Stanstead Abbotts

Stanstead Abbotts

The High Street at Stanstead Abbotts
Stanstead Abbotts

 Stanstead Abbotts shown within Hertfordshire
Population 1,983 
OS grid reference TL4011
District East Hertfordshire
Shire county Hertfordshire
Region East
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town WARE
Postcode district SG12
Dialling code 01920
Police Hertfordshire
Fire Hertfordshire
Ambulance East of England
EU Parliament East of England
UK Parliament Hertford and Stortford
List of places: UK • England • Hertfordshire

Stanstead Abbotts (alternatively Stanstead Abbots) is a village and civil parish in the district of East Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, England. At the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,983.[1] It lies on the county boundary with Essex, and is situated approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) SSE of Ware, 6.5 miles (10.5 km) SE of Hertford, 3 miles (4.8 km) NNE of Hoddesdon and 5 miles (8.0 km) W of Harlow.

Contents

History

Name and origins

The village's name was recorded as "Stanstede" at the time of the Domesday Survey in the late eleventh century. In the twelfth century the manor passed to the abbot of Waltham Holy Cross. By the fourteenth century the suffix "Abbatis", "Abbotts" or "Abbot" formed part of the parish's name. The abbey continued possession of the manor until its dissolution in 1531.[2][3]

The manor of Stanstead Abbotts was granted to Anne Boleyn and remained with the crown after her execution. In 1559 Queen Elizabeth granted it to Edward Baeshe and it remained in the Bashe family for several generation.[2]

Geography

The Greenwich Meridian (longitude 0°) passes through the village with its exact position marked by Meridian obelisks which were erected in 1984 to commemorate the centenary of the adoption of the prime meridian line.[4] 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 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 CE (VC) Primary School.[5]

The village has a Scout Group, the 1st Stanstead Abbotts & St. Margaret's Scout Group.[6]

The Lee Valley Marina, part of the Lee Valley Park, is located to the south of the village on the River Lea.[7]

See also

References

External links

Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Stanstead_Abbotts Stanstead Abbotts] at Wikimedia Commons