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Hitchin


Hitchin Market Place
Hitchin (Hertfordshire)
Hitchin

Hitchin shown within Hertfordshire
Population 30,360
OS grid reference TL181292
District North Hertfordshire
Shire county Hertfordshire
Region East
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Hitchin
Postcode district SG4, SG5
Dialling code 01462
Police Hertfordshire
Fire Hertfordshire
Ambulance East of England
European Parliament East of England
UK Parliament Hitchin and Harpenden
List of places: UK • England • Hertfordshire

Coordinates: 51°56′51″N 0°16′60″W / 51.9476, -0.2832

Hitchin is a town in Hertfordshire, England, and has an estimated population of 30,360. Hertfordshire (ˈhɑːtfədʃə(r, abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using Latitude and Longitude The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government Towns Baldock Hitchin Letchworth Royston Villages Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties are one of the four levels of Subdivisions of England used for the purposes of Local government outside Greater London Hertfordshire (ˈhɑːtfədʃə(r, abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of The region, also known as the government office region, is currently the highest tier of local government sub-national entity of England, with only one The East of England is one of the nine official Regions of England. Constituent country is a phrase used often by official institutions in contexts in which a country makes up a part of a larger entity or grouping England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland This list of sovereign states, alphabetically arranged gives an overview of States around the world with information on the extent of their Sovereignty. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A post town is a required part of all postal addresses in the United Kingdom, and a basic unit of the postal delivery system UK Postal codes are known as postcodes. UK postcodes are Alphanumeric. The, also known as the Stevenage postcode area, is a group of postal districts around Arlesey, Baldock, Biggleswade, Buntingford, The UK Telephone numbering plan, also known as the National Telephone Numbering Plan, is the system used for assigning Telephone numbers in the United There are a number of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom. Hertfordshire Constabulary is the Home Office Police force responsible for policing the county of Hertfordshire in England. The fire service in the United Kingdom operates under separate legislative and administrative arrangements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is the Statutory fire and rescue service for the County of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust is the authority responsible for providing NHS Ambulance services in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, East of England is a Constituency of the European Parliament. This is a list of the 646 constituencies currently represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, as at the 2005 general election Hitchin and Harpenden is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. A Gazetteer of place names in the United Kingdom showing each place's County, Unitary authority or council area and its geographical coordinates List of places --> List of cities in the United Kingdom List of towns in England Lists of places This is a list of settlements in the ceremonial county of Hertfordshire, England. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Hertfordshire (ˈhɑːtfədʃə(r, abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland

Contents

History

Hitchin is first noted as the central place of the Hicce people mentioned in a seventh-century document, the Tribal Hidage. The Tribal Hidage is a list of territorial assessments in Anglo-Saxon England which lists regions and the number of hides those regions contained The tribal name is Brittonic rather than Old English and derives from *siccā, meaning 'dry', perhaps a reference to the local stream, the Hiz. The Brythonic languages (or Brittonic languages or British languages) form one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic language family the other being By 1086 Hitchin is described as a Royal manor in the Domesday Book. The Domesday Book (ˈduːmzdeɪ bʊk also known as Domesday, or Book of Winchester) was the record of the great survey Evidence has been found to suggest that the town was once provided with an earthen bank and ditch fortification, probably in the tenth century, but this did not last. The modern spelling 'Hitchin' first appears in 1618 in a document called the 'Hertfordshire Feet of Fines'.

The name of the town also is associated with the small river that runs through the town, most picturesquely in front of the east end of St. Mary's Church, the town's parish church. The river is noted on maps as the River Hiz. The River Hiz is a small tributary river that feeds the River Ivel that in turn feeds the River Great Ouse. Contrary to how most people now pronounce the name, that is to say phonetically, the 'z' was an abbreviated character for a 'tch' sound, as in the name of the town. It would have been pronounced 'River Hitch'. (A similar example is the 'y' which was, or is, an abbreviation for a 'th' in phrases and names such as Ye Olde King's Head).

During the laying of a new floor in the church in 1911, foundations of a more ancient church building were found. In form, they appear to be a basilican church of a seventh-century type, with a later enlarged chancel and transepts, perhaps added in the tenth century. This makes the church older than the story (not recorded before the fifteenth century) that the church was founded by Offa, king of Mercia 757-796. Offa was the King of Mercia from 757 until his death in July 796 Mercia (ˈmɝsiə was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. Events By Place Asia March 9 — A major Earthquake strikes Palestine and Syria. Events By Place Europe December - Coenwulf becomes king of Mercia.

