areas within Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is located to the north of Greater London, and much of the county is part of the London commuter belt. To the east is Essex, to the west, Buckinghamshire, and to the north, Bedfordshire, Luton and Cambridgeshire. The principal towns in Hertfordshire are Watford in the south, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Hatfield, Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth, and in the east of the county, Waltham Cross and Bishop's Stortford. Hertfordshire's proximity to Greater London and its good transport links make it a desirable home for families that want close access to the countryside, but also require good local schools, shops, and other amenities.
Close to the M1 and A41 is the idyllic village of Aldenham, which remains largely unchanged since Saxon times when the majority of the land was owned by the Abbots of Westminster Abbey. The Church of St John the Baptist in Aldenham is seven hundred years old. Other buildings of historical interest include the old vicarage, which is a fine example of early 18th century red brick architecture. Aldenham is home to two independent schools: Aldenham School was founded in 1596 and takes boys and girls from aged five to eighteen, and the Haberdashers' Aske's Boys School near Elstree.
In an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' lies the country estate of Ashridge, situated in the Chiltern Hills and covering 5,000 acres of parks and woodland. Surrounding villages include Aldbury, Pitstone, Ivinghoe, Little Gaddesden, Nettleden, and Potten End. Other places of great interest include Hatfield House, built in 1611 by Robert Cecil, First Earl of Salisbury and Chief Minister to King James I, and Knebworth House, near Stevenage, which is the Lytton family home.
Ye Olde Fighting Cocks is a public house in St Albans which is one of several that lay claim to being the oldest in England. The main structure has been added to over the years but the original timber-framed building is clearly visible. It was originally known as "The Round House" until it was renamed "Ye Olde Fighting Cocks" around the 1800s, in reference to the sport of cock fighting which took place in the main bar. Chicken is still served in the pub but no longer killed on the premises!
A brief history
Hertfordshire was originally the area assigned to a fortress constructed at Hertford under the rule of Edward the Elder in 913. In 1965, Barnet Urban District and East Barnet Urban District were abolished and their area transferred from Hertfordshire to Greater London to form part of the London Borough of Barnet. At the same time the Potters Bar Urban District was directly transferred from Middlesex to Hertfordshire.
From the 1920s until the late 1980s, the town of Borehamwood was home to a major film studio. Many well known films were made including '2001: A Space Odyssey', 'Star Wars' and the 'Indiana Jones' trilogy. Television productions are still produced at the nearby Elstree Studios, which were taken over by the BBC.
On the morning of 11th December 2005, a large explosion and fire occurred at a petroleum fuel depot near Hemel Hempstead, in Buncefield. Forty three people were injured, luckily nobody was killed, but considerable damage was caused. The two day fire was the largest in peacetime Europe, and a pall of smoke darkened London and much of south east England.
In 2012, the Hertfordshire town of Broxbourne will host the canoe and kayak slalom events for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games
Living in Hertfordshire
There are many notable towns in Hertfordshire, so whether you are searching for studio flats in Borehamwood, or for new homes in Welwyn Garden City, or estate agents in Potters Bar, you will find a good selection of properties for sale on the Primelocation website.
One of the most popular areas for people searching for property to buy is Buntingford in east Hertfordshire, which lies on the River Rib and the Roman road, Ermine Street. The town has a large number of Georgian and mediaeval buildings and is on the A10 between London and Cambridge. Semi-detached Victorian houses for sale in Buntingford with three bedrooms and generous gardens are on the market for around £300,000. A detached Grade II thatched cottage offering four bedrooms and a large garden would have an asking price in the region of £650,000.
For a more urban environment and considerably more local amenities, Stevenage is known for its numerous roundabouts and network of cycle tracks. Close to the A1(M), and with excellent rail links, and primary and secondary schools that still retain their own playing fields, Stevenage is very popular with families. Modern houses for sale in Stevenage in attractive new developments, offering three bedrooms, will have an asking price of around £225,000. One bedroom flats for sale in Stevenage in a new, purpose built, private development, will be available for under £120,000. Detached family homes with four or five bedrooms, driveway, double garages, spacious gardens, come to market between £300,000 and £450,000.
Hertfordshire estate agents have homes to suit all pockets, whether you are searching for thatched cottages, Georgian townhouses, purpose-built flats, or architect-designed housing developments near good schools, transport and shops.
Travel and transport links in the county of Hertfordshire
The county of Hertfordshire enjoys excellent road links with the M1, M10, A1(M), and the M25 passing through it. Trains to Hertfordshire operate out of four stations in London: King's Cross, Moorgate, St. Pancras and Euston, providing the county of Hertfordshire with excellent rail links to London, Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland.