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Hatherleigh

2025-09-28T19:23:23Z

2A00:23C6:6993:3B01:FEDF:44FF:8C81:7B33:

{{Short description|Town in Devon, England}}
{{About|the town in England|the town in Australia|Hatherleigh, South Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
|coordinates = {{coord|50.8167|-4.0667|display=inline,title}}
|country = England
|official_name= Hatherleigh
| population = 1,306
| population_ref = (Parish, 2001)
|civil_parish = Hatherleigh
|shire_county = [[Devon]]
|shire_district= [[West Devon]]
|region= South West England
|os_grid_reference = SS5404
|dial_code= 01837
|post_town= Okehampton
|postcode_area= EX
|postcode_district= EX20
|constituency_westminster=
|hide_services=true
|website= [http://www.devon.gov.uk/localstudies/110267/1.html Community page website]
| static_image = St John the Baptist's Church, Hatherleigh - geograph.org.uk - 80166.jpg
| static_image_caption = Hatherleigh church
}}
'''Hatherleigh''' is a small [[market town]] in the [[West Devon]] district, in the county of [[Devon]], England. In 2011 the parish had a population of 1306.

[[File:Churchyard, Hatherleigh.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Churchyard in Hatherleigh]]
The name Hatherleigh derives from either the [[Old English]] ''haguþornlēah'' meaning '[[Crataegus|hawthorn]] wood or clearing' or from ''hǣddrelēah'' meaning '[[Ericaceae|heather]] wood or clearing'.<ref>http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Devon/Hatherleigh</ref>

It hosts an arts festival in July,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hatherleighfestival.co.uk|title=Welcome to the Hatherleigh Festival Website|publisher=Hatherleigh Festival Website|access-date=16 December 2008}}</ref> and a carnival in November featuring two flaming tar barrel runs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hatherleigh.net/carnival_index.asp|title=Carnival Index Page|publisher=Hatherleigh.net|access-date=16 December 2008}}</ref> The Walruses meet on New Year's Day to jump into the [[River Lew]] to raise money for local good causes, this tradition which started in the 1980s came to end on 1 January 2018. An annual half-marathon called the Ruby Run takes place usually in June between Holsworthy and Hatherleigh, starting from each town in alternate years.

Hatherleigh Market has weekly sales of sheep, cattle and poultry with increased sales on Tuesdays. It is the [[List of towns and cities in Devon by population|smallest town in Devon]]. The market formally closed in February 2018 due to the site being sold to make way for a new housing development, the Tuesday pannier market continues and there will be provision and a new building in the development. In September 2019 the demolition of the site began as of March 2020 only one building of the market remains to temporary house the pannier market, the new development is moving at pace with many of the new buildings now rising from the ground.

Hatherleigh is home to two pubs, The Tally Ho and The George. The George was burned down in an arson attack on 23 December 2008 and has subsequently been rebuilt and re-opened in 2010. More than 100 firefighters from across the county were drafted in to help fight the blaze which was still burning well into the early hours of Christmas Eve. Hatherleigh also has a cafe, two hairdressers, craft shops, a beauty salon, a butcher, a newsagency, a vets, medical centre, a convenience shop and a petrol station.

The parish church is dedicated to St John the Baptist and has a western tower topped by a shingled spire. The spire was destroyed in the [[Burns' Day Storm]] of 1990 and a replica of the original now stands in its place. The nave and aisles are divided by granite arcades. The font is Norman and the original wagon roofs remain.<ref>Pevsner, N. (1952) ''North Devon''. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books; p. 96</ref> Since 2024, a disused vestry in the church grounds has housed a gymnasium.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walsh |first1=Simon |title=Church gym proves popular with fitness enthusiasts |url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2024/30-august/news/uk/church-gym-proves-popular-with-fitness-enthusiasts |website=Church Times |access-date=4 September 2024}}</ref>

An impressive obelisk one mile (1.6 km) east of the town commemorates Lt Col. [[William Morris (soldier)|William Morris]] (d. 1858 in India): it was built in 1860.<ref>Pevsner, N. (1952)</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM8FMW_William_Morris_Monument_Hatherleigh_Devon_UK|title=William Morris Monument, Hatherleigh, Devon, UK|publisher=Waymarking|access-date=18 April 2010}}</ref>

Hatherleigh was the beginning of the 7th stage of the [[Tour of Britain]] in September 2009 and record numbers turned out to watch the famous race begin. Hatherleigh had often been on the course of the Tour but this was the first time a stage had started in the town.

Hatherleigh saw the Olympic torch pass through the town on 21 May 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/olympic-torch-blazes-way-north-devon/story-16108483-detail/story.html|title=Olympic Torch Blazes Way Through North Devon|date=17 May 2012|access-date=16 October 2016|work=Express and Echo}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

There is an electoral ward with the same name. The population at the 2011 census was 2,218.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/hatherleigh-e05003645#sthash.YeUqXpaT.dpbs|title=Ward population 2011|access-date= 17 February 2015}}</ref>

There is no railway station within Hatherleigh's boundaries. However residents can use the nearby railway station in [[Okehampton]] now that the Dartmoor Line has reopened with regular services to Exeter.

The village is part of the [[Ruby Country]] which covers 45 [[parish]]es around the [[market towns]] of [[Holsworthy, Devon|Holsworthy]] and Hatherleigh. These two towns were at the centre of the [[2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth crisis|2001 Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak]], and although [[agriculture]] was directly affected, most local businesses suffered considerable financial hardship. As a result, the Ruby Country Initiative was established, a [[not for profit]] [[partnership]], to help create a more robust and sustainable local economy, and to create an identity for the area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome to the Ruby Country|url=http://www.therubycountry.com/|publisher=Ruby Country|access-date=5 July 2016}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

{{Devon}}
{{Devon parishes}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Devon]]
[[Category:Market towns in Devon]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Devon]]
[[Category:Borough of West Devon]]

Hatfield, Hertfordshire

2025-09-28T19:18:48Z

2A00:23C6:6993:3B01:FEDF:44FF:8C81:7B33:

{{Short description|Town in Hertfordshire, England}}
{{distinguish|Hatfield, Herefordshire | Hatfield, South Yorkshire}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| static_image_name = Hatfield House - the Old Palace - geograph.org.uk - 1839366.jpg
| static_image_caption = The Old Palace at [[Hatfield House]]
| country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|51|45|49|N|00|13|33|W|display=inline,title}}
| official_name = Hatfield
| population = 41,265
| population_ref = (2021 census)<ref name=ONS>{{Cite web |title=Hatfield (Hertfordshire, East of England, United Kingdom) – Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/eastofengland/hertfordshire/E35000502__hatfield/ |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=citypopulation.de}}</ref>
| civil_parish = Hatfield<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hatfield-herts.gov.uk/.|title=Hatfield Town Council -|date=2 November 2022 }}</ref>
| shire_district = [[Welwyn Hatfield]]
| shire_county = [[Hertfordshire]]
| region = East of England
| constituency_westminster = [[Welwyn Hatfield (UK Parliament constituency)|Welwyn Hatfield]]
| post_town = HATFIELD
| postcode_area = AL
| postcode_district = AL9, AL10
| dial_code = 01707
| os_grid_reference = TL2308
}}

'''Hatfield''' is a town and [[civil parish]] in [[Hertfordshire]], England, in the borough of [[Welwyn Hatfield]]. It had a population of 29,616 in 2001,<ref>{{cite web |title=Parish Headcounts: Welwyn Hatfield |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/viewFullDataset.do?instanceSelection=03070&productId=779&$ph=60_61&datasetInstanceId=3070&startColumn=1&numberOfColumns=8&containerAreaId=790423 |work=Neighbourhood Statistics |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=30 May 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907220827/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/viewFullDataset.do?instanceSelection=03070&productId=779&$ph=60_61&datasetInstanceId=3070&startColumn=1&numberOfColumns=8&containerAreaId=790423
|archive-date=7 September 2012}}</ref> 39,201 at the 2011 census,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11124314&c=Hatfield&d=16&e=62&g=6435399&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1477747303141&enc=1 |title=Town population 2011 |access-date=29 October 2016 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |work=Neighbourhood Statistics |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030003748/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11124314&c=Hatfield&d=16&e=62&g=6435399&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1477747303141&enc=1 |archive-date=30 October 2016}}</ref> and 41,265 at the 2021 census.<ref name=ONS/> The settlement is of [[Saxon]] origin. [[Hatfield House]], home of the [[Marquess of Salisbury]], forms the nucleus of the old town. From the 1930s when [[de Havilland]] opened a factory, until the 1990s when [[British Aerospace]] closed it, aircraft design and manufacture employed more people there than any other industry. Hatfield was one of the post-war [[New Towns Act 1946|New Towns]] built around London and has much [[International Style (architecture)|modernist architecture]] from the period. The [[University of Hertfordshire]] is based there.

Hatfield lies {{convert|20|mi|km|sigfig=1|abbr=off}} north of London beside the A1(M) motorway and has direct trains to [[London King's Cross railway station]], [[London St Pancras railway station]], [[Finsbury Park station|Finsbury Park]] and [[Moorgate station|Moorgate]]. There has been a strong increase in commuters who work in London moving into the area.<ref>{{cite news |title=Out of town but not out of touch |url=https://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/property-news/buying/hertfordshire-offers-the-best-of-both-worlds-for-north-londoners-looking-for-more-space-near-good-a112946.html |work=Evening Standard|location=London |access-date=16 February 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217083034/https://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/property-news/buying/hertfordshire-offers-the-best-of-both-worlds-for-north-londoners-looking-for-more-space-near-good-a112946.html |archive-date=17 February 2018}}</ref>

In 2022, TV property expert [[Phil Spencer (television personality)|Phil Spencer]] named Hatfield as the second best place to live for regular commuters to London, based on train times, house prices and the attractions the town has.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.moveiq.co.uk/blog/buying/commuter-towns-london/ | title=Best Commuter Towns London; 2022 Round-Up | date=16 March 2021 }}</ref> In 2024, World Bucket List named Hatfield as the fifth most boring place in the world.<ref name="m383">{{cite news | last=Beanland | first=Kristina | title=The 'underwhelming' UK town named one of the most boring places on Earth | work=Metro | date=21 September 2024 | url=https://metro.co.uk/2024/09/21/underwhelming-uk-town-named-one-boring-places-earth-2-21635892/ | access-date=4 March 2025}}</ref>

==History==
The name Hatfield derives from the [[Old English]] ''hǣðfeld'' meaning '[[Ericaceae|heath]] field'.<ref>http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Hertfordshire/Bishops%20Hatfield</ref>

In the early tenth century Hatfield belonged to a ''vir potens'' (powerful man) called Ordmær and his wife Ealde, who may have been the grandfather of King [[Edward the Martyr]]. Sometime between 932 and 956 he exchanged the town for land in Devon with [[Æthelstan Half-King]], who then gave it to his sons. King [[Edgar, King of England|Edgar]] seized the land when he became king on 959, claiming that Ordmær and Ealde had bequeathed it to him, but Æthelstan's sons recovered it after Edgar died.<ref>{{cite book| first=Cyril|last=Hart |title=The Danelaw|page=586 |publisher=The Hambledon Press |location = London, UK|year=1992|isbn= 978-1-85285-044-9 }}</ref> Hatfield is recorded in [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 as the property of the Abbey of Ely, and unusually the original census data that compilers of Domesday used survives, giving us slightly more information than in the final Domesday record.<ref>''Hatfield And Its People'', Workers Educational Association, 13 vols., 1959–1966</ref> No other records remain until 1226, when [[Henry III of England|Henry III]] granted the [[Bishop of Ely|Bishops of Ely]] rights to an annual four-day fair and a weekly market. The town was then called [[Bishop's Hatfield]].

Hatfield House is the seat of the [[Marquess of Salisbury|Cecil]] family, the Marquesses of Salisbury. [[Elizabeth I|Elizabeth Tudor]] was confined there for three years in what is now known as The Old Palace in Hatfield Park. Legend has it that she learnt here of her accession as queen in 1558 while sitting under an oak tree in the Park. She held her first Council in the Great Hall (The Old Palace) of Hatfield. In 1851 the route of the Great North Road (now the A1000) was altered to avoid cutting through the grounds of Hatfield House.

{|
|[[File:Hatfield St Etheldreda.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|[[St Etheldreda's Church, Hatfield|St Etheldreda's Church]] in [[Old Hatfield]].]]
|}

The town grew up around the gates of Hatfield House. Old Hatfield retains many historic buildings, notably the Old Palace, [[Æthelthryth|St Etheldreda]]'s Church and [[Hatfield House]]. The Old Palace was built by the Bishop of Ely, [[John Morton (archbishop)|Cardinal Morton]], in 1497, during the reign of [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]], and the only surviving wing is still used today for Elizabethan-style banquets.

[[St Etheldreda's Church, Hatfield|St Etheldreda's Church]] was founded by the monks from Ely, and the first wooden church, built in 1285, was probably sited where the existing building stands overlooking the old town.