In 1697, Hitchin (and the nearby village of Offley) were subject to what is thought to have been the most severe hailstorm in recorded UK history. Hailstones over 4 inches in diameter were reported.

The Bucks Head pub sign, depicting Henry VIII's supposed escapade in Hitchin
The Bucks Head pub sign, depicting Henry VIII's supposed escapade in Hitchin

The town flourished on the wool trade, and located near the Icknield Way and by the seventeenth century Hitchin was a staging post for coaches coming from London. This page refers to the old footpath Icknield Way. The modern footpath which partially follows the old route is called Icknield Way Path The As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. By the middle of the 19th century the railway had arrived, and with it a new way of life for Hitchin. The Corn Exchange was built in the Market Place and within a short time Hitchin established itself as a major centre for grain trading.

The latter half of the twentieth century has also brought great changes in communication to Hitchin. Motorways have shortened the journey time and brought Luton, a few miles away on the M1, and the A1 (M) even closer. Luton ( is a large town in the east of England, 32 miles (51 kilometres north of London. The M1 is a major south – north Motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where By the close of the twentieth century, Hitchin had become a satellite dormitory town for London. Hitchin also developed a fairly strong Sikh community based around the Walsworth area. Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism.

Hitchin is notable for St. Mary’s Church which is remarkably large for town of its size. The size of the church is evidence of how Hitchin prospered from the wool trade. It is the largest parish church in Hertfordshire. Most of the church dates from the fifteenth century, with its tower dating from around 1190. The original church is reputed to have been founded by King Offa of the Saxon kingdom of Mercia in 792. Offa was the King of Mercia from 757 until his death in July 796 Mercia (ˈmɝsiə was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy.

During the medieval period, both a priory (Newbigging, now known as The Biggin) and a friary (now known as Hitchin Priory) were established, both of which closed during Henry VIII's dissolution. Henry VIII (28 June 1491 &ndash 28 January 1547 was King of England and Lord of Ireland, later King of Ireland and claimant to the Kingdom of They were never reformed, although The Biggin was for many years used as almshouses.

Hitchin is also the venue for the annual Rhythms of the World[1] festival, which is the largest free festival of world music in Europe. Rhythms of The World (ROTW was first organised in 1992. ROTW is a concert which celebrates the culture and art which is expressed through all types of music and art

Hitchin is home to the world’s only known complete Lancasterian Schoolroom which was built in 1837 to teach boys by the Lancasterian method.

It is locally reputed that Henry VIII nearly died in a fire in Hitchin. Henry VIII (28 June 1491 &ndash 28 January 1547 was King of England and Lord of Ireland, later King of Ireland and claimant to the Kingdom of It is also alleged that Henry VIII, when he was fitter, thought he was able to pole vault over the local river, the River Hiz. The River Hiz is a small tributary river that feeds the River Ivel that in turn feeds the River Great Ouse. However, he had grown somewhat fatter than he knew, and the pole snapped from underneath him. He fell into the river, much to the amusement of his servants. This event is commemorated on the sign of the Bucks Head [1] pub in nearby Little Wymondly. However, it is known that Henry VIII did hunt in the area around Hitchin.

Sport in Hitchin

Hitchin Town F.C. was established in 1865 and later reformed in 1928. Hitchin Town is a football club based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, currently playing in the Southern League. It is one of only three clubs who competed in the first ever FA Cup and still do so now. The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The club is the biggest sporting entity in the town.

Hitchin is also home to Blueharts Hockey Club [2], a leading club since 1946. Blueharts Hockey Club is a hockey club based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

It also houses Hitchin Cricket Club, which has been an important cricket club within the area since 1866. Hitchin Cricket Club is a Cricket club based in Hitchin in Hertfordshire.

Hitchin has a local swimming club, Hitchin Swimming Club [3], which competes at local level. The club is a good club however fails to meet the standards of putterige swimming club,luton and most other swimming pools. The club meets at Hitchin Swim Centre on Fishponds Road, Hitchin.

Hitchin also has a thriving rugby club. Founded in 1954, it has appeared at Twickenham in 1993 in the cup final for Junior clubs. Hitchin RFC lost to Fleetwood. Nowadays, Hitchin RFC runs 4 adult mens teams, 1 adult women's team, and mini and youth rugby teams at all ages.

Miscellaneous

In 1960 Hitchin Urban District Council was the first in Britain to introduce 'black bags' for refuse collection.

