Hertford (Hertfordshire) History
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The market town of Hertford has been an important place since the time of the Saxons and has been attracting visitors now for more than a thousand years.

As a young town, Hertford was constantly invaded by marauding Danes who sailed their boats up the River Lea from London to Hertford to a fortified base from which they sent out raiding parties to pillage local settlements.

In the year 673AD the Archbishop of Canterbury held the first ever General Synod of the English Church. Five Bishops representing East Anglia, Kent, Mercia, Northumbria and Wessex agreed on a national faith and from that time on the Archbishop of Canterbury took the lead position of a new united church. A memorial stone can be seen in the grounds of Hertford Castle marking this famous event.

Later King Alfred's son Edward constructed fortresses on either side of the River Lea. This was during the period when the county was split between English and Danish rule and the River acted as a boundary between the to powers. Eventually a castle was built to guard the Ford in the river. In later years the castle became a key part of the Baron's struggle against King John, who signed the Magna Carta then went back on the deal. King John's supporters took the castle and the Baron's were forced to ask for help from the French who sent an army. After King John died the French tried to seize the English throne but they were eventually sent packing, but only after a long period of instability in the Hertford area. Remnants of the Motte, the Norman Walls and the Gate House can be seen today.

No less than four rivers meet in Hertford they are the Mimram, Rib, Beane and the Lea the latter of which still provides access to the River Thames and the open seas to the hundreds of pleasure craft and narrow boat users who frequent the rivers today.

Hertford is now a thriving town with it's busy Saturday market drawing people from around the area. Visitors to the town should begin at the local Museum where they are many collections on display about local industry and day to day life in this historic town. Visitors to the town will enjoy a good choice of places to eat and friendly pubs to suit all tastes. In addition to Hertford Castle the worlds oldest Quaker Meeting House founded by George Fox in 1669 is still in tact to this day. Also in 1553 Edward VI founded Christ's Hospital School known as Blue Coat School and Hertford was it's home for 300 years.

Hertford is easy to get to by car with major roads such as, M25, M11, A10 and A1M close by. London is within 1 hours travel by train and of course Stanstead Airport is less than 30 minutes drive from the centre of Hertford.

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