The church of St Etheldreda, well situated towards the top of the hill, contains an Early English round arch with dog-tooth moulding, but for the rest is [[English Gothic architecture#Decorated Gothic|Decorated]] and [[English Gothic architecture#Perpendicular Gothic|Perpendicular]] and largely restored. The chapel north of the chancel is known as the Salisbury chapel and was erected by [[Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury]], who was buried here. It is in a combination of classic and Gothic styles. In a private portion of the churchyard is buried, among others of the family, [[Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury]].<ref>{{EB1911 |wstitle=Hatfield |volume=13 |page=62 |inline=1}}</ref>

===Aerospace industry===
[[File:Hatfield, The Comet hotel - geograph.org.uk - 209701.jpg|thumb|The Comet; the carving of the pillar is by [[Eric Kennington]]; the aircraft is not the original ]]

In 1930 the [[de Havilland]] [[Hatfield Aerodrome|airfield and aircraft factory]] was opened at Hatfield and by 1949 it had become the largest employer in the town, with almost 4,000 staff.<ref name=brett/> It was taken over by [[Hawker Siddeley]] in 1960 and merged into [[British Aerospace]] in 1978.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://hatfieldaviationheritage.co.uk/hatfield-aerodrome/ |title=Hatfield's Aviation Heritage » Hatfield Aerodrome |access-date=31 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503124104/http://hatfieldaviationheritage.co.uk/hatfield-aerodrome/ |archive-date=3 May 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the 1930s it produced a range of small biplanes. During the [[Second World War]] it produced the [[de Havilland Mosquito|Mosquito]] fighter bomber and developed the [[de Havilland Vampire|Vampire]], the second British production jet aircraft after the Gloster Meteor. After the war, facilities were expanded and it developed the [[de Havilland Comet|Comet]] airliner (the world's first production jet liner), the [[Hawker Siddeley Trident|Trident]] airliner, and an early [[bizjet]], the [[BAe 125|DH125]].

British Aerospace closed the Hatfield site in 1993 having moved the [[British Aerospace 146|BAe 146]] production line to [[Woodford Aerodrome]]. The land was used as a film set for [[Steven Spielberg]]'s movie ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]'' and most of the [[BBC]]/[[Home Box Office|HBO]] television drama ''[[Band of Brothers (TV miniseries)|Band of Brothers]]''. It was later developed for housing, higher education, commerce and retail.

Today, Hatfield's aviation history is remembered by the names of certain local streets and pubs (e. g. Comet Way, The Airfield, Dragon Road) as well as ''The Comet Hotel'' (now owned by Ramada) built in the 1930s. ''The Harrier Pub'' (formerly ''The Hilltop'') is actually named after the [[Harrier (bird)|Harrier bird]], not the aircraft, hence the original pub sign showing the bird. The [[de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre]], at Salisbury Hall in nearby London Colney, preserves and displays many historic de Havilland aeroplanes and related archives.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk/ |title=de Havilland Aircraft Museum |website=dehavillandmuseum.co.uk |language=en-US |access-date=2018-11-26}}</ref>

===New Town===
[[File:Hatfield New Town.jpg|thumb|Hatfield New Town centre, looking west along its axis.]]
The [[Patrick Abercrombie|Abercrombie Plan for London]] in 1944 proposed a [[New towns in the United Kingdom|New Town]] in Hatfield. It was designated in the [[New Towns Act 1946]] ([[9 & 10 Geo. 6]]. c. 68), forming part of the initial Hertfordshire group with nearby [[Stevenage]], [[Welwyn Garden City]] and [[Hemel Hempstead]]. The Government allocated {{convert|2340|acre|km2}} for Hatfield New Town, with a population target of 25,000.<ref name=brett>[[Lionel Brett, 4th Viscount Esher|Brett, Lionel]], ''Hatfield New Town'', Report of the Hatfield Development Corporation, 1949</ref> (By 2001 the population had reached 27,833.<ref>[http://www.hertsdirect.org/infobase/docs/pdfstore/tabKS01sett.pdf Office for National Statistics, 2001 Census, Key Statistics for HCC Settlements] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326085841/http://www.hertsdirect.org/infobase/docs/pdfstore/tabKS01sett.pdf |date=26 March 2009}}</ref>) The Hatfield Development Corporation, tasked with creating the New Town, chose to build a new town centre, rejecting Old Hatfield because it was on the wrong side of the railway, without space for expansion and "with its intimate village character, out of scale with the town it would have to serve."<ref name=brett/> They chose instead St Albans Road on the town's east–west bus route. A road pattern was planned that offered no temptation to through traffic to take short cuts through the town and which enabled local traffic to move rapidly.<ref name=brett/>

Hatfield retains New Town characteristics, including much modernist architecture of the 1950s and the trees and open spaces that were outlined in the original design. As of 2017, a redevelopment of the town centre was planned.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.welhat.gov.uk/htcplans |title=Hatfield Town Centre Redevelopment |website=welhat.gov.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825103646/http://www.welhat.gov.uk/htcplans |archive-date=25 August 2017 |access-date=24 August 2017 }}</ref>

==Governance==
[[File:Birchwood Leisure Centre.jpg|thumb|Birchwood Leisure Centre: Combined leisure centre and headquarters of town council.]]
There are three tiers of local government covering Hatfield, at parish, district and county level: Hatfield Town Council, [[Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council]] and [[Hertfordshire County Council]]. Hatfield Town Council has its offices and meeting place at the Birchwood Leisure Centre on Longmead. Hatfield town council is currently under a Labour administration.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hatfield Town Council |url=https://hatfield-herts.gov.uk/ |access-date=6 July 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Tudor House, St Albans Road, Hatfield.jpg|thumb|Old council offices, 16 St Albans Road East]]
From 1894 until 1974 the lower two tiers of local government were Hatfield Parish Council and [[Hatfield Rural District|Hatfield Rural District Council]]. The rural district council built itself a headquarters at 16 St Albans Road East in 1930.<ref>{{cite web |title=Percival Blow – List of Works |url=https://www.stalbanshistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Percival-Blow-List-of-Works-October-2019.pdf |website=St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society |access-date=6 July 2023 |date=October 2019}}</ref> The rural district council was abolished in 1974 and its powers transferred to Welwyn Hatfield.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hatfield Rural District |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10135424 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |access-date=6 July 2023}}</ref>

Hatfield is twinned with the Dutch port town of [[Zierikzee]]. Hatfield is part of the [[Welwyn Hatfield (UK Parliament constituency)|Welwyn Hatfield constituency]], which also includes [[Welwyn Garden City]]. The [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|member of parliament]] (MP) for Welwyn Hatfield is [[Andrew Lewin]], of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]].

==Sport==
[[Hatfield Town F.C.]] plays [[Non-League football]] at Gosling Sports Park. The [[Welwyn Garden City Hockey Club]] are a field hockey club based in Hatfield.

Hatfield Athletic Football Club competes in the Herts Senior County League and plays its games at Lemsford.<ref>[http://www.hatfieldathleticfc.com Retrieved 9 June 2019.]</ref>

The town has a public swimming pool and four sports/leisure centres (two with indoor swimming pools).

==Climate==
Hatfield experiences an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfb'') like most of the United Kingdom.

{{Weather box
|location = Hatfield
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan high C = 8
|Feb high C = 9
|Mar high C = 12
|Apr high C = 14
|May high C = 18
|Jun high C = 21
|Jul high C = 23
|Aug high C = 23
|Sep high C = 20
|Oct high C = 16
|Nov high C = 11
|Dec high C = 8
|year high C = 15
|Jan low C = 5
|Feb low C = 5
|Mar low C = 6
|Apr low C = 8
|May low C = 10
|Jun low C = 13
|Jul low C = 15
|Aug low C = 16
|Sep low C = 13
|Oct low C = 11
|Nov low C = 8
|Dec low C = 5
|year low C = 10
|Jan precipitation mm = 50.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 39.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 31.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 46.2
|May precipitation mm = 38.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 46.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 33.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 43.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 49.7
|Oct precipitation mm = 70.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 58.1
|Dec precipitation mm = 56.9
|year precipitation mm = 565.9
|source 1 =<ref>{{cite web |url=http://weather.msn.com/monthly_averages.aspx?wealocations=wc:7401727&q=Hatfield%2c+GBR+forecast:averagesm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129190427/http://weather.msn.com/monthly_averages.aspx?wealocations=wc:7401727&q=Hatfield,+GBR+forecast:averagesm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-29 |title=Averages for Hatfield }}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

==Culture and recreation==
[[File:Hatfield Galleria exterior.jpg|thumb|The south wing of The Galleria with the connecting bridge on the right of the photograph, viewed from its north wing.]]
[[File:tmob hatfield.jpg|thumb|right|[[EE (telecommunications)|EE]] Head Office in Hatfield Business Park.]]
[[File:07-11-05 Hatfield 50.jpg|thumb|right|The memorial garden built alongside the [[East Coast Main Line]].]]
[[File:Hatfield railway station.jpg|thumb|right|Hatfield railway station viewed from the public footbridge.]]
[[File:Hatfield GascoyneCecil statue.jpg|thumb|Statue of [[Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury]] in front of the park gates of Hatfield House.]]

Hatfield has a nine-screen [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon cinema]], a stately home (Hatfield House), a museum (Mill Green Museum), a contemporary art gallery (Art and Design Gallery), a theatre (The Weston Auditorium) and a music venue (The Forum Hertfordshire). There are shopping centres in the new town: the Galleria (indoor shopping centre), The Stable Yard (Hatfield House), and three supermarkets (ASDA, ALDI and Tesco). In 2022, Hatfield held its first vegan market, an event held in a number of English towns, at [[Hatfield House]] and now holds the market each June and November.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vegan Market Co {{!}} Hatfield |url=https://www.veganmarkets.co.uk/location/hatfield |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=veganmarkets |language=en |archive-date=6 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606133816/https://www.veganmarkets.co.uk/location/hatfield |url-status=dead }}</ref> During [[Veganuary]] in 2023, students at the [[University of Hertfordshire]] organized their own vegan market.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-04 |title=University of Hertfordshire students to celebrate Veganuary with a plant-based market |url=https://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/23227514.hatfield-university-support-veganuary-plant-based-market/ |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=Welwyn Hatfield Times |language=en}}</ref>

==Education==
Hatfield contains numerous primary and secondary schools, including St Philip Howard Catholic Primary School, Howe Dell Primary School, Countess Anne School, [[Onslow St Audrey's School]], [[Bishop's Hatfield Girls' School]] and the independent day and private boarding girls' school [[Queenswood School]] (only to name a few).

In addition to the important areas in the town, the [[University of Hertfordshire]] is also included by many. A large section of the airfield site was purchased by the university and the £120-million [[University of Hertfordshire|de Havilland Campus]], incorporating a £15-million Sports Village, was opened in September 2003. The university has closed its sites at [[Watford]] and [[Hertford]]; faculties situated there have been moved to the de Havilland Campus.

The equine branch of the [[Royal Veterinary College]] is based in Hatfield.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rvc.ac.uk/equine-vet |title=RVC Equine |publisher=[[Royal Veterinary College]] |access-date=1 April 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401213354/https://www.rvc.ac.uk/equine-vet |archive-date=1 April 2018}}</ref>

==Places of interest==
*[[Hatfield House]]
*[[Hatfield War Memorial]]
*The Forum Hertfordshire (music venue) [[University of Hertfordshire]]. In 2011, the music video for [[Ed Sheeran]]'s Lego House, featuring [[Harry Potter]]'s [[Rupert Grint]], was filmed in Hatfield. Filming took place at The Forum venue, located on University of Hertfordshire, College Lane campus. Filming of the video took place during Sheeran's performance at the venue on 8 October 2011. Many students were involved during filming, as they made up most of the audience at the Forum that day.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/ed_sheeran_and_rupert_grint_shoot_lego_house_video_at_forum_hertfordshire_in_hatfield_1_1117402 |title=Ed Sheeran and Rupert Grint shoot Lego House video at Forum Hertfordshire in Hatfield |last=Logan |first=Ross |work=Welwyn Hatfield Times |date=4 November 2011 |access-date=2016-09-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128112552/http://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/ed_sheeran_and_rupert_grint_shoot_lego_house_video_at_forum_hertfordshire_in_hatfield_1_1117402 |archive-date=28 January 2017}}.</ref>
*[[Mill Green Museum]] and watermill
*Art and Design Gallery (contemporary art gallery) [[University of Hertfordshire]]
*The Weston Auditorium (theatre and cinema) [[University of Hertfordshire]]
*The Galleria<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thegalleria.co.uk/ |title=The Galleria – Outlet Shopping in Hertfordshire |website=thegalleria.co.uk |access-date=1 May 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409205505/https://thegalleria.co.uk/ |archive-date=9 April 2018}}</ref>
*Hatfield Business Park, the former de Havilland plant, later BAE Systems Hatfield, was used as a location for ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]'' (film) and ''[[Band of Brothers (TV miniseries)|Band of Brothers]]'' (TV series).

==Transport==
Hatfield is {{convert|20|mi|km}} to the north of [[North London|London]]. It is {{convert|14|mi|km}} from [[London Luton Airport]]. The [[A1(M) motorway#A1.28M.29|A1(M)]] runs through a tunnel beneath the town, which is also close to the [[M25 motorway|M25]].

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries it was the northern terminus of the [[Hatfield and Reading Turnpike]] that allowed travelers from the north to continue their journey to the west without going through the congestion of London.

The East Coast railway line from London to [[York]] runs through the town, separating the old and new parts. A commuter service connects [[Hatfield railway station]] to [[London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross]]. A new railway station and car park opened in late 2015. The frequent train service runs direct from Hatfield Station to London King's Cross (21 minutes) via Finsbury Park (16 minutes, Victoria Underground Line) on fast trains running two or three times an hour. An additional train service calls at all stations to Moorgate in the City of London.

