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The Association of British Counties

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British Place Names

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Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire

Berkhamsted is a market town, lying in the Bulbourne Valley among the Chiltern Hills in the north-west of Hertfordshire. The town is recorded around 970 AD as 'Beorhðanstædæ'. From 1066 to 1495, Berkhamsted Castle, now ruined, was a favoured residence of royalty and the nobility, including Henry II, Edward the Black Prince, Thomas Becket and Geoffrey Chaucer. Its position on Akeman Street made the town a major trading centre from the 12th century. The Grand Union Canal runs through the town centre. The oldest extant jettied timber-framed building in Britain, built between 1277-1297, survives as a shop on the high street. The parish church of St Peter was established in the early 13th century. Numerous alternative spellings of the town's name have been used since Domesday. Great Berkhampstead was in use into the early 20th century but has been largely superceded by Berkhamsted. The town is within the council area of Dacorum (Hertfordshire).

Place Type: Town
Alternative name(s): Great Berkhampstead
Historic County: Hertfordshire
Lat, Long: 51.760385,-0.564111
Grid Reference: SP 9919 0783
Civil Parish: Berkhamsted CP
Council Area: Dacorum CA (Hertfordshire CA)
Police Area: Hertfordshire PA

GBPN ID: 3362
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Berkhamsted,_Hertfordshire_3362

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