Bayford, Hertfordshire

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St Mary's Church, Bayford

Bayford is a village and civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of Hertfordshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 435. The village is about three miles south of Hertford, and is served by Bayford railway station.

Bayford has won 'best kept village' awards in previous years and is renowned for being a place of beauty.

Bayford contains a local primary school: Bayford (C of E) VC Primary School.

The local public house, The Baker Arms, is in the heart of the village with a thriving trade, serving home cooked foods and real ales. It comes highly recommended from many customers and welcomes all.

Every two years the village holds a Gardens Open Day in which many of the houses, both large and small, open up their gardens to the public.

The manor of Bayford was purchased in 1757 by Sir William Baker (1705–1770), who built the mansion of Bayfordbury in 1758. He died at Bath, whilst taking the cure, and is commemorated in the Abbey. The mansion was extended by infilling between the service blocks, to house the Kit-Cat Club portraits, which Baker inherited from Jacob Tonson. In 1941 Bayfordbury was leased to Dr Barnardo's Homes for young boys aged 9 to 14 years of age. In 1945 the John Innes Institutemoved to Bayfordbury and built glass houses, the research block and the houses at Broad Green Wood for their staff. The estate was later acquired by Herts County Council and occupied by Hatfield Polytechnic (later The University of Hertfordshire). They built an Observatory which is regarded as one of the finest teaching observatories in the country and used the research block for chemical and biological research. The mansion and stables have now been converted into residences. The research block is still used by the University and the grounds as a field study centre.