Hatfield is well served by buses with regular services to all nearby towns and villages and as far as north London. Bus services are run by [[Uno (bus company)|Uno]], Arriva and Centrebus who are all part of the local Intalink Partnership.

The [[Hatfield rail crash]] occurred in October 2000, which brought track-maintenance deficiencies to public attention.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1482439/Hatfield-crash-was-disaster-waiting-to-happen.html |title=Hatfield crash 'was disaster waiting to happen' |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=31 January 2005 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210181641/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1482439/Hatfield-crash-was-disaster-waiting-to-happen.html |archive-date=10 February 2018}}</ref> A garden beside the [[East Coast Main Line]] was built as a memorial to the crash victims.

==Local media==
The local TV stations are [[BBC London]] & [[ITV London]], received from the [[Crystal Palace transmitting station|Crystal Palace]] TV transmitter and the Hemel Hempstead relay 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=2 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Hemel_Hempstead|title=Full Freeview on the Hemel Hempstead (Hertfordshire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=2 October 2023}}</ref> [[BBC East]] and [[ITV Anglia]] are also received from the [[Sandy Heath transmitting station|Sandy Heath]] TV transmitter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Sandy_Heath|title=Full Freeview on the Sandy Heath (Central Bedfordshire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=2 October 2023}}</ref>

Local radio stations are [[BBC Three Counties Radio]] on 90.4 FM, [[Heart Hertfordshire]] on 106.9 and [[Radio Verulam]] on 92.6 FM.

The Welwyn Hatfield Times is the town's local weekly newspaper.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-eang/welwyn-hatfield-times/|title=Welwyn Hatfield Times|date=21 October 2013|website=British Papers|accessdate=2 October 2023}}</ref>

==Notable residents==
===Business===
*[[Michael Birch (businessman)|Michael Birch]] (born 1970), founder of the social network [[BEBO]], lived in Hatfield.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shead |first=Sam |date=2017-02-21 |title=The incredible life of Mike Birch, the Brit who sold Bebo for $850 million before buying it back for $1 million |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/incredible-life-of-bebo-cofounder-mike-birch-2017-7#michael-birch-was-born-in-sawston-cambridgeshire-on-july-7-1970-that-makes-him-47-years-old-1 |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Geoffrey de Havilland]] (1882–1965), founder of De Havilland Aircraft Company<ref>{{Cite book |last=Havilland |first=Sir Geoffrey De |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_vcfAQAAIAAJ |title=Sky Fever: The Autobiography of Sir Geoffrey de Havilland |date=1999 |publisher=Airlife |isbn=978-1-84037-148-2 |pages=154 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Jack Olding]] (Henry John Douglas Olding, fl. mid-20th c.), wartime tank and tractor importer, came from Hatfield.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jack Olding and Company |url=http://www.hatfield-herts.co.uk/features/olding.html |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=www.hatfield-herts.co.uk}}</ref>

===Music and dance===
*[[Babe Ruth (band)|Babe Ruth]], a 1970s rock band, came from Hatfield.<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Babe+Ruth Discogs Babe Ruth] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621134713/http://www.discogs.com/artist/Babe+Ruth |date=21 June 2008 }}; [http://www.bobbyshred.com/baberuth.html Bobby Shred's Babe Ruth Tribute Page.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060114171826/http://www.bobbyshred.com/baberuth.html |date=14 January 2006}}</ref>
*[[Colin Blunstone]] (born 1945), of [[the Zombies]] lived in Hatfield.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Colin Blunstone Biography, Songs, & Albums |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/colin-blunstone-mn0000776562/biography |access-date=2023-06-18 |publisher=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Martin Carthy]] (born 1941), folk musician, was born in Hatfield.<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book |title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]] |date=1997 |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |isbn=1-85227-745-9 |editor=Colin Larkin |editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer) |edition=Concise |page=236}}</ref>
*[[Sandra Conley]] (born 1943), principal dancer with the Royal Ballet.<ref name=ODD>{{cite web |title=Sandra Conley |url=http://www.answers.com/topic/sandra-conley|website=The Oxford Dictionary of Dance |access-date=29 October 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112042257/http://www.answers.com/topic/sandra-conley |archive-date=12 November 2014}}</ref>
*[[Donovan]] (born 1946), folk musician, moved to Hatfield at the age of 10 and spent the rest of his childhood there.<ref name=donovan>{{cite book |last=Donovan |first=Leitch |title=The Hurdy Gurdy Man|year=2006 |publisher=Arrow |isbn=978-0-09948703-6 |page=16}}</ref>
*[[Barbara Gaskin]] (born 1950), pop singer, No. 1 with "[[It's My Party]]".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barbara Gaskin biography |url=https://davebarb.com/dsbgbarb.html |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin |language=en}}</ref>
*[[George Martin]] (1926–2016), record producer for [[the Beatles]], lived in Hatfield in the 1950s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Womack |first1=Kenneth |title=Maximum Volume: The Life of Beatles Producer George Martin, The Early Years, 1926–1966 |date=1 September 2017 |publisher=Chicago Review Press |isbn=978-1-61373-192-5 |page=37 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z6nGDgAAQBAJ |access-date=14 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Alan Shacklock]] (born 1950), pop musician and record producer, lived in Hatfield.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Larkin |first=Colin |title=The encyclopedia of popular music |date=2006 |publisher=Muze Oxford University press |isbn=978-0-19-531373-4 |edition=4 |location=New York |pages=337 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Sal Solo]] (Christopher Scott Stevens, born 1961), rock singer, was born in Hatfield.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sal Solo: Veteran hitmaker shows there's life after "San Damiano" – Sal Solo |url=https://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Sal_Solo_Veteran_hitmaker_shows_theres_life_after_San_Damiano/36482/p1/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=crossrhythms.co.uk}}</ref>
*[[Mick Taylor]] (born 1949), [[Rolling Stones]] guitarist 1969–1974, grew up in Hatfield.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jim Sheridan |title=Mick Taylor Re-examined, Part 1 |url=http://micktaylor.net/MT_re-examinedp1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030803005046/http://micktaylor.net/MT_re-examinedp1.htm |archive-date=3 August 2003}}</ref>
*[[Tracey Thorn]] (born 1962), lead singer of [[Everything But The Girl]], was born in Hatfield,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Metro |first=Claire Allfree for |date=2013-02-04 |title=Tracey Thorn: I moan a lot, don't I? |url=https://metro.co.uk/2013/02/04/tracey-thorn-i-dont-think-i-ever-came-up-with-a-good-way-to-be-myself-and-be-a-pop-star-3379015/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Metro |language=en}}</ref> and attended [[Bishop's Hatfield Girls' School]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |date=2015-04-21 |title=Carol Morley and Tracey Thorn: "Girls' schools? They're a hotpot of urges" |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/apr/21/carol-morley-tracey-thorn-the-falling |access-date=2025-03-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

===Politics, nobility and royalty===
*[[Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury]] (c. 1563–1612), statesman<ref>{{Cite web |title=HATFIELD HOUSE, Hatfield - 1173363 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1173363?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Robert Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury]] (1830–1903), Conservative politician, lived at [[Hatfield House]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cataldo |first=Sarah |date=2023-07-14 |title=The Oak House through the ages |url=https://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/latest-news/the-oak-house-through-the-ages/ |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Hatfield Park |language=en-GB}}</ref> and was buried at St Etheldreda Church.
*[[Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury]] (1893–1972), Conservative politician<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Todd |first=Alexander Robertus |date=1973-12-01 |title=Robert Arthur James Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury, 1893-1972 |url=https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbm.1973.0022 |journal=Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society |volume=19 |pages=621–627 |doi=10.1098/rsbm.1973.0022|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
*[[William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne]] (1779–1848), prime minister, was buried at St Etheldreda Church.
*[[Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston]] (1784–1865), prime minister<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bulwer |first=Henry Lytton |url=https://ia600405.us.archive.org/26/items/lifeofhenryjohnt03dall/lifeofhenryjohnt03dall.pdf |title=The Life of Henry John Temple, Viscount Palmerston: With Selections from His Diaries and Correspondence |date=1874 |publisher=J. B. Lippincott & Company |volume=III |pages=406 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Elizabeth Tudor]] (1533–1603), future queen, lived at Hatfield House (Hatfield Old Palace)<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - History - Elizabeth I: An Overview |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/tudors/elizabeth_i_01.shtml |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>
*[[Malcolm Wicks]] (1947–2012), [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] politician and Minister for Energy, was born in Hatfield.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-10-01 |title=Malcolm Wicks |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/politics-obituaries/9580005/Malcolm-Wicks.html |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027031317/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/politics-obituaries/9580005/Malcolm-Wicks.html |archive-date=2023-10-27 |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=The Daily Telegraph |language=en}}</ref>

===Religion===
*[[Walter Curle]] (1575–1647), [[Bishop of Winchester]] and a close supporter of [[William Laud]], was born in Hatfield.<ref>{{acad|id=CRL592W|name=Curle, Walter}}</ref>
*[[John Morton (archbishop)|John Morton]] (c. 1420–1500), Cardinal and [[Bishop of Ely]], built Hatfield Old Palace.<ref>Bentham, J. (1771). ''The History and Antiquities of the Conventual and Cathedral Church of Ely''. Cambridge University Press. p. 181.</ref>

===Science and scholarship===
*[[L. H. Sumanadasa]] (1910–1986), aviator and university founder, learned to fly at Hatfield.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hatfield-herts.co.uk/aviation/sumanadasa.html |title=Dr Lokusatu Heva Sumanadasa – pilot, engineer and educator |publisher=hatfield-herts.co.uk|access-date=25 December 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508014351/http://www.hatfield-herts.co.uk/aviation/sumanadasa.html|archive-date=8 May 2012}}</ref>
*[[John Tradescant the elder]] (c. 1570s–1638), botanist, gardener and naturalist, was head gardener at Hatfield House<ref name="Vauxhall Society 2012">{{cite web |date=28 January 2012 |title=Tradescant family |url=https://vauxhallhistory.org/tradescant-family/ |access-date=17 February 2023 |publisher=The Vauxhall Society}}</ref>
*[[Michael Ventris]] (1922–1956), deciphered [[Linear B]] script, died in Hatfield in a motor accident<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chadwick |first=John |title=The decipherment of Linear B |pages=3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Robinson |first=Andrew |title=The man who deciphered Linear B |pages=150–152}}</ref>

===Sports===
*[[Keith Abbis]] (born 1932), [[Brighton and Hove Albion]] footballer<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barry Hugman's Footballers |url=http://barryhugmansfootballers.com/player/6 |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=barryhugmansfootballers.com}}</ref>
*[[Samir Carruthers]] (born 1993), [[Sheffield United]] footballer, lived in Hatfield.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Samir turns down Arsenal but signs for Aston Villa instead |url=http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/Home/Samir-turns-down-Arsenal-but-signs-for-Aston-Villa-instead.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125015648/http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/Home/Samir-turns-down-Arsenal-but-signs-for-Aston-Villa-instead.htm |archive-date=2013-01-25 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Hertfordshire Mercury |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Matthew Connolly]] (born 1987), QPR defender, lived and attended primary school in Hatfield.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-03-27 |title=Connolly reveals Hornets attempted to sign him in January |url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/11883640.matthew-connolly-says-watford-initially-attempted-to-sign-him-on-loan-from-cardiff-city-in-january-but-is-happy-to-finally-be-a-hornet/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Watford Observer |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Iain Dowie]] (born 1965), West Ham player, QPR manager & BBC pundit, was born and raised in Hatfield and studied mechanical engineering at the [[University of Hertfordshire]].<ref>{{cite news |date=1 August 2003 |title=Profile: Iain Dowie |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/46fc2508-380a-426a-9469-7f0d17dd3525 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930194134/https://www.thetimes.com/article/46fc2508-380a-426a-9469-7f0d17dd3525 |archive-date=30 September 2024 |access-date=30 September 2024 |work=[[The Times]] |location=London}}</ref>
*[[Valentine Faithfull]] (1820–1894), first-class cricketer and clergyman, was born in Hatfield.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002 |url=https://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/fells_indexp1.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124115814/https://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/fells_indexp1.pdf |archive-date=2013-01-24 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=The Royal Society of Edinburgh |page=302 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Rodney Marsh (footballer)|Rodney Marsh]] (born 1944), [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|QPR]] footballer, is from Hatfield.<ref>{{Citation |last=Marsh |first=Rodney |title=Priceless |pages=1 |year=2001 |publisher=[[Headline Publishing Group|Headline]] |language=en |isbn=0-7553-1000-4 |ref=CITEREFMarsh2001 |author2=Alex Henderson}}</ref>
*[[Francis Pember]] (1862–1954), first-class cricketer, was born in Hatfield.<ref name="BOOK">{{cite book |last1=Dauglish |first1=M. G. |url=https://archive.org/details/harrowschoolregi00harruoft/page/510/mode/2up?view=theater |title=The Harrow School Register, 1800-1911 |last2=Stephenson |first2=P. K. |publisher=[[Longman|Longmans, Green, and Co.]] |year=1911 |edition=3 |location=[[London]] |page=511 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Billy Joe Saunders]] (born 1989), [[WBO]] middleweight world champion boxer<ref>{{Cite news |last=Addley |first=Esther |date=2008-08-03 |title=Going for gold: young Gypsy keeps up a family tradition |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/aug/04/olympicgames2008.olympicsboxing |access-date=2025-03-10 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
*[[Korey Smith]] (born 1991) [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] footballer was born and grew up in Hatfield<ref>{{Cite web |title=Korey Smith |url=http://barryhugmansfootballers.com/player/25364 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Barry Hugman's Footballers}}</ref>

