Hertford

Hertford is the county town of Hertfordshire in England and has a population of around 25,000. It lies 20 miles directly north of London. It was the birthplace of Samuel Stone, who is credited with being the founder of Hartford, Connecticut.

Points of interest include:

• Hertford Castle. It goes back to 900, although there is little remaining. The building is now government offices.
• Quaker Meeting House. The oldest purpose-built one in the world (in Railway Street), in use since 1670.
• The home of Alfred Russel Wallace, 11 St. Andrew St. Russell proposed the theory of natural selection more or less at the same time as Charles Darwin. It is marked with a plaque.
• Shire Hall, 4 Market Place, SG14 1DF, +44 1992 588998. It was built in 1779 and designed by the noted architect, Robert Adam.
• Samuel Stone memorial. A statue of the founder of Hertford can be found next to the Castle Theatre on Mill Bridge.
• Hertford Museum, 18 Bull Plain, SG14 1DT, +44 1992 582686. Although small, this museum in the town centre offers a fascinating range of artifacts and an oversight of the history of the town.

Hertford Castle. It goes back to 900, although there is little remaining. The building is now government offices.

Quaker Meeting House. The oldest purpose-built one in the world (in Railway Street), in use since 1670.

The home of Alfred Russel Wallace, 11 St. Andrew St. Russell proposed the theory of natural selection more or less at the same time as Charles Darwin. It is marked with a plaque.

Shire Hall, 4 Market Place, SG14 1DF, +44 1992 588998. It was built in 1779 and designed by the noted architect, Robert Adam.

Samuel Stone memorial. A statue of the founder of Hertford can be found next to the Castle Theatre on Mill Bridge.

Hertford Museum, 18 Bull Plain, SG14 1DT, +44 1992 582686. Although small, this museum in the town centre offers a fascinating range of artifacts and an oversight of the history of the town.

• Walk along the rivers. Hertford is at the confluence of four rivers, with the Rivers Beane, Mimram and Rib flowing into the River Lea and forming a navigable canal at Hertford.

Walk along the rivers. Hertford is at the confluence of four rivers, with the Rivers Beane, Mimram and Rib flowing into the River Lea and forming a navigable canal at Hertford.

Hertford is a noted centre for shops selling antiques and collectables.

• The Riverside Garden Centre. Has a fantastic restaurant by the river side which serves a superb selection of meals to set the tastebuds racing. From a magnificent traditional English breakfast to light lunches, hot and cold snacks, excellent main meals to fresh cream teas.
• Loch Fyne, 130 Fore Street, +44 1992 585440. Noon-10PM. In the centre of town. Part of a chain of 49 restaurants in the UK, offering kippers, kiln-roasted salmon fillet, oysters, well-aged rib-eye steak and smoked venison. £25.

The Riverside Garden Centre. Has a fantastic restaurant by the river side which serves a superb selection of meals to set the tastebuds racing. From a magnificent traditional English breakfast to light lunches, hot and cold snacks, excellent main meals to fresh cream teas.

Loch Fyne, 130 Fore Street, +44 1992 585440. Noon-10PM. In the centre of town. Part of a chain of 49 restaurants in the UK, offering kippers, kiln-roasted salmon fillet, oysters, well-aged rib-eye steak and smoked venison. £25.

The town is well supplied with public houses.

The surrounding villages are very attractive and very affluent as the area forms part of London's commuter belt.