain St
Tel. 01992 582 686
Knebworth House and Gardens
Near Stevenage off the A1 or B656 south from Hitchin
Tel. 01438 812 661
Letchworth Museum
Broadway, Letchworth Garden City
Tel: 01462 685 647
Royston Museum
Lower King St
Rye House Gatehouse
Rye Road, Hoddesdon
On the A10 just south of Hertford.
Shaw's Corner
west of Welwyn on the A1, at south-west end of the village of Ayot St Lawrence on the B653
Tel. 01438 820 307
St Albans Attractions
Cathedral and Abbey Church
Tel. 01727 860 780
St Albans Museum
Hatfield Road
Verulamium Museum
Gorhambury House
2 miles west of St Albans, accessible via private drive from the A4147 at St Albans
Tel. 01727 854 051
Old Gorhambury House
at same location as above
Tel. 01727 843 675 for appt to view
St Pauls Walden Bury
On the B651, 5 miles south of Hitchin and just west of the A1
Tel. 01438 871 218
Hertfordshire Tourist Information Centres
Birchanger Green
Welcome Break Service Area
Junction 8 of M11 Motorway
Bishop's Stortford
Tel. 01279 508 656; Fax. 01279 508 625
Bishop's Stortford
The Old Monastery
Windhill, Bishop's Stortford
Tel. 01279 655 831; Fax. 01279 653 136
Hemel Hempstead
Dacorum Information Centre
Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead
Tel. 01442 234 222; Fax. 01442 230 427
Hertford
10 Market Place, Hertford
Tel. 01992 584 322; Fax. 01992 534 724
Letchworth
33-35 Station Road
Letchworth Garden City
Tel. 01462 487 868; Fax. 01462 485 332
St Albans
Town Hall
Market Place, St Albans
Tel. 01727 864 511; Fax. 01727 863 533
Photos by Barbara Ballard
Go Back: [Top of Page] [Eastern Counties] [England Home Page]
|
|
Be a
Destinations-UK-Ireland Sponsor 
Some of our Hertfordshire Articles
Hatfield House
St Albans Town
Other England Articles
 Book your Youth Hostel accommodation through us
One easy click away
|