===Stage, media and film===
*[[Sanjeev Bhaskar]] (born 1963), comedian and broadcaster, lived in Hatfield whilst studying at [[University of Hertfordshire|Hatfield Polytechnic]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Lacey |first=Hester |date=2 May 2014 |title=The Inventory: Sanjeev Bhaskar |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e464b256-d002-11e3-a2b7-00144feabdc0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716235944/https://www.ft.com/content/e464b256-d002-11e3-a2b7-00144feabdc0 |archive-date=16 July 2019 |access-date=13 June 2020 |newspaper=[[Financial Times]]|location=London}}</ref>
*[[John Cazabon]] (1914–1983), actor on stage, screen and radio, was born in Hatfield.<ref>{{cite news |date=31 August 1910 |title=Amusements |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164342717 |accessdate=1 August 2020 |newspaper=[[The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser]] |location=New South Wales, Australia |page=47 |language=en |via=National Library of Australia |volume=XC |issue=2547}}</ref>
*[[Pippa Haywood]] (born 1961), television, stage and radio actress, was born in Hatfield.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pippa Haywood - Biography |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0371846/bio/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Diane-Louise Jordan]] (born 1960), television presenter, grew up in Hatfield.<ref name="Times">{{cite news |last=Renshaw |first=Rosalind |date=15 April 2008 |title=Working relationship: Diane-Louise Jordan, the television presenter, and her right-hand man, Robin Major |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/career_and_jobs/article3751788.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611165807/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/career_and_jobs/article3751788.ece |archive-date=11 June 2011 |accessdate=7 February 2010 |work=[[The Times]] |location=London}}</ref>
*[[David Kossoff]] (1919–2005), broadcaster and father of [[Paul Kossoff]] of the 1960s rock band [[Free (band)|Free]], lived in Hatfield.<ref>{{cite web |title=David Kossoff |url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/6381 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113185937/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/6381 |archive-date=2009-01-13 |publisher=British Film Institute}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2005-03-24 |title=Drug abuse campaigning actor dies |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/beds/bucks/herts/4378131.stm |access-date=2024-09-30 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
*[[Derek Martin]] (born 1933), actor known especially for role of [[Charlie Slater]] in ''[[EastEnders]]''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-01-21 |title=EastEnders star from Hatfield is alive and kicking despite dramatic exit |url=https://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/22498980.eastenders-star-hatfield-alive-kicking-despite-dramatic-exit/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Welwyn Hatfield Times |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Gerry Northam]] (born 1947), radio presenter and investigative journalist, was born in Hatfield.
*[[Guy Ritchie]] (born 1968), film director famous for ''[[Snatch (film)|Snatch]]'' and ''[[Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels]]'', was born in Hatfield.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=201267 |title=Guy Ritchie Biography |publisher=[[The Biography Channel]] |access-date=12 December 2007 |archive-date=16 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316042127/http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=201267 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[Letitia Dean]], born in Hatfield.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-18 |title=5 people you didn't know were from Welwyn Hatfield |url=https://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/22355166.5-people-didnt-know-welwyn-hatfield/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Welwyn Hatfield Times |language=en}}</ref>

===Writing===
*[[Moniza Alvi]] (born 1954), poet and writer, grew up in Hatfield.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Moniza Alvi |url=https://poetryarchive.org/poet/moniza-alvi/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Poetry Archive |language=en-GB}}</ref>
*[[Barbara Cartland]] (1901–2000), author of romances, lived in Hatfield.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Malvern |first=Jack Malvern |date=2016-10-14 |title=Beatrix Potter was a stranger to wilderness |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/potter-was-a-stranger-to-natural-landscapes-0v0jv0ssl |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=[[The Times]] |language=en |quote=Potter’s grandparents lived at Camfield Place, Hertfordshire, later the home of the novelist Barbara Cartland.}}</ref>
*[[Geoffrey Drage]] (1860–1955), non-fiction writer and politician, was born in Hatfield.
*[[Nathaniel Lee]] (c. 1653–1692), poet and playwright, was born in Hatfield, where his father was rector.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr. Richard Lee of Hatfield, and his son, Richard Lee, of Essendon |url=https://www.stalbanshistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/1901_02_01_1.pdf |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society |language=en}}</ref>

==Nearby towns and villages==
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Bell Bar]]
*[[Borehamwood]]
*[[Brookmans Park]]
*[[Colney Heath]]
*[[Hertford]]
*[[Lemsford]], village within Hatfield civil parish
*[[Letty Green]]
*[[London Colney]]
*[[Newgate Street, Hertfordshire|Newgate Street]], village within Hatfield civil parish
*[[Potters Bar]]
*[[St Albans]]
*[[Stevenage]]
*[[Watford]]
*[[Welham Green]]
*[[Welwyn Garden City]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
*[[Council of Hatfield]]
* {{wikivoyage inline|Hatfield}}
{{Commons category|Hatfield, Hertfordshire}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Hertfordshire}}
{{Civil parishes of Hertfordshire}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hatfield, Hertfordshire| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:Planned communities in England]]
[[Category:Planned communities established in the 1940s]]

Great Torrington

2025-09-28T18:00:09Z

2A00:23C6:6993:3B01:FEDF:44FF:8C81:7B33: /* History */

{{Short description|Town in Devon, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox UK place
|official_name= Great Torrington
|static_image_name= Town hall torrington 050416.jpg
|static_image_caption= [[Great Torrington Town Hall]] in the centre of the town
|static_image_2_name= Escutcheon of Great Torrington Town Council.svg
|static_image_2_caption= Coat of arms
|static_image_2_width= 80px
|country = England
|coordinates = {{coord|50.953|-4.141|display=inline,title}}
|shire_district= [[Torridge District|Torridge]]
|shire_county = [[Devon]]
|region= South West England
|post_town= TORRINGTON
|postcode_district= EX38
|postcode_area= EX
|dial_code= 01805
|os_grid_reference= SS4919
|population = 5,953
|population_ref = (2021 Census)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/southwestengland/devon/E63006277__great_torrington/ | title=Great Torrington (Devon, South West England, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information }}</ref>
|constituency_westminster=[[Torridge and Tavistock (UK Parliament constituency)| Torridge and Tavistock]]
}}

'''Great Torrington''' (often abbreviated to '''Torrington''', though the villages of [[Little Torrington]] and [[Black Torrington]] are situated in the same region) is a [[market town]] in [[Devon]], England. Parts of it are sited on high ground with steep drops down to the [[River Torridge]] below, with the lower-lying parts of the town prone to occasional [[flood]]ing. Torrington is in the centre of Tarka Country, a landscape captured by [[Henry Williamson]] in his novel ''[[Tarka the Otter]]'' in 1927. Great Torrington has one of the most active volunteering communities in the United Kingdom.<ref>Edwards, Goodwin and Woods (2003), Citizenship, community and participation in small towns: a case study of regeneration partnerships, in Imrie and Raco (eds), Urban Renaissance?: New Labour, community and urban policy, Policy Press, Bristol</ref>

In July 2019, Great Torrington was reported to be the healthiest place to live in Britain. Researchers from the [[University of Liverpool]] found that the area had low levels of pollution, good access to green space and health services, along with few retail outlets.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jul/01/soho-is-britains-unhealthiest-place-to-live-study-finds|title=Soho is Britain's unhealthiest place to live, study finds|last=Badshah|first=Nadeem|date=2019-07-01|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-07-01|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:(Castle Hill, Torrington, England) (LOC) (16333586239).jpg|thumb|"Castle Hill, Torrington, England", ca. 1890 – 1900]]
[[File:Alderman Nathaniel Chapple, Mayor of Torrington (1871, 1879 & 1889).jpg|thumb|upright|''Alderman Nathaniel Chapple, Mayor of Torrington (1871, 1879 & 1889)'' by [[Henry Jamyn Brooks]] ]]

There were Iron Age and medieval castles and forts in Torrington, located on the [[Castle Hill, Torrington|Castle Hill]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news/huntshaw-hill-fort-is-safe-but-other-historic-north-devon-sites-threatened-1-4765663|title=Huntshaw Hill Fort is 'Safe', but Other Historic North Devon Sites Threatened|access-date=15 August 2017|newspaper=North Devon Gazette|date=7 November 2016}}</ref>

The name of the town derives from that of the [[River Torridge]] plus the [[Old English]] ''tūn'' meaning 'settlement'.<ref>http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Devon/Great%20Torrington</ref>

Great Torrington had strategic significance in the [[English Civil War]]. In the [[Battle of Torrington]] (1646), the [[roundhead|Parliamentarians]], led by [[Sir Thomas Fairfax]], swept into the town and defeated [[Ralph Hopton, 1st Baron Hopton|Lord Hopton]]'s forces. This marked the end of [[Cavalier|Royalist]] resistance in the [[West Country]]. Today the town is recognised as an important heritage centre for the history of the 17th century, and its people can often be seen dressed in [[costume]] for historical [[Historical reenactment|re-enactment]]s, [[festival]]s and [[celebration (party)|celebrations]]. An interactive Civil War Experience, "Torrington 1646", used to mark the town's historically important role.
The Torrington jail was not big enough for more than one man so the Royalists kept all the Parliamentarian prisoners in the church. Then 70 barrels of gunpowder exploded and killed everyone held captive and many of their captors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bcw-project.org/military/english-civil-war/west-country/battle-of-torrington|title=Battle of Torrington|publisher=British Civil War Project|access-date=16 December 2021}}</ref> [[Great Torrington Town Hall]], a [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical style]] building, was completed in 1861.<ref>{{NHLE|desc= Town Hall, High Street|num= 1332997|access-date=16 December 2021}}</ref>

===Railway===
{{main article|Torrington railway station}}
[[File:Torringtonstation.jpg|thumb|right|Torrington station on 15 June 1969 looking towards Bideford]]
The branch line from [[Barnstaple railway station|Barnstaple]] to [[Bideford railway station|Bideford]] was extended to Great Torrington in July 1872 by the [[London and South Western Railway]], which built a railway station and [[motive power depot|locomotive depot]] in the town. The station was always named 'Torrington', not 'Great Torrington'.

The locomotive depot was closed in 1959 and the line was closed to passenger traffic as part of the [[Beeching Axe]]. It was closed to goods traffic in 1984. At the site of the old station there is still in 2015 a pub named ''The Puffing Billy''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.devon.gov.uk/torrington_to_meeth |title=Torrington to Meeth |access-date=2015-03-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402095548/http://www.devon.gov.uk/torrington_to_meeth |archive-date=2 April 2015 }}</ref> A few small sections of track remain, but most has been removed and replaced with a combined foot and cycle path as part of the [[Tarka Trail]]. The Tarka Trail continues to Bideford, Barnstaple and on to Braunton in one direction, and to Meeth in the other, making {{convert|32|mi|km}} of traffic free trail.
[[File:Torringtonviaduct.jpg|thumb|right|The narrow gauge wooden viaduct over the Torridge in 1905]]
[[File:Great torrington map1937.jpg|thumb|right|Great Torrington in 1937]]

==Descent of the manor==
The manor of Great Torrington was granted by [[Mary I of England|Queen Mary]] to [[James Bassett (clergy)|James Basset]] (1526–1558),<ref name="Alexander, p.64">Alexander, p.64</ref> [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]], a younger son of [[Sir John Bassett]] (1462 – 31 Jan 1529) of [[Umberleigh]]. James's son Philip Bassett sold it to Sir John Fortescue ({{circa|1531}}–1607) of Ponsbourne,<ref name="Alexander, p.64"/> near [[Hatfield, Hertfordshire|Hatfield]], Hertfordshire, the eldest son of [[Adrian Fortescue (martyr)|Sir Adrian Fortescue]] (1476–1539), descended from Richard Fortescue, younger brother of [[Henry Fortescue (Lord Chief Justice)|Henry Fortescue]] ([[fl.]] 1426), [[Chief Justice of the Common Pleas|Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas]] in Ireland and of [[John Fortescue (judge)|Sir John Fortescue]] (ca. 1394–1480), [[Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales]].<ref>Vivian, Heralds' Visitation of Devon, 1895, p.353</ref> [[Denys Rolle (1614–1638)|Denys Rolle]] (1614–1638) of nearby [[Stevenstone]] in the parish of [[St Giles in the Wood]], acquired the [[Lord of the manor|lordship of the manor]] of Great Torrington from his descendant Sir William Fortescue.<ref name="Alexander, p.64"/> Denys Rolle (1614–1638) founded the [[Charity school|Bluecoat School]] in Torrington<ref>Alexander, J.J. & Hooper, W.R., History of Great Torrington, Sutton, 1948, p.64</ref> The fountain and clock in the square were given in 1870 by [[Mark Rolle]] (1835–1907)<ref name="Alexander, p.64"/> A number of family portraits were given to the town by the heirs of Mark Rolle, some of which remain on display in the Great Torrington Town Hall, some of the more valuable ones having been sold, including a portrait of [[John Rolle Walter]] (c.1714–1779) by [[Pompeo Batoni]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/exeter-wins-bid-to-save-rolle-s-portrait-7389882|title=Exeter wins bid to save Rolle's portrait|newspaper=Exeter Journal|date=17 November 2008|access-date=16 December 2021}}</ref>

== Torrington Common ==

'''Torrington Common''' is an area of [[common land]] which surrounds the town on all but the eastern side. The common is administered by a body called "The Commons Conservators". The Common covers {{convert|365|acres|0|abbr=on}} and has over {{convert|20|mi|0|abbr=off}} of public rights of way. The landscape features a variety of habitats, flora and fauna.

