Did You Know?

Hemel Hempstead is a flourishing new town in Hertfordshire, UK. It is 26.9 miles away from London (northwest). Hemel Hempstead received New Towns recognition on February 4th,1947 under New Towns Act 1946

According to archaeologists, Hemel Hempstead has roots to the Anglo-Saxon period but what really boggles the mind of historians is that there are several names mentioned in the history but no one could find out the original or actual name of the town along with the reason behind it.

Hemel Hempstead is one of the few 18th-century towns to be agriculturally enriched with massive cereal production. In fact, the grain market of the town became one of the largest agricultural markets in the UK before the end of 18th century. 

In 1803, Fourdrinier Brothers developed the first automatic paper making machinery and established Frogmore Paper Mill in Hemel Hempstead. It was indeed a huge step towards industrial success and helped a lot in expanding education and literacy. Frogmore Paper Mill ruled the Hertfordshire for one century until replaced by John Dickson Mills in the early years of 19thcentury.

St. Mary's church was begun in about 1140, situated in Gadebridge park, it's regarded as one of the most complete Norman churches in Hertfordshire. The base of the central tower dates from the 12th century.

The town is widely-recognized for having a ‘Magic Roundabout’, it is a junction where traffic from six different routes meets from nearby areas. It was formerly known as ‘The Plough Roundabout’. Interestingly, Magic Roundabout of Hemel Hempstead is voted the; UK’s second worst roundabout in Britain (2005) and Best Roundabout in Britain (2011) voted by motorists’ participants in a competition.

The importance of the area in the Roman times hinged on the fact that it was near to the city of Verulamium (St. Albans). Raw materials were traded and in return pottery, wine and cloth were purchased from the city merchants. Roman villas have been excavated at Boxmoor, and in Gadebridge, remains of a large villa with a bathing pool were found.

There is little solid evidence of the Saxon occupation of the area, but some documents of the time refer to Hemel Hempstead as "Hamele". In 704 land rights were granted, by decree of the king of Essex to the Bishop of London.

The "old" High Street was the centre of Hemel Hempstead before it became a "new town", it contained the parish church, market place, Town Hall and believe it or not, no less than 24 pubs, most of the pubs have now closed and have become shops or restaurants.

Hemel also was home of one of the first community-based television stations West Herts TV which later became Channel 10.

In 1898 another charter was granted, the charter of incorporation was granted by queen Victoria which made Hemel Hempstead a municipal borough allowing the town to elect a mayor, bailiff and alderman.

The town is now known to residents as "Hemel" and is often colloquialised to "'emel". However, before the Second World War locals called it "Hempstead". Emigrants from Hemel Hempstead, led by one John Carman, migrated to the American colonies in the early 17th century and founded the town of Hempstead, New York in 1644.

An important feature of the new town plan was the construction of a watergarden in the town centre. The original idea was to build a new Civic Centre in the middle of a lake. The plan which was eventually chosen was constructed in 1962/3 consisting of a stretch of water running parallel to Marlowes, populated by ducks and edged with grass, trees and shrubs.