View source for Hertford

{{Short description|Town in Hertfordshire, England}}
{{distinguish|Hartford|Hereford}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
|country = England
|civil_parish=Hertford 
|coordinates = {{coord|51.79662|-0.07735|display=inline,title}}
|static_image_name=HertfordParlSq.jpg
|static_image_caption= Parliament Square, Hertford Town Centre
|official_name = Hertford
| population = 26,658
| population_ref = &nbsp;([[2011 United Kingdom census|2011&nbsp;Census]], parish)<ref name=nomis>{{NOMIS2011 |title=Hertford Parish |id=E04004734 |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref>
|shire_district = [[East Hertfordshire]]
|shire_county = [[Hertfordshire]]
|region = East of England
|constituency_westminster = [[Hertford and Stortford (UK Parliament constituency)|Hertford and Stortford]]
|post_town = HERTFORD
|postcode_district = SG13, SG14
|postcode_area = SG  
|dial_code = 01992
|os_grid_reference = TL325125
|london_distance=19.2&nbsp;mi&nbsp;(30.9&nbsp;km)&nbsp;[[Points of the compass|S]]
|website=[http://www.hertford.gov.uk www.hertford.gov.uk]
}}

'''Hertford''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|ɑːr|t|f|ər|d}} {{respell|HART|fərd}}) is the [[county town]] of [[Hertfordshire]], England, and is also a [[civil parish]] in the [[East Hertfordshire]] district of the county. The parish had a population of 26,783 at the 2011 census.<ref name=nomis/>{{efn|The Hertford built-up area sub division defined by the Office for National Statistics covers a similar, but not identical, area to the parish, and had a population in the 2011 census of 26,658.<ref>{{NOMIS2011 |title=Hertford Built-up area sub division|id=E35000899 |access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref>}}

The town grew around a [[Ford (crossing)|ford]] on the [[River Lea]], near its confluences with the rivers [[River Mimram|Mimram]], [[River Beane|Beane]], and [[River Rib|Rib]]. The Lea is navigable from the [[River Thames|Thames]] up to Hertford. Fortified settlements were established on each side of the ford at Hertford in 913{{nbsp}}AD. The county of Hertfordshire was established at a similar time, being named after and administered from Hertford. [[Hertford Castle]] was built shortly after the [[Norman Conquest]] and remained a royal residence until the early seventeenth century.

[[Hertfordshire County Council]] and [[East Hertfordshire District Council]] both have their main offices in the town and are major local employers, as is [[McMullen's Brewery]], which has been based in the town since 1827. The town is also popular with commuters, being only {{convert|20|miles|km}} north of central London and connected to it by two railway lines.

==Toponymy==
The earliest reference to the town appears in the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]'', written by [[Bede]] in 731&nbsp;AD, which refers to {{lang|ang|Herutford}}. {{lang|ang|Herut}} is the [[Old English]] spelling of ''[[Hart (deer)|hart]]'', meaning a fully mature [[stag]]; thus the meaning of the name is a [[Ford (crossing)|ford]] where harts are found.<ref>Skeat, Reverend Professor Walter William (1904), [https://archive.org/details/placenameshertf00skeagoog ''The Place-names of Hertfordshire''], East Herts Archaeological Society (p. 27)</ref> The [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 gives a spelling of {{lang|enm|Hertforde}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/hertfordshire1.html#hertford |title=The Domesday Book – Contents – Hertfordshire |website=www.domesdaybook.co.uk |access-date=1 June 2015 }}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Hertford Castle.jpg|right|thumb|[[Hertford Castle]]]]
One possible earlier mention of the town was in 672&nbsp;AD: the first [[Council of Hertford|synod of a number of the bishops in England]] was held either in Hertford or at [[Hartford, Cambridgeshire]].<ref>Munby, Lionel M. (1977) ''The Hertfordshire Landscape'', p. 91. Hodder and Stoughton, London. {{ISBN|0-340-04459-4}}</ref> The synod was called by [[Theodore of Tarsus]]; decisions included the calculation of the date of Easter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.churchsociety.org/issues_new/history/iss_history_synodhertford.asp|title=Church Society - Issues - History - Synod of Hertford|website=www.churchsociety.org|access-date=29 April 2010|archive-date=7 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307124509/http://www.churchsociety.org/issues_new/history/iss_history_synodhertford.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'' records that in 913{{nbsp}}AD, [[Edward the Elder]] ordered the construction of two [[burh]]s (earthwork fortifications) either side of the [[Ford (crossing)|ford]] over the River Lea at Hertford as part of his campaign against the [[Danes (Germanic tribe)|Danes]].<ref name=thorpe/>{{efn|Some sources differ on the date of the founding of the burhs. Stenton (1943) gives the date as 911<ref>{{cite book |last1=Stenton |first1=Frank Merry |title=Anglo-Saxon England |date=1943 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=0192801392 |page=324 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kIwiKnT_bRQC |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> whilst Williamson (2000) gives it as 912.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Williamson |first1=Tom |title=The Origins of Hertfordshire |date=2010 |publisher=University of Hertfordshire Press |location=Hatfield |isbn=978-1-905313-95-2 |page=108}}</ref> Ingram (1823), Giles (1847),<ref>{{cite book |title=The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: Translation by Rev. James Ingram (1823) with additional readings from the translation of Dr. J.A. Giles (1847) |date=1912 |publisher=Everyman Press |location=London |page=69 |url=https://archive.org/details/Anglo-saxonChronicles/page/n67/mode/2up?q=hertford |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref> Thorpe (1861)<ref name=thorpe>{{cite book |last1=Thorpe |first1=Benjamin |title=The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle according to the several original authorities: Volume 2, Translation |date=1861 |publisher=Longman, Green, Longman and Roberts |location=London |page=78 |url=https://archive.org/details/anglosaxonchroni02thoruoft/page/78/mode/2up?q=Hertford |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> and Rook (1997)<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rook |first1=Tony |title=A History of Hertfordshire |date=1997 |publisher=Phillimore |location=Chichester |isbn=1-86077-015-0 |page=32}}</ref> agree on 913. Page (1912) uses "about 913".<ref name=Page>{{cite book |last1=Page |first1=William |title=A History of the County of Hertford, Volume 3 |date=1912 |publisher=Victoria County History |location=London |pages=490{{ndash}}501 |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/herts/vol3/pp490-501 |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref> All derive their view from different interpretations and translations of the various surviving versions (A to F) of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle:
*Text A (Winchester)<ref>{{cite book |title=Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Text A (Winchester / Parker) |page=f.20v |url=https://parker.stanford.edu/parker/catalog/wp146tq7625 |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> gives the year (in Roman numerals) as 913, but several dates around this section seem to have been adjusted later, and it appears that the year was originally written as 912. The numerals for 914 to 916 also appear in the margin alongside the entry concerning Hertford.
*Text B (Abingdon I)<ref>{{cite book |title=Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Text B (Abingdon I) |page=f.29r |url=http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=cotton_ms_tiberius_a_vi_f029r |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> does not date the years around this time, but the text clearly marks the start of the entry for each year. A later hand has added dates in the margin, assigning 913 to the entry concerning Hertford.
*Texts C (Abingdon II)<ref>{{cite book |title=Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Text C (Abingdon II) |page=f.139r |url=http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=cotton_ms_tiberius_b_i_f139r |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> and D (Worcester)<ref>{{cite book |title=Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Text D (Worcester) |page=f.46r |url=http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=cotton_ms_tiberius_b_iv_f046r |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> both unambiguously assign the year 913 to the Hertford entry.
*Texts E (Peterborough)<ref>{{cite book |title=Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Text E (Peterborough / Laud) |page=f.35r |url=https://digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/6272311c-058d-417a-8e21-05e463b4f1f9/surfaces/d3aa0d6b-f22a-497c-a225-ae6fffe9ba1f/ |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> and F (Canterbury)<ref>{{cite book |title=Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Text F (Canterbury) |page=f.57r |url=http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=cotton_ms_domitian_a_viii_f057r |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> both have gaps for the years around this time.
The four texts which mention the fortification of Hertford agree that the northern burh was founded around [[St. Martin's Day]] (or Martinmas), and the southern burh built between the following [[Rogation days|rogationtide]] and midsummer. All four texts present these events within a single paragraph, without indicating that a new year has started. Some sources take this to mean that the northern burh was built around the feast of St Martin of Tours on 11 November and the southern burh in the spring of the following year. Thorpe (1861) proposed that the St Martin's Day in question was more likely to be 14 April, which was formerly marked as the anniversary of [[Pope Martin I|St Martin the Confessor]], which would place the construction of the northern burh around April and the southern burh in May and June of the same year.<ref name=thorpe/>}}