=== History of the common ===

An "area of waste called the Common" was donated to the town in 1194 by the [[English feudal barony|feudal baron of Great Torrington]]. In 1889, the rights to this land were transferred by an [[act of parliament|Act of Parliament]] to an elected "Committee of Conservators". The bill was subject of a local poll, as the document now at Devon Record Office evidences:<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Devon Record Office|year=1889|title= 48/22/13/9 Contents: Great Torrington|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/A2A/records.aspx?cat=027-4822&cid=-1#-1}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|Poll of inhabitants on "A Bill for Vesting the Management of Great Torrington Common, Castle Hill Common and other lands in the Borough of Great Torrington in the County of Devon in a Body of Conservators and to settle questions between the Commoners of Great Torrington and the Owners of the Rolle Estate and for other purposes".}}

The Rolle Estate was the largest landowner in Devon,<ref>See [[Mark Rolle]], life tenant of the Rolle Estate under the will of [[John Rolle, 1st Baron Rolle]]</ref> having been built up by the Rolle family of [[Stevenstone]]. Since 2 October 1889 the Conservators have met regularly to fulfil their remit to manage the land. Early activity was mainly concerned with control over the grazing and quarrying of the common, but since 1980 grazing has stopped and instead various techniques have taken its place to prevent the common from reverting to scrub and woodland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://clintondevon.com/|title=Home|website=Clinton Devon Estates}}</ref>

=== Features of the common ===
* '''Taddiport Bridge''' and '''Rothern Bridge''': Prior to the opening of the Town Mills Bridge, these were the only local crossings of the River Torridge.
* '''Rolle Road''': This is the site of the [[Rolle Canal]] which opened in 1827 to help transport [[clay]], [[Lime (mineral)|lime]] and other commodities between the boats on the tidal river at Landcross and the lime kilns, clay pits and farms around Torrington. It ran through common land, but was closed in 1871. Later, it was filled in to create a [[toll road]] across the Common.
* '''Waterloo Monument''': A stone [[obelisk]] erected in 1818 by "the ladies of Great Torrington" to commemorate the [[Battle of Waterloo]].

== Visitor attractions ==
[[File:Cornmarket Street, Great Torrington - geograph.org.uk - 1199206.jpg|180px|thumb|left|Cornmarket Street, Great Torrington]]
Attractions in Great Torrington include:
* [[Dartington Crystal]], Factory, Visitors Centre, Glass Shop and Restaurant of Dartington Crystal – the biggest employer in the town and the only major working glass factory in the UK<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dartington.co.uk/|title=Welome to Dartington Glass|access-date=16 December 2021}}</ref>
[[File:The plough torrington 05041.jpg|180px|thumb|right|[[The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington|The Plough Arts Centre]] is Great Torrington's theatre, cinema and art gallery.]]
* [[Rosemoor Garden]], a collection of [[garden]]s, [[woodland]]s and [[park]]land owned by the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]
* The [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] [[Pannier Market, Torrington|Torrington Pannier Market]] with a glass roof, restored in 1999
* Great Torrington Heritage Museum, located next to the [[Pannier Market]]
* [[St Michael and All Angels, Great Torrington|St Michael and All Angels]], a [[Church of England parish church]] whose churchyard includes a mound said to contain the remains of 60 [[English Civil War|Civil War]] [[Cavalier|Royalist]] prisoners
* [[The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington|The Plough Arts Centre]], a small theatre, cinema and gallery
* Great Torrington also has a selection of [[pub]]s selling food and a selection of [[real ale]]s. These include The Torridge Inn, Torrington Arms, Cavalier and Royal Exchange. Torrington had a small [[brewery]] called Clearwater Brewery with its "Cavalier" and "1646" brands.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/Torrington-s-Clearwater-Brewery-offers-North/story-20427222-detail/story.html |title=Torrington's Clearwater Brewery offers North Devon pubs the chance to have their own branded ale |access-date=31 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031160904/http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/Torrington-s-Clearwater-Brewery-offers-North/story-20427222-detail/story.html |archive-date=31 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Employment ==

Torrington has long been a factory town. In the nineteenth century it was a centre of the glove making industry. The major employer today is [[Dartington Crystal]], but the shops in the town centre also provide a source of employment. Most of the shops are locally owned; however, there are branches of [[The Co-operative Food]] and [[Lidl]]. Large factories have deserted the town in recent years including the meat factory after a fire, and the milk factory which also caught fire has moved its production elsewhere. Various converted and purpose-built care homes in the town also provide a significant source of employment.

In 2006, Tesco sought to open a {{convert|30000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} store in the town; however, this was opposed by many locals and the planning application was rejected.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/6180605.stm |title=Tesco town store plans rejected |date=14 December 2006 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref>

== Sports and culture ==
Local radio is provided by [[The Voice (North Devon)|The Voice]], a station based in nearby [[Barnstaple]] that broadcasts across North Devon on FM and DAB. Most of the content on the station is locally produced.<ref name=VoicePublicFile>{{cite web|url=https://www.thevoicefm.co.uk/public-file/|website=The Voice|title=The Voice Public File|access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref>

Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC South West]] and [[ITV West Country]]. Television signals are received from the nearby [[Huntshaw Cross transmitting station|Huntshaw Cross]] TV transmitter situated north east of the town.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Huntshaw_Cross|title=Full Freeview on the Huntshaw Cross (Devon, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|access-date=20 August 2024}}</ref>

[[BBC Local Radio]] station that broadcast to the town is [[BBC Radio Devon]] on 94.8 FM.

The regional radio station [[Heart West]] can be received in the town on FM and DAB. The station is a part of the [[Heart (radio network)|Heart]] network and broadcasts across the South West of England. Most of the shows broadcast are national shows from the Heart London studios, rather than region-specific ones.<ref name=HeartWest>{{cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2019/05/heart-drivetime-show-presenters-announced-by-global/|title=Heart drivetime show presenters announced by Global|date=20 May 2019|access-date=15 June 2020|website=Radio Today|author=Roy Martin}}</ref> Region-specific content includes the weekday Drivetime show produced in [[Bristol]], and local advertising.

The local newspaper is the ''[[North Devon Journal]]'' also based in Barnstaple. The ''[[Western Morning News]]'' is a regional paper widely available. Most households receive a copy of the ''[[North Devon Gazette]]'' every week. ''The Crier'' is the community newsletter and diary delivered free to most households in the town and surrounding area for ten months of the year.

Torrington's [[Football (soccer)|football]] teams are [[Torrington F.C.]] and [[Torridgeside A.F.C.]] There are also rugby, netball, tennis and swimming teams. Torrington nine-hole Golf Course is {{convert|1.2|mi|km|sigfig=1}} northwest of the town centre. Great Torrington Bowling Club, established in 1645, is the third oldest bowling club in England.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greattorringtonbowlingclub.co.uk/ |title=Great Torrington Bowling Club|access-date=16 December 2021}}</ref> As of 2024 Torrington is also home to North Devon’s first and only Baseball Club, the Torrington Riptides. Torrington has a running and athletics club, Torrington AAC, who train weekly in and around the town.

Great Torrington is twinned with the French port town of [[Roscoff]],<ref name="Archant twinning">{{cite web|url=http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |title=British towns twinned with French towns |access-date=2013-07-11 |work=Archant Community Media Ltd |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705094933/http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |archive-date=5 July 2013 }}</ref> situated in northern Brittany. Roscoff is served by the [[Brittany Ferries]] service from [[Plymouth]] and is a popular destination for school trips from the area.

==Transport==
Torrington is served by 43 local bus services mostly operated by Stagecoach South West. Some only operate one way and a number are weekly only service.

Belle Vue Airfield is a single runway airfield about 2.5 miles northeast of Great Torrington in North Devon, England. It is for private aviation only, operating restricted flying hours and is frequented by Microlight and hang-gliding clubs. The 580-metre (1,902-foot) runway is grass.<ref>[http://latitude.to/articles-by-country/gb/united-kingdom/328559/belle-vue-airfield Latitude and longitude of Belle Vue Airfield] "latitude.to"</ref>

Exeter Airport {{convert|35|mi}} away operates scheduled flights from [[Shannon Airport]], Eire and the Channel Islands.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitdevon.co.uk/northdevon/whats-on/gardens-and-nature|title=Gardens & Nature Events | North Devon|website=www.visitdevon.co.uk}}</ref>

The nearest ferry port is Plymouth {{convert|40|mi}} away, at which Brittany Ferries offer a regular service from [[Roscoff]] in Brittany.
There is a summertime-only ferry service based at Bideford Harbour (7 miles away) to and from [[Lundy Island]].

Torrington has no direct train services; [[Umberleigh railway station|Umberleigh]] (8 miles away) is served by the Tarka Line from Exeter St David's. Bus connections are available to and from Barnstaple station (11 miles away).

==Notable people==
* [[Thomas Fowler (inventor)|Thomas Fowler]] (1777–1843), inventor
* [[Elizabeth Johnson (pamphleteer)|Elizabeth Johnson]] (1721–1800), pamphleteer
* [[William Johnson Cory]] (1823–1892), educator and poet
* [[William Keble Martin]] (1877–1969), reverend, botanist and author
* [[William Sandford]] (1841–1932), pioneer of the Australian iron and steel industry.
* [[Mary Theresa Vidal]] (1815-1873), Australia's first female novelist <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/vidal-mary-theresa-2759|title=Biography - Mary Theresa Vidal |website=Australian Dictionary of Biography}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Great Torrington School]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.great-torringtontowncouncil.gov.uk Great Torrington Town Council]
*[https://www.great-torrington.uk www.Great-Torrington.uk]

{{Devon}}
{{Torridge}}
{{Devon parishes}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Great Torrington| ]]
[[Category:Former manors in Devon]]
[[Category:Market towns in Devon]]
[[Category:Towns in Devon]]
[[Category:Torridge District]]
[[Category:Deaneries of the Church of England]]

Framlingham

2025-09-28T17:52:56Z

2A00:23C6:6993:3B01:FEDF:44FF:8C81:7B33: /* Features */

{{Short description|Town in Suffolk, England}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
|country = England
|coordinates = {{coord|52.22207|1.34342|display=inline,title}}
|official_name = Framlingham
|area_total_km2=18.97
|population = 3,342
|population_ref = ''(2011)''
|civil_parish = Framlingham
|shire_district = [[East Suffolk (district)|East Suffolk]]
|region = East of England
|shire_county = [[Suffolk]]
|constituency_westminster = [[Central Suffolk and North Ipswich (UK Parliament constituency)|Central Suffolk and North Ipswich]]
|post_town = WOODBRIDGE
|postcode_district = IP13
|postcode_area = IP
|dial_code = 01728
|os_grid_reference = TM283634
|static_image_name = Framlingham Castle Sunset.jpg
|static_image_caption = Framlingham Castle
}}
'''Framlingham''' is a [[market town]] and [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in [[Suffolk]], England.
Of [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] origin, it appears in the 1086 [[Domesday Book]] and was part of [[Loes Hundred]].<ref name="Suffolk Traveller">{{cite book |author1-link=John Kirby (topographer) |last1=John Kirby |title=[[The Suffolk Traveller]] |date=1735 |publisher=John Bagnall |location=Ipswich}}</ref> The parish had a population of 3,342 at the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 census]] and an estimated 4,016 in 2019.<ref>[http://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/eastofengland/admin/east_suffolk/E04009407__framlingham/ City Population site. Retrieved 1 April 2021.]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11123574&c=Framlingham&d=16&e=62&g=6467032&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&o=362&m=0&r=1&s=1442240781312&enc=1 |title=Town population 2011 |access-date=14 September 2015 |archive-date=11 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011181910/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11123574&c=Framlingham&d=16&e=62&g=6467032&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&o=362&m=0&r=1&s=1442240781312&enc=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Nearby villages include [[Earl Soham]], [[Kettleburgh]], [[Parham, Suffolk|Parham]], [[Saxtead]] and [[Sweffling]].

==Governance==
An [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|electoral ward]] of the same name exists. The parish stretches north-east to [[Brundish]] with a total ward population taken at the 2011 census of 4,744.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/framlingham-e05007202#sthash.sYUhzyRI.dpbs |title=Ward population 2011 |access-date=14 September 2015}}</ref>

==Features==

[[File:Framlingham - geograph.org.uk - 179288.jpg|thumb|Market Hill, Framlingham]]

The name Framlingham derives from the [[Old English]] ''framelaingashām'' meaning the 'village of Framela's people'.<ref>http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Suffolk/Framlingham</ref>

Framlingham's history can be traced to an entry in the [[Domesday Book]] (1086) when it consisted of several manors.