Hitchin also has its own Air Training Corps squadron, 1066 (Hitchin) Squadron. [4] Every year the squadron takes part in a competition with 30 other squadrons around the wing, and for the last two years (in 2006 and 2007) the squadron has come first in the overall competition. Hitchin Squadron is also one of the only squadrons in the wing with a fully functional marching band.

Transport

Hitchin railway station is on the Great Northern Line. Hitchin railway station serves the town of Hitchin in Hertfordshire. The East Coast Main Line ( ECML) is the electrified high-speed railway link between London and Edinburgh connecting Yorkshire, North East There are direct connections to London, Stevenage, Peterborough, and Cambridge.

Hitchin is about three miles to the A1(M) motorway and about ten miles to the M1 motorway.

Historically Hitchin was part of the Western area of the Eastern National Omnibus Company who built a bus garage in the town on Fishponds Road. Hitchin was one of the depots handed over to the United Counties Omnibus Company in the 1950s. In 1986 when United Counties was privatised, Hitchin bus garage became part of the Luton & District transport company, now a member of the Arriva group. In January 2007 Hitchin Garage was closed down and is now currently out of use, awaiting demolition for housing. Bus services in Hitchin are now provided by Centrebus, Arriva & Stagecoach with smaller local operators visiting on more infrequent services.

London Country Bus services also had a garage in Bridge Street, Hitchin, which was the furthest place North in the North Thames area of London Country's vast area. With the rapid expansion of near-by Stevenage in the 1950s the outdated and small garage at Hitchin was replaced by a newer depot in Danestreet, Stevenage and on 29th April 1959 Hitchin's LCBS depot closed for good. The garage site is still in existence today, and is likely to outlive the ENOC depot in Fishponds Rd, and has already outlived the Stevenage garage which was demolished in the mid 1990's.

People born in Hitchin

Famous connections

A famous connection to Hitchin is the American actor/comedian Bob Hope who died in 2003. Sir Henry Bessemer ( January 19, 1813 – March 15, 1898) English Engineer and Inventor. Jennie Bond (born August 19, 1950 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire) is an English Journalist and Television presenter Drewe Broughton (born October 25, 1978 in Hitchin) is an English professional footballer who plays for Rotherham United. George Chapman (c 1559 &ndash May 12 1634) was an English Dramatist, Translator, and Poet. Chris Cleaver (born March 24 1979 in Hitchin) is an English Football midfielder for Finnish Veikkausliiga side Karl Anthony Duguid (born March 21 1978 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire) is a versatile English football Midfielder Gail Elizabeth Emms (born July 23, 1977 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire) is a retired English Badminton player who has achieved Ross Daniel Flitney (born 1 June, 1984 in Hitchin, England) is an English football goalkeeper currently playing for Mathew Gates (born June 29, 1975 in Hitchin, England) is a former American figure skater. Martin Gordon (born 1954 Hitchin, Hertfordshire) is an English Musician, who plays Bass guitar and Piano. Frederick Landseer Maur Griggs RA, RE (October 30 1876 &ndash June 7 1938 was a distinguished English Etcher, architectural draughtsman Henry Hawkins 1st Baron Brampton ( September 14, 1817 – October 6, 1907) was an English judge David Barry "Dave" Kitson (born 21 January 1980 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire) is an English footballer currently Frank Launder ( January 28 1906 &mdash February 23 1997) was an English Writer, director and producer Elaine Murray (born 22 December 1954, Hitchin) is a Labour politician and Member of the Scottish Parliament for Dumfries David James Noble (born February 2, 1982 in Hitchin) is an English footballer, currently playing for Bristol City. Arvind Parmar (born 1978 in Hitchin in Hertfordshire) is a top British Tennis player of Indian descent who retired in December Kevin Mark Phillips (born 25 July 1973 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire) is an English footballer who currently plays for Birmingham City Kevin William Pilkington (born 8 March 1974 in Hitchin) is an English footballer He currently plays for Notts County. Career Born in Hitchin, Poulter's first professional win was the Open de Côte d'Ivoire on the European Tour's second tier Challenge Tour in 1999 and he won Michael Robbins ( November 14 1930 - December 11 1992) was a British actorknown for his television work Valerie Singleton OBE (born 9 April 1937) is an English television and radio presenter best known as the longest-serving female presenter of This article deals with Richard Walker English angler For other Richard Walkers see Richard Walker. Diana Paulette Wallis (born 28 June 1954 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire) is a Member of the European Parliament for the Liberal Richard Whitmore is a broadcaster writer and actor He was born on 22 December 1933 in Hitchin in Hertfordshire, where he still lives and Gary Younge (born 1969 in Hitchin, UK) is a British journalist and author born to immigrant parents from Barbados. Bob Hope was originally born in Eltham, South-east London in 1902 and emigrated to the USA in 1907 at the age of four. Eltham is a district in the London Borough of Greenwich. It is a suburban development situated east south-east of Charing Cross. However, he maintained strong links with his family back in England and still has family in the Hitchin area. Indeed, Bob Hope "claimed to have inherited his sense of humour from his paternal grandfather from Hitchin"[5]