By the time of the [[Domesday Book]], Hertford had two churches, two markets and three mills. The Normans began work on [[Hertford Castle]], and Hertford Priory was founded by [[Ralph de Limesy]].<ref name="hertford.net">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hertford.net/history/priory.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210010321/http://www.hertford.net/history/priory.asp|url-status=dead|title=Hertford.net|archive-date=10 February 2009}}</ref> [[King Henry II of England|King Henry II]] rebuilt the castle in stone, but in 1216, during the [[First Barons' War]], it was besieged and captured after 25 days by [[Louis VIII of France|Prince Louis of France]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.johnbarber.com/tunnels/castle.html|title=Hertford Castle|website=www.johnbarber.com}}</ref> The castle was regularly visited by English royalty and in 1358, [[Queen Isabella of France|Queen Isabella]], wife of [[Edward II of England|Edward II]], died there. The priory was [[dissolution of the Monasteries|dissolved]] in 1536 and subsequently demolished<ref name="hertford.net"/> and in 1563, the [[Parliament of England]] met at the castle because of an outbreak of [[Bubonic plague|plague]] in London. 

Hertford grew and prospered as a market and [[county town]]; communication was improved by the construction of the [[River Lee Navigation|Lea Navigation Canal]] in 1767 and the [[Hertford East Branch Line|arrival of the railway]] in 1843.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hertford.net/history/histrail.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513122048/http://www.hertford.net/history/histrail.asp|url-status=dead|title=Hertford.net|archive-date=13 May 2008}}</ref> The [[Port Hill drill hall, Hertford|Port Hill drill hall]] was completed in 1898 and [[Yeomanry House, Hertford|Yeomanry House]] was brought into military use in 1910.<ref name=drill>{{cite web|url=http://www.drillhalls.org/Counties/Hertfordshire/TownHertford.htm|title=Hertford|publisher=The drill hall project|access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref>

[[Hartford, Connecticut]] is named after Hertford.{{fact|date=August 2024}}

==Governance==
Hertford has three tiers of local government at parish (town), district, and county level: Hertford Town Council, [[East Hertfordshire District Council]], and [[Hertfordshire County Council]], all three of which are based in the town.