The medieval [[Framlingham Castle]] is a major feature and tourist attraction for the area and is managed by [[English Heritage]]. This Norman castle was first referenced in 1148, although some academics believe it could be as old as the 11th century. [[Mary I of England|Mary Tudor]] (daughter of [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] and his first wife [[Catherine of Aragon]]) was proclaimed the first Queen of England here in 1553. The castle is referenced in the 2017 single "[[Castle on the Hill]]" by [[Ed Sheeran]], who grew up in Framlingham. Adjacent to the castle is a large lake, or [[mere (lake)|mere]], which used to supply the castle with fish. It is managed by the [[Suffolk Wildlife Trust]]. A nature walk in woodland can be made around the mere. There is also a large meadow adjacent to the castle that holds various outdoor events and productions in the summer and where people can picnic.

The [[Church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham|Church of St Michael the Archangel]] is a prominent feature of the town. It dates from the 12th century (the main rebuilding dates from the late 15th and 16th centuries) and has a ring of eight bells dating from the 15th to 20th centuries. It also contains a very rare Thamar organ and a number of tombs of nobles. The church and other parts of the town feature as locations in the [[Anthony Horowitz]] novel ''[[Magpie Murders]]''.

Framlingham has a football team, located in Badingham Road. The town has the two oldest-functioning Post Office [[pillar box]]es in the UK, dating from 1856, located on Double Street and on College Road.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A short introduction to the history of the British Pillar Box |url=http://www.cvphm.org.uk/history.html |access-date=11 May 2016}}</ref> The pillar boxes are marked V. R. Victoria Regina, after Queen Victoria.

Framlingham is also home to one of the smallest houses in Britain, the "Check House". Converted into a two-storey residence of under {{convert|29|sqm}}, the former bookmaker's office<ref name="howes">S. Howes, 2011 [http://smh.domain.com.au/real-estate-news/tiny-uk-house-with-a-giant-pricetag–20110316–1bwr6.html Tiny UK house with a giant price-tag], [[Sydney Morning Herald]] 16 March 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2011</ref> is in the Mauldens Mill Estate in the town centre. The ground floor measures {{convert|20|ft}} by {{convert|7|ft|3|in}}.<ref name="howes"/>

There is a traditional English market in the town square, Market Hill, every Tuesday and Saturday mornings offering fruit and vegetables, [[artisan bread]] and cakes, fresh fish, coffee, cheese and pies and other occasional stalls. A small museum is located within the castle.

Framlingham is surrounded by agricultural land. It lies some {{convert|14|miles}} from the coastal town of [[Aldeburgh]] and {{convert|20|miles}} from [[Southwold]]. It is also {{convert|10|miles}} from the renowned music centre of [[Snape Maltings]] and {{convert|12|miles}} from Woodbridge and the world-famous [[Anglo-Saxon]] burial site at [[Sutton Hoo]]. It is approximately {{convert|5|miles}} from the [[A12 road (England)|A12]], one of the main arteries into and out of Suffolk and approximately {{convert|15|miles}} northeast of [[Ipswich]].

In 2006, ''[[Country Life (magazine)|Country Life]]'' magazine voted Framlingham the best place to live in the country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fram named nation's best place to live |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/fram-named-nation-s-best-place-to-live-1-76604 |access-date=2020-10-22 |website=East Anglian Daily Times |language=en}}</ref>

Framlingham is a [[Fairtrade Town]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Good news- Fairtrade Town Status Renewed | date=13 July 2023 | url=https://www.framlingham.com/news/2023/07/good-news-fairtrade-town-status-renewed }}</ref> and has a [[conservation area]]. An oak tree planted in 1911 in honour of the [[Coronation of King George V]] survives outside the old railway station, now a pub named ''The Station'' on Station Road. The town was the main location for the BBC television comedy series ''[[Detectorists]]''. It has also appeared in numerous other TV programmes.

A famous family-orientated sausage festival is held in October. This event has butchers from Framlingham and the surrounding villages competing for the trophy of best sausage in the area. The town is closed to traffic on the day and people follow a map around the town sampling the different flavoured sausages and voting for their favourite. There are also market stalls and entertainment held on Market Hill on the day. Other festivals and events are held in the town and around the castle throughout the year.

==Education==
Framlingham College is an independent, co-educational secondary school for boarders and day students, opened as Albert Memorial College in 1865 in memory of [[Albert, Prince Consort]]. Its associated [[Preparatory school (United Kingdom)|preparatory school]] is at [[Brandeston]] Hall.<ref>EduBase2 [http://www.education.gov.uk/edubase/establishment/summary.xhtml?urn=124884 Retrieved 10 January 2017.]</ref>

[[Thomas Mills High School]], dating from 1751, is considerably older than Framlingham College. It is a mixed secondary state school for pupils aged 11–18, which gained [[Academy (English school)|academy]] status in 2011.<ref>School site [http://www.thomasmills.suffolk.sch.uk/ Retrieved 10 January 2017.]</ref> The singer Ed Sheeran attended this school.

Framlingham's primary school is Sir Robert Hitcham's Church of England Voluntary Primary School, dating back to at least 1654. It now has circa 350 pupils and another 26 in its nursery.<ref>School site: [http://www.hitchams.suffolk.sch.uk/ Retrieved 10 January 2017.]</ref>

==Transport==
The [[Framlingham Branch]] connected Framlingham by rail with the main [[Ipswich]] to [[Lowestoft]] [[East Suffolk line]] at [[Wickham Market]]. The [[Framlingham railway station|railway station]] building stands adjacent to the ''Station Hotel''. The branch closed to passenger traffic in November 1952 and to goods in April 1965. The nearest stations today are [[Wickham Market railway station|Wickham Market]] ({{convert|7|mi|km}}) at [[Campsea Ashe]] and [[Saxmundham railway station|Saxmundham]] ({{convert|8|mi|km}}), both on the [[East Suffolk Line]].

The town is at the junction of the [[B1116 road|B1116]], [[B1119 road|B1119]] and [[B1120 road]]s, {{convert|4|miles}} west of the A12. The local bus services are detailed on the Suffolk on Board site.<ref>[https://www.suffolkonboard.com/mdv/livedepartureboard Suffolk on Board. Retrieved 18 September 2020.]</ref>

==Sport and leisure==
Framlingham has a [[non-League football]] club, [[Framlingham Town F.C.]], which plays at Badingham Road, where there is also a sports club offering tennis, archery, badminton, hockey and croquet, and where the cycling club meets. The town has a rambling club and an active Scout and Cubs group. The modern St John Ambulance Centre is in Fairfield Road.

Framlingham College, an independent school, has a swimming pool and gymnasium open to the public in pre-booked slots. Membership fees are required.

There are four pubs in the town: ''The Castle Inn'' (which was portrayed as the "Two Brewers" in the ''Detectorists'' TV series), ''The Railway'', ''The Station'' and ''The Crown'' (which is also a restaurant and hotel). There is a library, a post office, a pharmacy, a small supermarket and a selection of specialised shops and coffee shops.

The town attracts a number of tourists, particularly in the summer months, drawn to the town itself, the castle, St Michael's Church, the locations for the ''Detectorists'' TV series, and walks that are available in and around the town and in the local countryside.

==Notable people==
{{more citations needed section|date=October 2023}}
In order of birth:
*[[John Mowbray, 3rd Duke of Norfolk]] kept the castle as his East Anglian headquarters.
*[[Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk]] (1443–1524), who held office under four kings, died at [[Framlingham Castle]].
*[[Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk]] (1584–1640), politician, owned Framlingham Castle until 1635.
*[[Thomas Danforth]], a Massachusetts Bay Colony magistrate and landowner born in 1623 in Framlingham, son of Nicholas
*[[Samuel Danforth]], poet, Puritan and evangelist to [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indians]], born in 1626 in Framlingham, son of Nicholas
*[[Nicholas Revett]], architect and theorist, born in Framlingham in 1720
*[[Alethea Lewis]] (1749–1787), the novelist, brought up by her maternal grandfather in Framlingham
*[[Edmund Goodwyn]] (1756–1832), physician born in Framlingham, who discovered the [[diving reflex]]<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Vega |first=Jose L. |date=2017-05-11 |title=Edmund Goodwyn and the first description of diving bradycardia |journal=Journal of Applied Physiology |volume=123 |issue=2 |pages=275–277 |doi=10.1152/japplphysiol.00221.2017 |issn=8750-7587 |pmid=28495845|doi-access=free }}</ref>
*[[Robert Groome|Robert Hindes Groome]] (1810–1889), composer, author and cleric, born in Framlingham
*[[Sir Henry Thompson, 1st Baronet|Henry Thompson]] (1820–1894), polymath and surgeon who operated on the Belgian royal family, born in Framlingham
*[[John Cordy Jeaffreson]] (1831–1901), writer and lawyer, born in Framlingham<ref>''East Anglia's History...'' [https://books.google.com/books?id=dqONjtRcVfMC&dq=%22born+in+Framlingham%22&pg=PA339 Retrieved 3 January 2015.]</ref>
*[[Samuel Cornell Plant]] (1866–1921), master mariner and Senior Inspector, Upper [[Yangtze|Yangtze River]]<ref>[https://www.eadt.co.uk/ea-life/what-s-the-link-between-these-girls-and-a-hardly-known-suffolk-hero-honoured-by-china-1-4347607 What's the link between these girls and a hardly-known Suffolk 'hero' honoured by China?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320034607/https://www.eadt.co.uk/ea-life/what-s-the-link-between-these-girls-and-a-hardly-known-suffolk-hero-honoured-by-china-1-4347607 |date=20 March 2020 }}, ''[[East Anglian Daily Times]]'', 14 December 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2020.</ref>
*[[Francis Stocks]] (1873–1929), county cricketer, died in Framlingham
*[[Frederick Bird]] (1875–1965), county cricketer and cleric, born in Framlingham
*[[Michael Lord]] (born 1938), [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|deputy speaker]] and MP for the town, took the title Baron Framlingham rather than "Lord Lord" on becoming a [[life peer]].
*[[Charles Freeman (historian)|Charles Freeman]] (born 1947), former Head of History at [[St Clare's, Oxford]], and teacher of ancient history for [[Cambridge University]]'s extramural programme, is a prolific author on ancient, [[Christianity|Christian]] and early medieval history.
*[[Alice Russell (singer)|Alice Russell]] (born 1976), soul singer, grew up in Framlingham.
*[[Christina Johnston]] (born 1989), classical coloratura soprano, grew up in Framlingham and attended [[Framlingham College]].
*[[Laura Wright (singer)|Laura Wright]] (born 1990), classical/popular crossover soprano, grew up in Framlingham.
*[[Ed Sheeran]] (born 1991), singer–songwriter, grew up in Framlingham and attended [[Thomas Mills High School]]. The town is the subject of his hit single "[[Castle on the Hill]]".

==See also==
*[[RAF Framlingham]], a [[Second World War]] bomber airfield near Framlingham
*[[Smallest House in Great Britain|Quay House]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Framlingham}}
*[https://www.framlinghamtown.gov.uk/ Framlingham Town Council]
*[https://framlinghamhistory.uk/ Framlingham History]
*[http://www.framlingham.co.uk The Framlingham website]
*[http://www.framlingham.co.uk/local.htm Framlingham: Local History]
*''[[iarchive:historyframling01lodegoog|The History of Framlingham, in the County of Suffolk: Including Brief Notices of the Masters and Fellows of Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge, from the Foundation of the College, to the Present Time]]'', Robert Hawes & Robert Loder, published 1798
*''[https://books.google.com/books?id=dz4QAAAAYAAJ The History, Topography, and Antiquities of Framlingham and Saxsted, in the County of Suffolk]'', R. Green, published 1834

{{Framlingham}}
{{Suffolk}}
{{East Suffolk}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Framlingham| ]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Suffolk]]
[[Category:Market towns in Suffolk]]
[[Category:Towns in Suffolk]]

Cricklade

2025-09-28T15:57:12Z

2A00:23C6:6993:3B01:FEDF:44FF:8C81:7B33: /* History */

{{Short description|Town in Wiltshire, England}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox UK place
|official_name = Cricklade
|coordinates = {{coord|51.641|-1.856|type:town(5000)_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
|static_image_name = Cricklade, High Street - geograph.org.uk - 268609.jpg
|static_image_caption = Jubilee Clock and part of the High Street
|static_image_2_name = Snake's head fritillary, North Meadow NNR, Cricklade - geograph.org.uk - 418738.jpg
|static_image_2_caption = Snake's head fritillaries in the National Nature Reserve, with the Anglican church behind
|static_image_2_width = 180px
|os_grid_reference = SU101936
|label_position = bottom
|population = 4,253
|population_ref = (2021 Census)<ref name="bua2011">{{cite web |title=Cricklade |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/southwestengland/admin/wiltshire/E04011692__cricklade/ |website=City population |access-date=25 October 2022}}</ref>
|civil_parish = Cricklade
|unitary_england = [[Wiltshire (district)|Wiltshire]]
|lieutenancy_england = [[Wiltshire]]
|region = South West England
|country = England
|constituency_westminster = [[South Cotswolds (UK Parliament constituency)|South Cotswolds]]
|post_town = [[Swindon]]
|postcode_district = SN6
|postcode_area = SN
|dial_code = 01793
|website = {{Official URL}}
}}
'''Cricklade''' is a town and [[civil parish]] on the [[River Thames]] in north [[Wiltshire]], England, midway between [[Swindon]] and [[Cirencester]]. It is the first downstream town on the Thames.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/towns-and-villages/cricklade-p462673 |title=Cricklade |website=VisitWiltshire |access-date=6 July 2017}}</ref> The parish population at the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 census]] was 4,227.<ref name="census">{{Cite web |title=Wiltshire Community History – Census |url=https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityhistory/Census?communityId=86 |publisher=Wiltshire Council |access-date=8 January 2015 }}</ref>
{{TOC limit|3}}

