Stanstead Abbotts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stanstead Abbotts is a small village on the East Hertfordshire border, surrounded by other towns such as Ware, Hertford, Hoddesdon, Amwell and Great Amwell. It is also just 5 miles away from Harlow, Essex.
[edit] History
Stanstead Abbotts is a sub-district of Ware in the southeast corner of Hertfordshire. The Greenwich Meridian (longitude 0°), separating the eastern and western hemispheres, passes through the village. Its exact position marked by Meridian obelisks that were planted in 1984 to commemorate the centenary of the adoption of the prime meridian line. This was measured by Astronomer Royal, Sir George Biddell Airy, in 1851 and finally adopted as the International Time Line at a conference in Washington, DC in 1884. The meridian marker post shown on the right is sited in Station Road beside the bridge over the New River. As well as being the line from where all navigation is calculated it is the line from which all time on earth is based. The current line is one of many that have existed, however the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system uses a prime meridian that is about 100 metres east of the Greenwich Meridian at Stanstead Abbotts.
In recent years the village was awarded the title "Best kept village in Hertfordshire - large village" which if nothing else establishes that it is a "large" village. The population has grown steadily during the past decade and now hovers around the 3000 mark. Recent housing developments along and near the River Lea account for most of the increases.
[edit] The Village
Once situated on the main A414 it has many old buildings in its High street although many have now made way for newer residential properties because the village is on the main railway line into Liverpool Street Station. The main industry in the village used to be making ale but again many of the original maltings have now been demolished to make way for a small business park.
The main entrance to the All Nations Christian College in Stanstead Abbotts was used as the entrance to the school in the "St Trinians" films.
The local School is St Andrews Primary and the main football team is St. Margaretsbury F.C.. This recreation ground also caters for the local cricket team.
The village also has a Scout Group, the 1st Stanstead Abbotts & St. Margaret's Scout Group.
Lee Valley Marina, is located to the south of the village.