The funeral of the conductor and founder of the Promenade Concerts, Henry Wood, took place in Hitchin at St. The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily Orchestral WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Sir Henry Joseph Wood, CH ( 3 March 1869 Mary's Church. He had been taken to Hitchin Hospital on 16 August 1944 and died there three days later. Events 1384 - The Hongwu Emperor of Ming China, Emperor Dong hears a case of a couple who tore paper money bills while fighting Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Hitchin was at one time home to Sir Frank Whittle. Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle, OM, KBE, FRS, Hon FRAeS (1 June 1907 &ndash 9 August 1996 was an English Royal It was also a home of Joseph Lister, and his old school is now the Lord Lister Hotel. Joseph Lister 1st Baron Lister, OM, FRS ( 5 April 1827 &ndash 10 February 1912) was an English surgeon

See also

Schools

Primary schools

Secondary Schools

Independent schools

Youth Organisations

These include:

Twinning

Hitchin is twinned with:

Districts of Hitchin

Nearby villages

References

  1. ^ Rhythms of the World

External links

Sea Cadets are generally members of a Sea Cadet Corps a formal cadet organisation of young people with an interest in their national navy History During the late 1850’s local Militia units (Predecessors of the Territorial Army (TA were organised into a nationwide Volunteer Reserve Force The Air Training Corps ( ATC) is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. A Ranger or Ranger Guide is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations who is between the ages of 14 and 25 Nuits-Saint-Georges is a commune in the Arrondissement of Beaune of the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Bingen am Rhein (or Bingen or Bingen on the Rhine) is a city located at the junction of the rivers Rhine and Nahe in the district of Mainz-Bingen Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Bearton was the name of a small hamlet lying to the North of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, England. Benslow is a district of Hitchin, Hertfordshire. It is located near the railway station and has Pinehill Hospital (private in it Highbury is a residential area based in the centre of Hitchin in Hertfordshire. Oakfield is a residential area in the south east of Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England and is based on Oakfield Avenue and the surrounding roads The Poets Estate is a 1970s residential area of Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England. Sunnyside is a residential area of Hitchin in Hertfordshire. It was built by Hitchin Urban District Council to house those displaced by slum clearance in Walsworth was originally a village about a mile north east of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, England. West Hitchin is a residential area of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, located towards the west and south west of the town Westmill is a residential area of Hitchin in Hertfordshire. It was originally built as a council housing estate in the 1920s Wymondley Park is a residential area of Hitchin in Hertfordshire. Ashwell is a Village situated about four miles north of Baldock in Hertfordshire. Bendish is a hamlet located in the Parish of St Paul's Walden near Hitchin in Hertfordshire. King's Walden is a Parish in the English county of Hertfordshire. Charlton is a village in Hertfordshire, England, which has steadily been approached by the neighbouring town of Hitchin. Codicote is a large village about seven miles (11 km south of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, England. Gosmore is a hamlet in the parish of St Ippolyts near Hitchin in Hertfordshire, England. Graveley is a small village about four miles east of Hitchin and two miles north of Stevenage in Hertfordshire, England. Great Wymondley is a picturesque hamlet situated near Hitchin in Hertfordshire. Offley is a Parish in the English county of Hertfordshire, between Hitchin and Luton. Hexton is a small village about six miles (10 km west of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, England. Holwell is a small village two miles north of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, England, near the Bedfordshire border Ickleford is a large village situated on the northern outskirts of Hitchin in North Hertfordshire in England. King's Walden is a Parish in the English county of Hertfordshire. Lilley is a small village which stands between Hitchin and Luton in England, on the highest ground and within some of the most striking scenery in the area Offley is a Parish in the English county of Hertfordshire, between Hitchin and Luton. Little Wymondley is a village situated between Hitchin and Stevenage in Hertfordshire. Pirton is a small village three miles north-east of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, England. Preston is a Village about 3 miles (5 km south of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, England. St Ippolyts (or St Ippollitts) is a village on the southern edge of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, England. St Paul's Walden is a village about five miles south of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, England. Whitwell is a village in the parish of St Paul's Walden about five miles south of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, England.
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