==History==
The name Cricklade is of uncertain origin. The second part of the name derives from the [[Old English]] ''gelād'' meaning a 'difficult river crossing'. 'Crick' may derive from [[History of the Welsh language|Primitive Welsh]], either ''crūg'' meaning 'hill' or ''creig'' meaning 'rock'.<ref>http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Wiltshire/Cricklade</ref>

Cricklade was founded in the 9th century by the [[Anglo-Saxons]], at the point where the [[Ermin Way]] [[Roman roads in Britannia|Roman road]] crossed the River Thames. It was the home of a royal mint from 979 to 1100; there are some Cricklade coins in the town museum.<ref name=winn>Christopher Winn: ''I Never Knew That about the River Thames'' (London: Ebury Press, 2010), p. 6.</ref><ref name="Mint">{{Cite web |url=http://www.northwilts-communityweb.com/site/Cricklade-Historical-Society/ |title=Cricklade Historical Society |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714200149/http://www.northwilts-communityweb.com/site/Cricklade-Historical-Society/ |archive-date=14 July 2011 }}</ref> The [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 records a settlement at ''Crichelade'', with a church, and at the centre of a [[Hundred (county division)|hundred]] of the same name.<ref>{{OpenDomesday|SU1093|cricklade|Cricklade}}</ref>

=== Anglo-Saxon fortification ===
Cricklade is one of 30 [[burh]]s (boroughs, i.e. fortresses or fortified towns) recorded in the [[Burghal Hidage]] document, which describes a system of fortresses and fortified towns built around [[Wessex]] by [[Alfred the Great|King Alfred]]. Recent research suggests these burhs were built in the short period 878–879 to defend Wessex against the [[Vikings]] under [[Guthrum]], and to act as an offensive to the Viking presence in [[Mercia]]. Cricklade was an important part of these defences, being a short distance down [[Ermin Way]] from [[Cirencester]], where the Vikings made their base for a year. According to the ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'', completion of this system precipitated the retreat of the Vikings from Mercia and London to [[East Anglia]] in late 879.<ref name=winn/>

The square defences of the fortification have been excavated in several places on all four sides since the 1940s, possibly making them the most extensively sampled fortification of the period. In the initial phase, a walkway of laid stones marked the rear of a bank of stacked turfs and clay which had been dug from three external ditches.<ref name="Mint"/> In the second phase, the front of the bank, which after only a short time probably became degraded, was replaced by a stone wall. This wall enclosed the defences on all four sides, considerably strengthening the defensive capabilities of the burh. It has recently been suggested the stone wall was inserted in the 890s. Other burhs of the Burghal Hidage were also strengthened with stone walls, which suggests this was part of a systematic upgrade of the defensive provisions for Wessex, ordered by the king.<ref name="Mint"/>

The third phase is marked by systematic razing of the stone wall, which was pulled down over the inner berm (the space between the wall and the inner ditch). The stones were used to fill the inner two ditches, which shows the process was deliberate. A similar phase can be seen in the archaeological record at [[Christchurch, Dorset|Christchurch]], Dorset, another burh of the Hidage. Observations at other burhs suggest this phase of destruction was implemented over the whole of Wessex as a concerted policy, again, by inference, on the part of the king. The destruction may be linked to the accession of [[Cnut the Great|King Cnut]] in the early 11th century, to prevent the burhs being seized and used against him by his rivals.<ref name="Mint"/>

The fourth phase is marked by reuse of the original Anglo-Saxon defences by inserting a timber palisade along the line of the original wall. This probably marks a renewal of the defences of the town during the [[The Anarchy|civil war]] of 1144 under [[Stephen of England|King Stephen]].<ref name="Mint"/>

There is little archaeological evidence of the community protected by these defences in the Saxon period, although there are signs that streets were laid out in a regular fashion behind the main north–south High Street. A gate in the northern line of the defences led to a causeway over the flood plain of the Thames and a bridge over the river, which was probably of a defensive nature.<ref name="Mint"/>

=== Other settlements ===
Widhill, south-east of Cricklade beyond the [[River Ray, Wiltshire|River Ray]], had two small estates at the time of [[Domesday Book]]<ref>{{OpenDomesday|XX0000|lower-and-upper-widhill|Widhill}}</ref> and was later a [[tithing]] of St Sampson's parish, Cricklade.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol18/70-108 |title=A History of the County of Wiltshire, Volume 18 |date=2011 |publisher=University of London |editor-last=Bainbridge |editor-first=Virginia |series=[[Victoria County History]] |pages=70–108 |chapter=Cricklade – Outer Cricklade |access-date=3 December 2022 |via=British History Online}}</ref> In 1934 the boundary of Cricklade parish was redrawn along the river, transferring the Widhill area into [[Blunsdon St Andrew]] parish (since 2017, [[St Andrews, Swindon|St Andrews]] parish).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blunsdon St Andrew AP/CP |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10398927 |access-date=3 December 2022 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=University of Portsmouth}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Election Maps: Great Britain |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |access-date=3 December 2022 |publisher=Ordnance Survey}}</ref>

Outlying hamlets in Cricklade parish are [[Calcutt, Wiltshire|Calcutt]], Chelworth Lower Green, Chelworth Upper Green, Hailstone Hill and Horsey Down.

=== Later history ===
On [[John Speed]]'s 1611 map of [[Wiltshire]], the town's name is recorded as ''Crekelade''.<ref name="Mint" /> Cricklade Museum houses several publications recounting further historical details of the town and its people.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cricklademuseum.co.uk/publications/ |title=Cricklade Museum |work=cricklademuseum.co.uk |access-date=29 July 2016}}</ref>

The Jubilee Clock, on a cast-iron pillar, stands at a road junction on the High Street. It was erected in 1897 to mark [[Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee]].<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1356060|desc=Jubilee Clock|access-date=14 November 2022}}</ref>

==Governance==
The civil parish elects a [[Town council#England and Wales|town council]]. It is in the area of [[Wiltshire Council]] [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]], which performs most of the major local-government functions.

There is an [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|electoral ward]] with the name of Cricklade and Latton, which combines Cricklade parish with its neighbours to the north and north-east – [[Latton, Wiltshire|Latton]] and [[Marston Maisey]] – and elects one member of Wiltshire Council.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Election Maps: Great Britain |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |access-date=25 July 2024 |website= |publisher=Ordnance Survey}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Your Councillors |url=https://cms.wiltshire.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |access-date=25 July 2024 |website=Wiltshire Council |language=en}}</ref> The ward population recorded in the 2011 census was 4,982.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cricklade and Latton – 2011 Census |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=13695581&c=Cricklade&d=14&e=62&g=6475860&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&enc=1 |website=Neighbourhood Statistics |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=13 May 2016 |archive-date=10 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010174122/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=13695581&c=Cricklade&d=14&e=62&g=6475860&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&enc=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The parish is in the [[South Cotswolds (UK Parliament constituency)|South Cotswolds]] parliamentary constituency. From 1295 the [[Cricklade (UK Parliament constituency)|Cricklade constituency]] returned two members of parliament. This [[parliamentary borough]] represented just the town until 1782, when its boundaries were extended into the surrounding countryside. It later came to include [[Swindon]], then a village. In 1885, Cricklade became a [[county constituency]] electing a single member. Cricklade constituency was abolished in 1918, with the town joining the [[Chippenham (UK Parliament constituency)|Chippenham]] constituency, which was renamed to [[North Wiltshire (UK Parliament constituency)|North Wiltshire]] in 1983; a new South Cotswolds constituency came into effect at the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], when the seat was won by [[Roz Savage]] for the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 July 2024 |title=South Cotswolds – General election results 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001482 |access-date=25 July 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Sport and pastimes==

=== Rugby Union ===
Cricklade Rugby Club<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cricklade RFC |url=https://crickladerfc.rfu.club/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=crickladerfc.rfu.club |language=en-GB}}</ref> was founded in 1992 by ex-school players from many schools, meeting at the bar of the Vale Hotel, Cricklade, then owned by ex-President and life members the Ross family. Initially players were committed to other clubs, so Sunday fixtures were played, the first one against [[Aldbourne]] on 6 September. In its second season the fixtures moved to Saturdays. The club joined the Dorset and Wilts leagues in 1994, but withdrew as the travelling involved was too burdensome. They were able to rejoin in 2001 when the leagues were re-structured into [[Dorset & Wilts 2 North|North]] and South.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

The club at first used pitches provided by [[Prior Park College]] and the Duke of Gloucester Barracks. Since 2001 it has played on a prepared pitch in the town, leased from the town council. Over the years, Cricklade Rugby Club has toured over England, West and South Wales and Ireland, with teams spanning a broad range of levels of skill and age category.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

=== Shows and festivals ===
The Cricklade Show is held each summer, typically featuring music, dancing and a cricket match.

The town holds an annual festival, usually taking place on Father's Day in June.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.crickladefestival.com/ |title=Cricklade Festival |work=crickladefestival.com |access-date=30 July 2016}}</ref>

=== Charity sports ===
Run annually in the first Sunday of October, the Cricklade Fun Run hosts a [[half marathon]], [[10000 metres|10 km]] and Fun Run event for around 750 runners. This raises funds for a number of local charities.<ref>[http://www.crickladefunrun.co.uk/ Cricklade Fun Run.]</ref>

The Cricklade [[Triathlon]] runs in the summer for both adults and juniors.<ref>[http://www.crickladetri.net Cricklade Triathlon] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418002125/http://www.crickladetri.net/ |date=18 April 2009}}</ref>

=== Leisure centre ===
Towards the end of 2006, North Wiltshire District Council proposed closing the [[leisure centre]]. After a campaign, the local residents took over the running of the centre and were successful in turning its fortunes. It has a swimming pool, sports hall with a range of markings, a bar and lounge area with balcony and barbecue, a skate park, and children's play areas. In 2009, money was raised for a climbing wall.<ref>[http://www.crickladeleisure.co.uk/ Cricklade Leisure Centre]</ref>

=== Cricket ===
Cricklade [[Cricket]] Club was established in 1877 and has been located since 1947 on the north side of Cricklade, where its ground (Southam) is next to the River Thames. For the 2016 season the club is running two senior Saturday teams, a friendly Sunday team, a midweek team and three youth teams (U15, U13 and U11s), all in the local Cotswold District Cricket Association leagues.

=== Association football ===
[[Cricklade Town F.C.]] is a [[non-League football]] team which plays at the Cricklade Leisure Centre.

Cricklade Youth Football Club provides and promotes the playing of association football for the youth of Cricklade from U7s to U16s. The club was the first in Wiltshire to gain the Wiltshire FA Charter Standard, an award for clubs across the country that meet the high standards required by the Football Association.<ref>[http://www.crickladetownfootballclub.co.uk/ Cricklade Youth Football Club] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130913114558/http://www.crickladetownfootballclub.co.uk/ |date=13 September 2013}}</ref>

=== Cricklade cinema ===
Since Autumn 2013, [[Cricklade Town Hall]] has shown films every 4th Tuesday of the month from September to April. They include recent releases, classics, and non-mainstream films.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/neighbourhoodcinema/cricklade-cinema |title=Cricklade Cinema! {{!}} BFI Neighbourhood Cinema |website=bfi.org.uk|access-date=2018-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516174501/http://www.bfi.org.uk/neighbourhoodcinema/cricklade-cinema|archive-date=16 May 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Nature ==

=== North Meadow ===
[[North Meadow, Cricklade|North Meadow]] is a large nature reserve which preserves some 80 per cent of Britain's wild [[Fritillaria meleagris|snake's head fritillaries]] in its {{convert|150|acres|0|abbr=on}}. The [[meadow]] lies between the [[Thames]] and the [[River Churn|Churn]], which create a unique habitat for the fritillary by winter flooding. Such meadows were once common in Britain, but many were drained and ploughed for arable crops from the 1730s onwards. North Meadow escaped this owing to preservation of its [[court leet]], the Saxon system of town governance that ensured the land was held [[Common land|in common]]. The site is now managed by [[Natural England]],<ref>[http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/1006112.aspx Natural England]</ref> with support from the court leet.

=== Blakehill ===
In 2000, a disused airfield, formerly [[RAF Blakehill Farm]], was bought from the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] by [[Wiltshire Wildlife Trust]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wiltshirewildlife.org/Spl4X5Oo7U2VLnhmY7gjxw%3D%3D/Reserve.aspx |title=Wiltshire Wildlife Trust |access-date=15 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090726160439/http://www.wiltshirewildlife.org/Spl4X5Oo7U2VLnhmY7gjxw%3D%3D/Reserve.aspx |archive-date=26 July 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> to form a second larger meadow of around {{convert|600|acre|ha}}, which opened to the public in 2005. It rears a small quantity of organic grade beef, usually from rare breeds such as [[English Longhorn]]s.

=== Cotswold Water Park ===
Cricklade lies between the east and west sections of [[Cotswold Water Park]], an extensive nature reserve formed from disused gravel pits.

