The musings of a philosopher savant: Hitchin, an old market town

In 1978 I moved to Hitchin with my then husband. In 1979 I gave birth to our first child, a lovely daughter. We lived in a flat that was in Garrison Court, virtually across the street from the market square.

Although now best known for it's weekly market Hitchin's history stretches far back in time.

The earliest part of Hitchin's history begin with King Offa of Mercia, who founded a religious house in AD792 on land occupied by the Hicce tribe. This was the beginning of Hitchin's parish church, second only in size to St Albans Abbey in the county.

In the Domesday Book of 1086 Hitchin is recorded as a Royal Manor and by medieval times it was a thriving town on the banks of the River Hiz. Today it still gives an air of peace and prosperity.

The present church dates from the 13th century and was built with money from the wool trade. The surrounding lands favored the breeding of sheep on the hillsides, while the flat land grew excellent crops of wheat, barley and lavender, and trade grew rapidly.

St Mary's Church taken across the River Hiz

After the 17th century, Hitchin became a frequent staging post for London coaches and many of the inns from that time, with their picturesque courtyards, can still be seen in Hitchin's narrow streets.

One of the old coaching inns that still exists. It is now a pub and a B&B. In fact my parents stayed in The Cock once when they visited us.

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 center for grain trading.

The latter half of the 20th 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 Ml, and the Al(M) even closer.

Some photos of the town.