{{Infobox historic subdivision
|Name=Hertford
|subdivision_type=[[Ancient borough]] (c.{{nbsp}}913{{ndash}}1835)<br>[[Municipal borough]] (1836{{ndash}}1974)
|HQ=Hertford
<!-- Statuses -->
|Start=c.{{nbsp}}913 (Ancient borough)<br>1 January 1836 (Municipal borough)
|End=31 March 1974
|Replace=[[East Hertfordshire]]
|arms_image   = [[File:Hertford town council coat of arms.jpg|250px]]
<!-- Memberships -->
| membership_title1     = County Council
| membership1           = [[Hertfordshire County Council|Hertfordshire]]
|PopulationFirst=9,322
|PopulationLast=19,540<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10153177 |title=Hertford Municipal Borough, ''A Vision of Britain through Time'' |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref>          
   |PopulationFirstYear=1901  
   |PopulationLastYear=1971
}}

Hertford has been the county town of Hertfordshire since the county was founded in [[Saxon]] times. The town also gave its name to the [[hundred (county division)|hundred]] of [[List of hundreds of England|Hertford]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Hertford Hundred |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10188118 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref> The town was initially governed by the king's [[Reeve (England)|reeves]]. By the thirteenth century, the reeves had been replaced by a [[bailiff]], elected by the [[Burgess (title)|burgesses]]. Charters of 1554 and 1589 established a common council of eleven chief burgesses and a bailiff. Another charter of 1605 changed the bailiff's title to mayor. Under the [[Municipal Corporations Act 1835]], Hertford became a [[Municipal borough]]; the [[Rates (tax)|ratepayers]] elected twelve [[councillors]], who chose four [[aldermen]], with the aldermen and councillors together composing the council (also known as the corporation), which elected the mayor.<ref name=Page/>

The Hertford [[poor law union]] was established in 1835, covering the town and surrounding rural parishes.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Higginbotham |first1=Peter |title=Hertford Workhouse |url=https://www.workhouses.org.uk/Hertford/ |website=The Workhouse |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref>

Hertford Corporation used part of the [[Shire Hall, Hertford|Shire Hall]] as a Town Hall until 1911, when it moved into the surviving gatehouse of [[Hertford Castle]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Post Office Directory of Essex, Herts, Kent, Middlesex, Surrey and Sussex |date=1855 |publisher=Kelly and Co. |location=London |page=209 |url=http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p16445coll4/id/365512/rec/8 |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Cooper |first1=Jacqueline |title=Hertford: A History |date=2007 |publisher=Phillimore |location=Chichester |isbn=978-1-86077-469-0 |page=133}}</ref>

Under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], Hertford Municipal Borough was abolished, merging with other districts to become part of the [[non-metropolitan district|district]] of [[East Hertfordshire]] with effect from 1 April 1974. A [[successor parish]] was created covering the former borough of Hertford, with its parish council taking the name Hertford Town Council.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Local Government (Successor Parishes) Order |date=1974 |publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office |location=London |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1974/569/made |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref> The town council is based at the former offices of the borough corporation at Hertford Castle.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hertford Town Council |url=https://www.hertford.gov.uk/ |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref>

The headquarters of [[Hertfordshire County Council]] is at [[County Hall, Hertford|County Hall]], built in 1939 to replace the Shire Hall. East Hertfordshire District Council's offices almost adjoin County Hall, being at Wallfields, which prior to 1974 had been the offices of [[Hertford Rural District|Hertford Rural District Council]].

===Arms===
From at least 1634, Hertford Corporation used an [[Escutcheon (heraldry)|escutcheon]] (shield) depicting a hart above water to indicate a ford. The borough council was granted the right to complement its arms with a badge in 1925, and supporters were added in 1937. The coat of arms is now used by Hertford Town Council.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Hertford |url=https://www.hertford.gov.uk/history-of-hertford/ |website=Hertford Town Council |access-date=30 December 2021}}</ref>
{{Emblem table
|name = Hertford Town Council<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/east_of_england.html |title=East of England Region |publisher=Civic Heraldry of England |accessdate=10 March 2021}}</ref>
|escutcheon = Argent on water barry wavy a hart lodged Proper (recorded at the 1634 visitation).
|badge = Within a chaplet of roses Gules a hart's head caboshed Proper between the attires an escutcheon Or charged with three chevronels Gules (granted 23 September 1925).
|supporters = On either side a lion Ermine gorged with a collar pendent therefrom by a chain Gules an escutcheon Or charged with three chevrons also Gules (granted 20 October 1937).
|motto = Pride In Our Past Faith In Our Future
|standard = Argent the bands Azure fimbriated and inscribed Pro Hertfordae honore Gold fringed Argent and Azure.
}}

==Geography==
Hertford is at the confluence of four river valleys: the [[River Rib|Rib]], [[River Beane|Beane]] and [[River Mimram|Mimram]] join the [[River Lea]] at Hertford to flow east and then south toward the [[Thames]] as the [[Lee Navigation]], after Hertford Castle Weir. The shared valley of the [[River Lea|Lea]] and the [[River Beane|Beane]] is called [[Hartham Common]] and this provides a large park to one side of the town centre running towards [[Ware, Hertfordshire|Ware]] and lying below the ridge upon which [[Bengeo]] is situated.

The town centre still has its medieval layout with many timber-framed buildings hidden under later frontages, particularly in [[St Andrew Street, Hertford|St Andrew Street]]. Hertford suffers from traffic problems caused by the existence of the 1960s [[A414 road|A414]] dual carriageway called Gascoyne Way which carved through the town, destroying many historic buildings in its path and cutting off the southern part of the town from the northern part. Plans have long existed to connect the [[A10 road (England)|A10]] with the A414 on the west side of Hertford, a proper bypass, but they have so far foundered. Nevertheless, the town retains very much a country-town feel, despite lying only {{convert|19.2|mi|km|1}} north of [[Central London]]. This is aided by its proximity to larger towns such as [[Harlow]], [[Bishop's Stortford]] and [[Stevenage]] where modern development has been focused. {{col begin}}  {{col-2}}
'''Suburbs and estates'''
* [[Bengeo]]
* [[Foxholes, Hertford|Foxholes Estate]]
* [[Horns Mill, Hertford|Horns Mill]]
* [[Pinehurst, Hertford]]
* [[Rush Green, East Hertfordshire|Rush Green]]
* [[Sele Farm]]
{{col-2}}
'''Nearby Hertford'''
* [[Hertford Heath]]
* [[Hertingfordbury]]
* [[Waterford, Hertfordshire|Waterford]]
{{col-end}}
[[File:HarthamSummer08.jpg|thumb|right|[[Hartham Common]]]]

==Economy==
[[File:County Hall Hertford - geograph.org.uk - 83636.jpg|thumb|right|Hertfordshire County Hall in Hertford]]
A fair amount of employment in the town is centred on County Hall ([[Hertfordshire County Council]]), Wallfields ([[East Hertfordshire District Council]]) and [[McMullens|McMullens Brewery]], one of a dwindling number of independent pre-1970 family [[brewing|brewers]] in the United Kingdom. Many residents commute to work in London.