== Schools ==

=== St Sampson's C of E Primary School ===
The state primary St Sampson's Church of England School was linked with the major local landmark, the [[Anglican]] St Sampson's parish church. It was divided in 1979 into two schools on the same Bath Road site: St Sampson's Infants' School, for ages 4–7, and St Sampson's C of E Junior School, for ages 7–11.<ref>{{Cite web |website=Wiltshire Community History |title=St. Sampson's C. of E. Junior School, Cricklade |url=https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityhistory/School/Details/652 |publisher=Wiltshire Council |access-date=13 May 2016 }}</ref> In 2014, the schools merged again to form St Sampson's C of E ([[Voluntary controlled school|VC]]) Primary School.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cricklade school merger will go ahead |website=Swindon Advertiser |date=3 May 2014 |url=http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/11190421.Cricklade_school_merger_will_go_ahead/ |access-date=17 May 2016}}</ref>

=== Cricklade Manor Preparatory School ===
This [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|private school]] is non-selective and has around 200 pupils aged 3–13.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cricklademanor.com/ |title=Cricklade Manor Prep |website=cricklademanor.com |access-date=24 January 2018}}</ref> It is housed in the late 19th-century Manor House, which until 2017 housed a prep school linked to [[Prior Park College]], Bath.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England |num=1356093 |desc=The Manor House |access-date=24 January 2018}}</ref>

=== Former schools ===
Meadowpark School was an independent school established in 1996 for children aged 4–11, which closed in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meadowpark School |url=https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/130321 |access-date=2022-03-06 |website=GOV.UK}}</ref> It was housed in the former St Mary's School, built in 1860 just south of the Town Bridge.<ref>{{Cite web |website=Wiltshire Community History |title=St. Mary's Girls' School, Cricklade |url=https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityhistory/School/Details/649 |publisher=Wiltshire Council |access-date=17 May 2016 }}</ref>

== Churches ==
[[File:Cricklade St Sampson, Wiltshire - geograph.org.uk - 65173.jpg|thumb|left|upright|St Sampson's Church]]

=== Anglican ===
{{Main|St Sampson's Church, Cricklade}}
St Sampson's is the town's [[Church of England parish church]]. Dating from the 12th century, it is dedicated to the 5th-century Welsh saint, [[Samson of Dol]]. The present building rests on the remains of another, Saxon, church of AD 890. The main part was built in 1240–1280, although on close inspection the earlier work can still be seen. The large tower with four corner pinnacles, the dominant landmark of the town, was built in 1551–1553 by [[John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland]], father-in-law to [[Lady Jane Grey]]. The church is a [[Listed building#Categories of listed building|Grade I listed]] building.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1023081|desc=Church of St Sampson|access-date=17 May 2016}}</ref>

=== Roman Catholic ===
[[File:Cricklade, Catholic church of St. Mary - geograph.org.uk - 527667.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|left|St Mary's Church]]
Since 1984, St Mary's Church has been leased by the Catholic congregation, after it was declared [[redundant church|redundant]] by the Church of England in 1981.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of St Mary's |url=http://www.crickladestmary.org.uk/history.htm |publisher=Friends of St Mary's Church |access-date=17 May 2016}}</ref> The building is Grade II* listed.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1183154|desc=Church of St Mary|access-date=17 May 2016|fewer-links=yes}}</ref>

Standing just inside the Saxon town wall, it dates from the 12th century and has a low tower completed about 1400.<ref>{{Cite web |website=Wiltshire Community History |title=Church of St. Mary, Cricklade |url=https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityhistory/Church/Details/533 |publisher=Wiltshire Council |access-date=17 May 2016 }}</ref> St Mary's had its own small parish, the northern part of the town and its environs, until 1952, when it was united with St Sampson's.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=39678 |date=24 October 1952 |pages=5590–5591}}</ref>

The churchyard, south of the church, contains a complete 14th-century limestone cross, a Grade I listed structure.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1023108|desc=Churchyard cross, in churchyard, Church of St. Mary|access-date=17 May 2016|fewer-links=yes}}</ref>

=== United Church ===
Cricklade United Church, Calcutt Street, was built by [[Congregational Church in England|Congregationalists]] in 1878, in front of a small meeting house of 1799 which is now the church hall. The congregation joined the [[United Reformed Church]] on its formation in 1972 and later merged with Methodists as Cricklade United Reformed and Methodist Church.<ref>{{Cite web |website=Wiltshire Community History |title=United Church, Cricklade |url=https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityhistory/Church/Details/565 |publisher=Wiltshire Council |access-date=17 May 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Cricklade United Church|url=http://www.crickladeunitedchurch.org.uk/|access-date=17 May 2016|archive-date=31 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831194452/http://www.crickladeunitedchurch.org.uk/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Former Methodist chapels ===
[[Primitive Methodism|Primitive Methodists]] built a hall in Calcutt Street, near the High Street, in 1855,<ref>{{Cite web |website=Wiltshire Community History |title=Primitive Methodist Chapel, Cricklade |url=https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityhistory/Church/Details/543 |publisher=Wiltshire Council |access-date=17 May 2016 }}</ref> and the [[Wesleyan Methodist Church (Great Britain)|Wesleyans]] built theirs just north of the Town Bridge, near the Priory, in 1870.<ref>{{Cite web |website=Wiltshire Community History |title=Wesleyan Methodist Church, Cricklade |url=https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityhistory/Church/Details/540 |publisher=Wiltshire Council |access-date=17 May 2016 }}</ref>

In 1938 the two churches united and used the Calcutt Street hall. The Priory building was at first a Sunday school, then after the Second World War was taken over by Wiltshire County Council Education Department, and is now a community hall called Thames Hall. The Calcutt Street building became a doctors' surgery after the move to the United Church.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England |num=1023092 |desc=Wesley Hall |access-date=17 May 2016 |fewer-links=yes}}</ref>

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==Motto, blooms and twinning==
Cricklade's [[Latin]] [[motto]] ''In Loco Delicioso'' means "in a pleasant place".<ref name="motto">{{Cite web |title=Cricklade Town Council |url=https://www.crickladetowncouncil.gov.uk//}}</ref> In 2008 the town was awarded Best Small Town in UK in the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]'s Britain in Bloom Finals and in 2011 the Champion of Champions award in the [[Britain in Bloom]] competition.<ref name="RHS Award">{{Cite web |title=RHS 2011 Results |url=http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Community-gardening/Britain-in-Bloom/News/RHS-Britain-in-Bloom-results-announced |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017175414/http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Community-gardening/Britain-in-Bloom/News/RHS-Britain-in-Bloom-results-announced |archive-date=17 October 2011}}</ref>

Cricklade has been twinned with the French town of [[Sucé-sur-Erdre]] since 1990. In June 2010 the 20th anniversary was celebrated in Cricklade.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://crickladetwinning.org.uk/info/twiningvisits |publisher=Cricklade and District Twinning Association |title= Twinning Visits |access-date= 6 July 2018}}</ref> Sucé lies just north of [[Nantes]] in the [[Loire Valley]], {{convert|30|mi|km}} from the Atlantic coast. Visits are exchanged in alternate years. Cricklade Twinning Association also holds social events to raise funds towards hosting the visits by Sucé to Cricklade.

==Business and economy==
[[File:Georgian Cottages, Cricklade - geograph.org.uk - 1420140.jpg|thumb|left|Large Georgian homes in central Cricklade]]
Cricklade Business Association<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crickladebusiness.org.uk/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017082826/http://www.crickladebusiness.org.uk/ |archive-date=17 October 2008 |title=Cricklade Business Association: Representing the local business community}}</ref> represents the local business community and has close links with other non-profit organisations, such as the Rotarians, the Waylands Trust, and the charity that runs the leisure centre.

An above-average proportion of the ward population ward was retired at the time of the 2011 census.<ref>[http://neighbourhood-statistics.gov.uk 2011 Census]{{dead link |date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Office for National Statistics</ref>

There is a local museum in Calcutt Street run by the Cricklade Historical Society, housed in a former Baptist chapel. T. R. Thomson of Costorphine was a long-time resident of Cricklade and a moving spirit behind the establishment of the society. His book ''Materials for a History of Cricklade'' and various articles have enhanced the study of local history in the town.
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==Media==
Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC South]] and [[BBC West]] on [[BBC One]], and by [[ITV Meridian]] and [[ITV West Country]] on [[ITV1]]. Television signals can be received from either the [[Oxford transmitting station|Oxford]] or [[Mendip transmitting station|Mendip]] TV transmitters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Oxford|title=Full Freeview on the Oxford (Oxfordshire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=5 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Mendip|title= Full Freeview on the Mendip (Somerset, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=5 December 2023}}</ref>

Local radio stations are [[BBC Radio Wiltshire]] on 103.5 FM, [[Heart West]] on 97.2 FM, [[Greatest Hits Radio South West]] (formerly [[Sam FM Radio (Swindon)|Sam FM]]) on 107.7 and [[Swindon 105.5]], a community based radio station, broadcasts from its studios in [[Swindon]] on 105.5 FM.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.swindon1055.co.uk/|title=Swindon 105.5|access-date=5 December 2023}}</ref>

The [[Swindon Advertiser]] and [[Gazette and Herald]] are the local newspapers that serve the town.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england--sw/swindon-advertiser/|title=Swindon Advertiser|date=30 January 2014|website=British Papers|accessdate=5 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/|title=Gazette and Herald|access-date=5 December 2023}}</ref>

==Notable people==
In birth date order:
*[[Robert of Cricklade]] (c. 1100 – c. 1174–1179) was a teacher and later prominent writer based in [[Cirencester Abbey]] and the [[Priory of St Frideswide, Oxford]].
*[[John Hungerford (c1560–1636)|John Hungerford]] (c. 1566–1635) was a politician whose interest in Cricklade led him to build the market house in the High Street and a flying buttress for the Lady Chapel of St Sampson's Church.
*[[Robert Jenner (MP)|Robert Jenner]] (1584–1651), merchant and politician, founded a school in Cricklade and was buried here.
*[[Nevil Maskelyne (MP)|Nevil Maskelyne]] (1611–1679), was a landowner and [[Member of parliament|MP]] for Cricklade. He gained the town a weekly market and four fairs a year from 1662.
*[[George R. Poulton]] (1828-1867), the American composer of the song "[[Aura Lea]]", was born here.
*[[Reginald Arkell]] (1882–1959), scriptwriter, novelist and humorist, died here.
*[[Edith Pargeter|Ellis Peters]] (1913–1995), set her medieval mystery novel ''[[Brother Cadfael's Penance]]'' in Cricklade.
*[[Francis Maddison]] (1927–2006), historian and Arabist, directed archaeological excavations in Cricklade.

==Transport==
The [[Thames Path]] runs through Cricklade then continues downstream on the south bank to [[Eysey Footbridge]], where it crosses to the other bank.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cricklade to Lechlade |url=https://thamespath.co.uk/sections/cricklade-to-lechlade/ |access-date=2025-09-15 |website=The Thames Path |language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[North Wilts Canal]], opened in 1819, passed to the west of the town, linking the [[Thames and Severn Canal]] with the [[Wilts and Berks Canal]]. Abandoned in the early 20th century, parts are now being restored.<ref>[http://www.northwiltscanal.org.uk/ North Wilts Canal]</ref> The Town Bridge, built in 1812, marks the limits of navigation rights on the River Thames.<ref>Christopher Winn... p. 8.</ref>

[[Cricklade railway station]] on the [[Midland and South Western Junction Railway]] linked [[Swindon Town railway station|Swindon]] with [[Cirencester Watermoor railway station|Cirencester]], but was closed in 1961 and no trace of the station remains. Part of the railway route forms a cycle path ([[National Cycle Route]] 45). South of the town, the [[Swindon and Cricklade Railway]] is restoring the line as a leisure facility. Since 2007 passenger trains have been run between [[Blunsdon railway station|Blunsdon]] and [[Hayes Knoll railway station|Hayes Knoll]], and in 2014 the line was extended to [[Taw Valley Halt railway station|Taw Valley Halt]] on the edge of Swindon. It is also being extended towards Cricklade. The nearest station to Cricklade at present is Hayes Knoll. The nearest mainline railway station is {{stnlnk|Swindon}} on the [[Great Western Main Line]].

The [[A419]] Swindon to Cirencester road bypasses the town to the north-east.

[[Stagecoach West]] operates the hourly bus route 51 into Cricklade between Swindon and Cirencester.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bustimes.org/services/51-swindon-cricklade-cirencester-cheltenham | title=51 – Swindon – Cirencester – Cheltenham }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Cricklade (UK Parliament constituency)]] ([[Model Parliament|1295]]–1918)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book |last1=Pevsner |first1=Nikolaus |author-link1=Nikolaus Pevsner |last2=Cherry |first2=Bridget (revision) |series=[[Pevsner Architectural Guides#Buildings of England|The Buildings of England]] |title=Wiltshire |orig-year=1963 |year=1975 |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |location=Harmondsworth |isbn=0140710264 |pages=199–202}}
*{{Cite book |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol3/pp335-336 |series=[[Victoria County History]] |title=A History of the County of Wiltshire, Volume 3 |chapter=Hospitals: St John the Baptist, Cricklade |pages=335–336 |editor1-first=R.B. |editor1-last=Pugh |editor1-link=Ralph Pugh |editor2-first=Elizabeth |editor2-last=Crittall |date=1956 |via=British History Online |publisher=University of London |access-date=6 March 2022}}

==External links==
{{commons category inline}}
*{{Official website}}

{{Wiltshire}}
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[[Category:Cricklade| ]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 9th century]]
[[Category:Populated places on the River Thames]]
[[Category:Towns in Wiltshire]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Wiltshire]]