Stanstead Abbotts
Coordinates: 51°47′19″N 0°00′44″E / 51.788613°N 0.012308°E
| Stanstead Abbotts | |
 The High Street at Stanstead Abbotts |
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 Stanstead Abbotts
Stanstead Abbotts shown within Hertfordshire |
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| Population | 1,983 |
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| OS grid reference | TL4011 |
| District | East Hertfordshire |
| Shire county | Hertfordshire |
| Region | East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WARE |
| Postcode district | SG12 |
| Dialling code | 01920 |
| Police | Hertfordshire |
| Fire | Hertfordshire |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | Hertford and Stortford |
| List of places: UK • England • Hertfordshire | |
Stanstead Abbotts (alternatively Stanstead Abbots) is a village and civil parish in the district of East Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, England. At the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,983.[1] It lies on the county boundary with Essex, and is situated approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) SSE of Ware, 6.5 miles (10.5 km) SE of Hertford, 3 miles (4.8 km) NNE of Hoddesdon and 5 miles (8.0 km) W of Harlow. The village is separated from the village of Stanstead St Margarets by the River Lea.
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[edit] History
[edit] Name and origins
The village's name was recorded as "Stanstede" at the time of the Domesday Survey in the late eleventh century. In the twelfth century the manor passed to the abbot of Waltham Holy Cross. By the fourteenth century the suffix "Abbatis", "Abbotts" or "Abbot" formed part of the parish's name. The abbey continued possession of the manor until its dissolution in 1531.[2][3]
The manor of Stanstead Abbotts was granted to Anne Boleyn and remained with the crown after her execution. In 1559 Queen Elizabeth granted it to Edward Baeshe and it remained in the Bashe family for several generation.[2]
[edit] Geography
The Greenwich Meridian (longitude 0°) passes through the village with its exact position marked by Meridian obelisks which were erected in 1984 to commemorate the centenary of the adoption of the prime meridian line.[4] The current line is one of many that have existed, however the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system uses a prime meridian that is about 100 metres east of the Greenwich Meridian at Stanstead Abbotts.[citation needed]
In recent years the village was awarded the title "Best kept village in Hertfordshire - large village" which if nothing else establishes that it is a "large" village.
[edit] The Village
Once situated on the main A414 it has many old buildings in its High street although many have now made way for newer residential properties because the village is on the main railway line into Liverpool Street Station. The main industry in the village used to be making ale but again many of the original maltings have now been demolished to make way for a small business park.
The main entrance to the All Nations Christian College in Stanstead Abbotts was used as the entrance to the school in the "St Trinians" films.
The local school is St Andrews Primary CE (VC) Primary School.[5]
The village has a Scout Group, the 1st Stanstead Abbotts & St. Margaret's Scout Group.[6]
The Lee Valley Marina, part of the Lee Valley Park, is located to the south of the village on the River Lea.[7]
[edit] Sport and leisure
Stanstead Abbotts has a Non-League football club St. Margaretsbury F.C., which plays at The Recreation Ground.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Parish Headcount: Stanstead Abbots CP (Parish)". Neighborhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. 28 April 2004. http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=795286&c=stanstead&d=16&e=15&g=454406&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1261596030812&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
- ^ a b "Parishes: Stanstead Abbots". A History of the County of Hertford: volume 3. British History Online. 1912. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43627. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
- ^ Hertfordshire County Council. "Stanstead Abbots". Hertfordshire Extensive Urban Survey. Archaeology Data Service. http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/herteus_eh_2005/ahds/dissemination/pdf/stanstead_abbots.pdf. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
- ^ "Stanstead Abbotts Online". http://www.stanstead-abbotts-online.co.uk/about.html. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ "St Andrews CE (VC) Primary School". http://www.standrews323.herts.sch.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
- ^ "1st Stanstead Abbotts & St. Margaret's Scout Group". http://www.stansteadabbottsscouts.org.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
- ^ "Lee Valley Regional Park Authority - Stanstead Marina". http://www.leevalleypark.org.uk/en/content/cms/leisure/water_sports___activ/stanstead_marina/stanstead_marina.aspx. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
[edit] External links
Media related to Stanstead Abbotts at Wikimedia Commons