Hertford differs from neighbouring towns as it lacks a modern shopping development (mall). However, it has most of the usual supermarkets. A [[Tesco]] store occupies part of the former [[Christ's Hospital]] Bluecoat Girls School, which closed down in 1985. [[Sainsbury's]] opened a new store on part of the McMullens Brewery site in June 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/Hertfordshire/New-Hertford-supermarket-opens-its-doors-27062012.htm |title=Hertfordshire Mercury |access-date=27 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630151851/http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/Hertfordshire/New-Hertford-supermarket-opens-its-doors-27062012.htm |archive-date=30 June 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> A Waitrose occupied a reasonably large store in the Bircherley Green Shopping area that closed on 12 September 2017. The local branch of [[Woolworths (United Kingdom)|Woolworths]] closed for good on 27 December 2008, after the collapse of that store chain. There are fewer of the usual chain shops found in most high streets and this makes Hertford stand out from other "[[clone town]]s". There are a high number of independent shops in the town, with a variety of boutiques and salons.

==Sport and leisure==
Hertford has a leisure centre and swimming pool, skatepark, bowling green and tennis courts on [[Hartham Common]].

=== Football ===
The town has a [[Non-League football]] club, [[Hertford Town F.C.]], which plays at Hertingfordbury Park. [[Hertford Town Youth FC]], a [[FA Charter Standard Award|FA Charter Standard Football Club]], plays at County Hall Playing Fields, situated next to the headquarters of [[Hertfordshire County Council]] at [[County Hall, Hertford|County Hall]] in Hertford.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hertfordtownyouth.co.uk/|title=Hertford Town Youth Football Club|website=www.hertfordtownyouth.co.uk|access-date=22 September 2017}}</ref> Other clubs in the surrounding area include [[Bury Rangers Youth FC|Bury Rangers]], Hertford Heath Youth FC and [[Bengeo Tigers FC|Bengeo Tigers Football Club]] (an award-winning<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hertfordshirefa.com/news/2014/aug/community-award-winners|title=Sorry. Something's wrong with the pitch. - Hertfordshire FA|website=www.hertfordshirefa.com}}</ref> [[FA Charter Standard Award|FA Charter Standard Community Football Club]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bengeotigers.org.uk/2014/07/17/bengeo-tigers-awarded-community-charter-status/ |title=Bengeo Tigers Awarded Community Charter Status &#124; Bengeo Tigers FC |access-date=13 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304044536/http://www.bengeotigers.org.uk/2014/07/17/bengeo-tigers-awarded-community-charter-status/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>)

===Cricket===

[[Hertford Cricket Club]] is based in the town. Records for a Hertford club go back a far as 1825,. However, the club in its present form has been in existence since 1860. The club plays its matches at Balls park, Hertford. Currently the club runs five teams and all the teams play in the local league.

==Notable people==
* [[Frederick Scott Archer]] (1813 – 1857), son of a Hertford butcher, was an early photographer best known for having invented the photographic [[collodion process]]
*  The band [[Deep Purple]] formed in Hertford in 1968.
* [[Alfred Russel Wallace]] who proposed a theory of natural selection at the same time as [[Charles Darwin]] lived in Hertford from ages five to thirteen and attended [[Richard Hale School|Hertford Grammar School]].
* [[John Wilkes]], the radical politician, was educated in Hertford.
* Sergeant [[Alfred Alexander Burt]], soldier in the [[Hertfordshire Regiment]] who was born and lived in Hertford. He was awarded the [[Victoria Cross]] for his valour on 27 September 1915 during the [[Battle of Loos]].<ref>[http://www.hertsmemories.org.uk/page_id__675_path__0p4p55p.aspx] ''Hertford's Victoria Cross winner', Retrieved: 20 September 2012''</ref>
* [[W. E. Johns|Captain W E Johns]], Writer of the [[Biggles]] books was born in Bengeo, attended Hertford Grammar School and lived in Hertford.
[[File:Quaker Sculpture - geograph.org.uk - 129737.jpg|thumb|The statue of Samuel Stone]]
* [[Samuel Stone]], Puritan minister who established the American town of Hartford, Connecticut with [[Thomas Hooker]]. He lived in Fore Street, Hertford and was baptised at [[All Saints' Church, Hertford|All Saints Church]]. There is a statue commemorating him, close to the Hertford Theatre.
* [[Jane Wenham (alleged witch)|Jane Wenham]] was tried at the Hertford [[Assizes]] for [[witchcraft]] in 1712. The jury found her guilty, one of the last in England to be convicted of this offence. Judge Powell had no choice but to condemn her to death, but through his influence she was later given a [[Royal Pardon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hertford.net/history/janewenham.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213040135/http://www.hertford.net/history/janewenham.asp|url-status=dead|title=Hertford.net|archive-date=13 December 2009}}</ref>
* [[Jack Trevor Story]], the author of "The Trouble with Harry" and other works, was born in Hertford in 1917.
* Television and radio reporter and presenter [[Tom Heap]] was born in Hertford.
* Actor [[Rupert Grint]] comes from Hertford, and although he now lives outside the town, he lived within Hertford when he began filming for the [[Harry Potter (film series)|''Harry Potter'' film series]]. He attended [[Richard Hale School]] until finishing his GCSE exams in 2004. Other famous former pupils of Richard Hale School are listed on the school's page.
* [[Dani Filth]], singer of [[Cradle of Filth]] was born in Hertford, but grew up in [[Ipswich]].
* Singer [[George Ezra]] was born and grew up in Hertford, attending [[Simon Balle All-through School|Simon Balle School]].
* International rugby union players [[Robbie Morris]] and [[Jamie George]].
* Cricketers [[Stuart Cradock]], [[John Hughes (cricketer, born 1825)|John Hughes]] and [[Lawrence Wright (cricketer)|Lawrence Wright]] were born in Hertford.
* The [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] MP for Liverpool Walton between 1964 and 1984, Labour Chairman, government minister and shadow cabinet minister [[Eric Heffer]] was born in Hertford in 1922

==Landmarks==
[[File:St Leonards Bengeo 1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Church of Saint Leonard, Bengeo]]]]
* In the town are the remains of the original [[Hertford Castle]], principally a motte. The castle's gatehouse, the central part of which dates to a rebuild by [[Edward IV of England|Edward IV]] in 1463, is the home to Hertford Town Council. The Motte, from the original [[Motte and Bailey]] castle in Hertford, can be found just behind Castle Hall, a short distance from the modern castle.
* There are several churches in the town. [[All Saints' Church, Hertford|All Saints']] and St Andrew's are late and mid 19th century respectively, although both stand on the sites of medieval places of worship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/herts/vol3/pp501-511|title=The borough of Hertford: Castle, honour, manors, church and charities &#124; British History Online|website=www.british-history.ac.uk}}</ref> In the northern suburb of [[Bengeo]] lies [[Church of Saint Leonard, Bengeo|St Leonard's]], a two-celled Norman church of considerable architectural interest.
* In Railway Street can be found the oldest purpose-built [[Quaker]] Meeting House in the world, in use since 1670.
[[File:Quaker Meeting House - Hertford England.jpg|thumb|right|Hertford Quaker Meeting House]]
* The [[Parliament of England]] temporarily moved to Hertford during a [[Black Death|plague]] outbreak in London in 1563.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hertford.net/history/timeline.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722003821/http://www.hertford.net/history/timeline.asp|url-status=dead|title=Hertford Timeline|archive-date=22 July 2011}}</ref> This is why the main square in the town, Parliament Square, is so named, although it is a twentieth-century creation.
* The home of Alfred Russel Wallace (see above), now named Wallace House, can be found at 11 St. Andrew St. and is marked with a plaque.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wallacefund.info/file/159|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721125437/http://wallacefund.info/11-st-andrews-st-hertford-copyright-tom-gladwin|url-status=dead|title=11 St. Andrew's St., Hertford. Copyright Tom Gladwin &#124; The Alfred Russel Wallace Website|website=wallacefund.info|archive-date=21 July 2012|access-date=13 August 2019}}</ref>
* Built in 1779, the [[Shire Hall, Hertford|Shire Hall]] was designed by [[Robert Adam]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/142920|title=Geograph:: The Shire Hall, Hertford (C) Melvyn Cousins|website=www.geograph.org.uk}}</ref> The ground floor houses Court Rooms.
* The [[Corn Exchange, Hertford|Corn Exchange]] was built on the site of a former gaol. After years in the doldrums it is now a live entertainment venue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hertford.net/gallery/hert018.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212163956/http://www.hertford.net/gallery/hert018.htm|url-status=dead|title=The Corn Exchange|archive-date=12 February 2009}}</ref>
[[File:PrinceAlbertCottage Hertford.jpg|thumb|The Prince Albert Cottage]]
* The Egyptian House in Fore Street, built c. 1824, is an early example of [[Egyptian Revival architecture]]. It was a grocery store from the Victorian era until the 1960s, and is currently a restaurant.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourhertfordandware.org.uk/content/places/hertford-places/the-egyptian-building|title=The Egyptian building}}</ref>
* In Cowbridge, there is a [[Prince Albert's Model Cottage|Prince Albert Cottage]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vam.ac.uk/moc/kids/things_to_make/build_your_owns/build_your_own_prince_albert_cottages/about_cottages/index.html|title=Victoria and Albert Museum information on Prince Albert Cottages|access-date=26 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514162852/http://www.vam.ac.uk/moc/kids/things_to_make/build_your_owns/build_your_own_prince_albert_cottages/about_cottages/index.html|archive-date=14 May 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first of these cottages was originally built in [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] by the Society for Improving the Condition of the Labouring Classes in 1851 at the time of the [[Great Exhibition]]. [[Albert, Prince Consort|Prince Albert]] was involved in their design and financing.
* [[Hertford Museum]] is housed in a 17th-century historic town house, with a Jacobean-style [[knot garden]].
*  A stained-glass window in St Andrew's Church is part of a fringe theory that links Hertford to the [[Knights Templar]] and the [[Holy Grail]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jan/04/religion.uk|title=Oliver Burkeman: Hertford, home of the Holy Grail|first=Oliver|last=Burkeman|work=The Guardian |date=4 January 2005|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref>

==Transport==

===Rail===
[[File:Hertford East railway station - geograph.org.uk - 208092.jpg|thumb|right|[[Hertford East railway station]]]]
Two railway stations serve Hertford - [[Hertford East railway station|Hertford East]] and [[Hertford North railway station|Hertford North]]. [[Transport for London]] [[Oyster card|Oyster cards]] are valid for payment and travel at both stations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 2022 |title=London's Rail and Tube services |url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/london-rail-and-tube-services-map.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202225941/https://content.tfl.gov.uk/london-rail-and-tube-services-map.pdf |archive-date=2 February 2023 |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=[[Transport for London]]}}</ref>

==== Hertford East ====
{{Main articles|Hertford East railway station}}
Hertford East is the northwestern terminus of the [[Hertford East branch line|Hertford East Branch Line]].
[[Greater Anglia (train operating company)|Greater Anglia]] manages the station and operates trains between Hertford East and [[Liverpool Street station|London Liverpool Street]] in the [[City of London]].

The Hertford East Branch Line along with the [[West Anglia Main Line]] provide the town with direct connections to [[Ware railway station|Ware]], [[Broxbourne railway station|Broxbourne]], [[Cheshunt railway station|Cheshunt]], [[Waltham Cross railway station|Waltham Cross]], [[Tottenham Hale station|Tottenham Hale]] and [[Hackney Downs railway station|Hackney Downs]]. At Broxbourne - the southeastern terminus of the branch line - the West Anglia Main Line runs northbound towards [[Bishop's Stortford railway station|Bishop's Stortford]], [[Audley End railway station|Audley End]] and [[Cambridge railway station|Cambridge]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greater Anglia Network Map |url=https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/media/9704/download?inline |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218014352/https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/media/9704/download?inline |archive-date=18 February 2023 |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=[[Greater Anglia (train operating company)|Greater Anglia]]}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=December 2022 |title=National Rail Train Operators |url=https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/TOCs%20AS%20v53%20Dec%202022.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205022829/https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/TOCs%20AS%20v53%20Dec%202022.pdf |archive-date=5 February 2023 |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=[[National Rail]]}}</ref>

==== Hertford North ====
{{Main articles|Hertford North railway station}}
Hertford North is on the [[Hertford loop line|Hertford Loop Line]], a branch of the [[East Coast Main Line]].

[[Thameslink and Great Northern|Great Northern]] operates trains northbound towards [[Watton-at-Stone railway station|Watton-at-Stone]] and [[Stevenage railway station|Stevenage]]. Southbound, Great Northern trains run towards [[London Moorgate]] in the City through [[Enfield Chase railway station|Enfield Chase]], [[Alexandra Palace railway station|Alexandra Palace]], [[Finsbury Park station|Finsbury Park]] and [[Highbury and Islington]]. Some timetabled services run southbound into [[London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross]] instead of Moorgate.
[[File:A new Class 717 unit on Northaw Brook viaduct.jpg|alt=A Class 717 operated by Great Northern on the Northaw Viaduct, between Hertford North and London Moorgate|thumb|403x403px|A [[British Rail Class 717|Class 717]] operated by Great Northern on the [[Northaw and Cuffley|Northaw Viaduct]], between [[Hertford North railway station|Hertford North]] and [[London Moorgate]]]]
North of Stevenage, trains run towards [[Hitchin railway station|Hitchin]], [[Peterborough railway station|Peterborough]], [[Northern England|the North]] and [[Scotland]], and towards [[Letchworth railway station|Letchworth]], [[Royston railway station|Royston]] and Cambridge. South of Finsbury Park, services run towards King's Cross, [[St Pancras railway station|London St Pancras]], [[Farringdon station|Farringdon]], [[Gatwick Airport railway station|Gatwick Airport]] and [[Brighton railway station|Brighton]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Great Northern Routes Diagram |url=https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/-/media/goahead/great-northern/pdf-files/great_northern_route_map.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213222406/https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/-/media/goahead/great-northern/pdf-files/great_northern_route_map.pdf |archive-date=13 December 2019 |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=[[Govia Thameslink Railway]]}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

===Road===
{{See also|A10 road (England)|A414 road|A119 road (England)}}
The [[A10 road (England)|A10]] runs north-south through the east of Hertford. [[Kingsmead Viaduct]] carries the A10 across the River Lea between Hertford and [[Ware, Hertfordshire|Ware]]. Southbound, the route runs towards the [[M25 London Orbital Motorway|M25 London Orbital motorway]] and the City of London, through [[Cheshunt]], [[Enfield, London|Enfield]] and [[Tottenham]]. Northbound, the route runs towards [[King's Lynn]] in [[Norfolk]] via [[Buntingford]], [[Royston, Hertfordshire|Royston]], [[Cambridge]] and [[Ely, Cambridgeshire|Ely]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=A10 Road (Great Britain) |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/5727226 |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=[[OpenStreetMap]]}}</ref>

The [[A414 road|A414]] runs east-west through Hertford, along [[Hertingfordbury|Hertingfordbury Road]], [[Gascoyne-Cecil|Gascoyne Way]] and London Road. The primary route runs eastbound towards the A10, [[Harlow]], the [[M11 motorway]], [[Chelmsford]] and [[Maldon]]. Westbound, the route carries traffic towards [[Hatfield, Hertfordshire|Hatfield]], the [[A1(M) motorway]], [[St Albans]] and [[Hemel Hempstead]]. 

The [[A119 road (England)|A119]] runs eastbound from Hertford into Ware. The route runs northbound from Hertford towards [[Watton-at-Stone]] and the [[A602 road|A602]] for [[Stevenage]].

===Bus and coach===
Hertford Bus Station lies to the east of Bircherley Street in Hertford town centre.

Long-distance routes through Hertford include:

* [[Green Line bus route 724|724]] ([[Arriva Shires & Essex|Arriva]] [[Green Line Coaches|Green Line]]) - Harlow (via Ware), or [[Heathrow Airport]] (via [[Welwyn Garden City]], Hatfield, St Albans, [[Watford]], [[Rickmansworth]], [[Denham, Buckinghamshire|Denham]] and [[Hillingdon]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=Green Line Route 724 |url=https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/find-a-service/724-green-line-harlow-to-london-heathrow-airport |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013122735/https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/greenline/green-line-route-724 |archive-date=13 October 2022 |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=[[Arriva Shires & Essex]]}}</ref>
* 737 ([[National Express Coaches|National Express]]) - [[Stansted Airport]] (via Harlow), or [[Oxford]] (via Hatfield, [[Luton Airport]], [[Luton]] and [[Milton Keynes]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Express route 737 |url=https://timetables.nationalexpress.com/routes/NX/737/Stansted_Airport-Oxford/I |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201104429/https://timetables.nationalexpress.com/routes/NX/737/Stansted_Airport-Oxford/I |archive-date=1 December 2022 |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=[[National Express Coaches|National Express]]}}</ref>

[[File:20191028-Arriva-East-Herts-&-Essex-3897.jpg|alt=A 724-branded bus operated by Arriva Shires and Essex|thumb|216x216px|A [[Green Line bus route 724|724]]-branded bus operated by [[Arriva Shires & Essex]]]]
[[Hertfordshire County Council]] manages the Intalink enhanced partnership which choreographs the local bus network.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hertford Bus Routes |url=https://images.intalink.org.uk/2021-06/Hertford_PRINT.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511182131/https://images.intalink.org.uk/2021-06/Hertford_PRINT.pdf |archive-date=11 May 2022 |access-date=18 February 2022 |website=Intalink/[[Hertfordshire County Council]]}}</ref> In January 2024, the local town network was connected into an integrated group of routes numbered H1-H6, operated by Vectare under the Central Connect brand.<ref>{{Cite web |title=H is for Hertford - Vectare |url=https://localbus.vectare.co.uk/h-is-for-hertford |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=localbus.vectare.co.uk}}</ref>

Bus routes in Hertford include:

* 308/380 (Arriva) - [[Cuffley]] and [[Bayford, Hertfordshire|Bayford]]
* 310 (Arriva) - [[Waltham Cross]] (via Ware, [[Broxbourne]] and Cheshunt)
* 323 (Arriva) - Haldens Estate (via Campfield Road, Great Gannett, & Welwyn Garden City
* 324 (Centrebus) - Ware, or Welwyn Garden City
* 331 (Arriva) - Royston (via Ware, [[Puckeridge]] and Buntingford)
* H6 ([[Diamond West Midlands]]) - [[Bengeo]] circular
* 341/641 ([[Uno (bus company)|Uno]]) - Broxbourne (via Ware and [[Hoddesdon]]), or Hatfield (via [[Essendon, Hertfordshire|Essendon]])
* 35 (Central Connect) - [[Bishop's Stortford]] (via [[Much Hadham]])
* 378/379 (Arriva) - Stevenage (via [[Tewin]] and [[Datchworth]])
* 38/38A (Central Connect) - Stevenage (via [[Tonwell]]), or Ware
* 390 (Arriva/[[Centrebus]]) - Stevenage, or Ware
* 395 (Arriva) - Ware
*907 (Centrebus) - Cheshunt or Stevenage via Hoddesdon, Ware,

=== Cycling ===
[[National Cycle Route 61]] runs east-west through Hertford. Between Welwyn Garden City and Ware, through Hertford, the route is also known as [[Cole Green Way]]. The route's western terminus is near [[Taplow]] in [[Berkshire]], near [[Slough]] and [[Maidenhead]]. To the east, NCR61 meets [[National Cycle Route 1|NCR1]] near Hoddesdon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 61 |url=https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/route-61 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207175029/https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/route-61/ |archive-date=7 February 2023 |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=[[Sustrans]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 61 |url=https://explore.osmaps.com/?lat=51.792557&lon=-0.091516&zoom=13.0000&overlays=os-ncn-layer&style=Standard&type=2d&placesCategory= |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=[[Ordnance Survey]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cole Green Way - 10-mile quiet route between Welwyn Garden City, Hertford and Ware |url=https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/media-library/documents/environment-and-planning/countryside-management-service/walking-and-cycling-routes/pdf/cole-green-way-cycle.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123090915/https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/media-library/documents/environment-and-planning/countryside-management-service/walking-and-cycling-routes/pdf/cole-green-way-cycle.pdf |archive-date=23 January 2023 |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=[[Hertfordshire County Council]]}}</ref>

Hertford is the northern terminus of the Lee Navigation and the associated [[towpath]], which carries NCR61 for part of its route. The towpath's southern terminus is in [[Limehouse]], [[East London]]. The cycle route passes through Ware, Hoddesdon, Broxbourne, [[Enfield Lock]], [[Tottenham]], [[Leyton]] and [[Hackney Wick]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Canal & River Trust Explorers Map |url=https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/explorers/map |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=[[Canal & River Trust]]}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Canal Map UK |url=https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921220632/https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network |archive-date=21 September 2022 |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=[[Canal & River Trust]]}}</ref>

===River===
Hertford is the northern terminus of the [[Navigability|navigable]] River Lea, which is managed by the [[Canal and River Trust]]. Southbound, the river runs towards [[Bromley-by-Bow]] in East London, through Ware, Hoddesdon, Broxbourne, Enfield Lock, Tottenham, Leyton and Hackney Wick. The river meets the navigable [[River Stort]] at Hoddesdon, which runs northbound through Harlow, [[Sawbridgeworth]] and Bishop's Stortford.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

The [[Hertford Union Canal]] and the [[Limehouse Cut]] connect the Lee Navigation with the [[Regent's Canal]] in London.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

Lee and Stort Boat Company runs a [[waterbus]] at various points throughout the year, with a route between Hertford and Ware.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Waterbus Cruise - Lee & Stort Boat Co Ltd |url=http://www.leeandstortboats.co.uk/the-cruises/waterbus-cruise |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218020723/http://www.leeandstortboats.co.uk/the-cruises/waterbus-cruise |archive-date=18 February 2023 |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=Lee & Stort Boat Company Ltd}}</ref>

==Education==
Secondary schools in Hertford include [[the Sele School]], [[Richard Hale School]] and [[Simon Balle All-through School]] (which also includes primary provision; other primary schools include Hollybush JMI, Millmead Community School,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.millmead.herts.sch.uk/|title=Home &#124; Mill Mead Primary School|website=www.millmead.herts.sch.uk}}</ref> Bengeo Primary School,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bengeo.herts.sch.uk/page/default.asp?title=Home&pid=1|title=Bengeo Primary School - Home|website=www.bengeo.herts.sch.uk}}</ref> Morgans Primary School and Nursery,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.morgans.herts.sch.uk/|title=Home &#124; www.morgans.herts.sch.uk|website=www.morgans.herts}}</ref> Abel Smith School (named after banker and MP [[Abel Smith (1788–1859)|Abel Smith]] (1788–1859)),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abelsmith.herts.sch.uk/|title=Abel Smith School – An Ofsted 'Outstanding' School in Hertford, Hertfordshire|website=www.abelsmith.herts.sch.uk}}</ref> St Andrew's School, St. Josephs RC School<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stjosephs255.herts.sch.uk/|title=Home &#124; St Joseph's Catholic Primary School|website=www.stjosephs255.herts.sch.uk}}</ref> and Wheatcroft School.

Private schools include St. Joseph's in the Park<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stjosephsinthepark.com/|title=Home - St Josephs's In The Park|website=stjosephsinthepark.com}}</ref> in [[Hertingfordbury]], Duncombe School,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.duncombe-school.co.uk/|title=Private Prep & Pre-Prep School in Hertfordshire - Duncombe School|website=Duncombe School}}</ref> (a [[Preparatory school (UK)|preparatory school]] in [[Bengeo]]) and [[Haileybury College]] in [[Hertford Heath]].

Pinewood and Middleton Schools are special needs schools that are available in neighbouring [[Ware, Hertfordshire|Ware]].

Former schools include The Pines JMI School, which was built on the Pinehurst estate in 1977 and closed in 2003.

==Media==
Hertford is within the [[BBC London]] and [[ITV London]] region. Television signals are received from the [[Crystal Palace transmitting station|Crystal Palace]] TV transmitter <ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Crystal_Palace|title=Full Freeview on the Crystal Palace (Greater London, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=7 December 2023}}</ref> and the local relay transmitter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Hertford|title= Freeview Light on the Hertford (Hertford, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=7 December 2023}}</ref> Local radio stations are [[BBC Three Counties Radio]] on 90.4 FM and [[Heart Hertfordshire]] on 106.9 FM. Hertford's local newspaper is the [[Hertfordshire Mercury]].

==Entertainment==
Hertford Theatre, previously known as Castle Hall, is a modern [[Theater (structure)|theatre]], cinema and [[art gallery]] complex at The Wash in the town centre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hertfordtheatre.com/about-us/page/11/about-hertford-theatre/ |title=About Hertford Theatre |website=www.hertfordtheatre.com/ |publisher=Hertford Theatre. |access-date=23 January 2014}}</ref> The Hertford Corn Exchange is a building where entertainment such as comedy and art exhibitions take place. Hertford has many food, drink and entertainment establishments which have grown in number considerably since the eighties and nineties. It attracts people from nearby towns, and often the [[North London]] suburbs. There are approximately 25 pubs and clubs in the area,<ref>[http://www.hertford.net/leisure/pubs.htm Hertford.net] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816054828/http://www.hertford.net/leisure/pubs.htm |date=16 August 2007 }}, pub list</ref> and around 35 restaurants, takeaways and snack bars.<ref>[http://www.hertford.net/leisure/rest.htm Hertford.net] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702143134/http://www.hertford.net/leisure/rest.htm |date=2 July 2007 }}, restaurant list</ref>
Hertford also benefits from public swimming pool and gym facilities and a small skatepark, all situated on [[Hartham Common]].

==Town twinning==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in the United Kingdom}}
Hertford is [[sister city|twinned]] with:
* [[Évron]], France<ref name="Hertford twinning">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hertford.gov.uk/Town-Twinning-Associations-Details-of-Hertford-twin-towns-of-Evron--Wildeshausen-5054.asp?page=5054|title=Hertford.gov.uk|access-date=10 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140526015211/http://www.hertford.gov.uk/Town-Twinning-Associations-Details-of-Hertford-twin-towns-of-Evron--Wildeshausen-5054.asp?page=5054|archive-date=26 May 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Archant twinning 3">{{cite web|url=http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705094933/http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns|title=British towns twinned with French towns ''[via WaybackMachine.com]''|access-date=20 July 2013|archive-date=5 July 2013|work=Archant Community Media Ltd}}</ref>
* [[Wildeshausen]], Germany<ref name="Hertford twinning"/>
* [[Hartford]], [[Connecticut]], United States<ref>{{Cite web |title=Twinning North Herts |url=https://www.baldocktowntwinning.com/twinning-north-herts |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=Baldock Twinning |language=en}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.hertford.gov.uk Hertford Town Council]
* [http://www.whatsonhertford.co.uk What's On Hertford]
* [http://www.hertford.net Discover Hertford]
* [http://www.theinsider.org/news/article.asp?id=0620 Theinsider.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112073649/http://www.theinsider.org/news/article.asp?id=0620 |date=12 January 2015 }}
* {{wikivoyage-inline|Hertford}}
* [http://theprison.org.uk/HertfordCGB/ History of Hertford Prison from theprison.org.uk]


{{Hertfordshire}}
{{Civil parishes of Hertfordshire}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hertford| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:County towns in England]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:East Hertfordshire District]]