| 32nd | Top Fairtrade settlements: Fairtrade Towns |
Coordinates: 51°56′49″N 0°16′59″W / 51.947°N 0.283°W
| Hitchin | |
 Hitchin Market Place |
|
  Hitchin
Hitchin shown within Hertfordshire |
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| Population | 30,360 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | North Hertfordshire |
| Shire county | Hertfordshire |
| Region | East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HITCHIN |
| Postcode district | SG4, SG5 |
| Dialling code | 01462 |
| Police | Hertfordshire |
| Fire | Hertfordshire |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | Hitchin and Harpenden |
| List of places: UK • England • Hertfordshire | |
Hitchin is a town in Hertfordshire, England with an estimated population of 30,360.
Contents |
Hitchin is first noted as the central place of the Hicce people mentioned in a 7th century document[citation needed] the Tribal Hidage. The tribal name is Brittonic rather than Old English and derives from *siccā, meaning 'dry', perhaps a reference to the local stream, the Hiz. There exists credible evidence that Hitchin was the location chosen in 673[citation needed] by Archbishop Theodore of Tarsus during the Synod of Hertford, the first nationwide meeting of representatives of the fledgling Catholic churches of Anglo-Saxon England, to hold annual synods of the churches as Theodore attempted to consolidate and centralise Catholicism in England.[1] By 1086 Hitchin is described as a Royal Manor in the Domesday Book. Evidence has been found to suggest that the town was once provided with an earthen bank and ditch fortification[citation needed] probably in the 10th century[citation needed] but this did not last. The modern spelling 'Hitchin' first appears in 1618[citation needed] in a document called the "Hertfordshire Feet of Fines".
The name of the town also is associated with the small river that runs through the town, most picturesquely in front of the east end of St. Mary's Church, the town's parish church. The river is noted on maps as the River Hiz. Contrary to how most people now pronounce the name, that is to say phonetically, the 'z' was an abbreviated character for a 'tch' sound, as in the name of the town. It would have been pronounced 'River Hitch'. (A similar example is the 'y' which was, or is, an abbreviation for a 'th' in phrases and names such as Ye Olde King's Head).
Hitchin is notable for St. Mary’s Church which is remarkably large for town of its size. The size of the church is evidence of how Hitchin prospered from the wool trade. It is the largest parish church in Hertfordshire[citation needed]. Most of the church dates from the 15th century, with its tower dating from around 1190. During the laying of a new floor in the church in 1911, foundations of a more ancient church building were found. In form, they appear to be a basilican church of a 7th century type, with a later enlarged chancel and transepts, perhaps added in the 10th century. This makes the church older than the story (not recorded before the 15th century) that the church was founded by Offa, king of Mercia 757-796.
In 1697, Hitchin (and the nearby village of Offley) were subject to what is thought to have been the most severe hailstorm in recorded British history. Hailstones over 4 inches in diameter were reported[citation needed] [2]
The town flourished on the wool trade, and located near the Icknield Way and by the 17th century Hitchin was a staging post for coaches coming from London. 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 centre 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 M1, and the A1 (M) even closer. By the close of the 20th century, Hitchin had become a satellite dormitory town for London. Hitchin also developed a fairly strong Sikh community based around the Walsworth area.
During the medieval period, both a priory (Newbigging, now known as The Biggin) and a friary (now known as Hitchin Priory) were established, both of which closed during Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries. They were never reformed, although The Biggin was for many years used as almshouses.
Hitchin is also the venue for the annual Rhythms of the World[3] festival, which was previously the largest free festival of world music in Europe. (Made payable as of 2008)
Hitchin is home to the world’s only known complete Lancasterian Schoolroom which was built in 1837 to teach boys by the Lancasterian method (peer tutoring).
It is locally reputed that Henry VIII nearly died in a fire in Hitchin. It is also alleged that Henry VIII, when he was fitter, thought he was able to pole vault over the local river, the River Hiz. However, he had grown somewhat fatter than he knew, and the pole snapped from underneath him. He fell into the river, much to the amusement of his servants. This event is commemorated on the sign of the Buck's Head [1] pub in nearby Little Wymondley. Whatever the truth of this story, it is known however that Henry VIII did hunt in the area around Hitchin.
Hitchin was the location of the Hitchin Signpost Case, the last prosecution in English law of an inanimate object.
Hitchin Rugby Club is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to participate in and promote the sport of rugby union at all age levels within the Hitchin area. This includes Mini/ Midi (U7-U12), Youth (U13-U17), Colts (U19), Seniors (19+), Vets (35+) and Ladies. Hitchin RFC has a 50+ year relationship with the town of Hitchin, having been founded in 1954. See the history section for more. Highlights have included playing at Twickenham in the final of the national Junior RFU Cup in 1993 and the establishment of the country's first Academy. Currently their membership stands at over 500 people, including active and associate members. They have an community development programme and a Mini & Junior Section. Hitchin RFC runs 4 adult mens teams, 1 adult women's team, and mini and youth rugby teams at all ages.
Hitchin Town F.C. was established in 1865 and later reformed in 1928. It is one of only three clubs who competed in the first ever FA Cup and still do so now. The club is the biggest sporting entity in the town.
Hitchin is also home to Blueharts Hockey Club [2], a leading club since 1946.
It also houses Hitchin Cricket Club, which has been an important cricket club within the area since 1866.
Hitchin has a local swimming club, Hitchin Swimming Club [3], which competes at local level, county and regional level.
The Hitchin Nomads Cycling Club, which caters for many competitive and non-competitive cycling disciplines was formed in the town in 1934. It is affiliated to British Cycling, the Cyclists' Touring Club, Cycling time trials and local cycling associations.
Formed in 2003 and known as FVS TRI until November 2009, Team Trisports [4] is a Hitchin based triathlon club. In addition to triathlon, the club is affiliated to England Athletics and British Cycling.
In 1960 Hitchin Urban District Council was the first in Britain to introduce 'black bags' for refuse collection.
Hitchin also has its own Air Training Corps squadron, 1066 (Hitchin) Squadron. [5] Every year the squadron takes part in a competition with 30 other squadrons around the wing, and for the last two years (in 2006 and 2007) the squadron has come first in the overall competition(Aviation Day). Hitchin Squadron is also one of the only squadrons in the wing with a fully functional marching band.
Hitchin railway station is on the Great Northern Line. There are direct connections to London, Stevenage, Peterborough, and Cambridge. Connections to London and Cambridge both last approximately 30 minutes on the Express services. Stevenage is only 5 minutes away and Peterborough is typically 45 minutes distance in journey-time.
Hitchin is about three miles from the A1(M) motorway and about ten miles from the M1 motorway.
A famous connection to Hitchin is the English-born American actor/comedian Bob Hope, who died in 2003. Bob Hope was originally born in Eltham, South-east London in 1903 and emigrated to the USA in 1907 at the age of four. However, he maintained strong links with his family back in England and still has family in the Hitchin area. Indeed, Bob Hope "claimed to have inherited his sense of humour from his paternal grandfather from Hitchin"[6]
The funeral of the conductor and founder of the Promenade Concerts, Henry Wood, took place in Hitchin at St. Mary's Church. He had been taken to Hitchin Hospital on 16 August 1944 and died there three days later.
Hitchin was at one time home to Sir Frank Whittle. It was also a home of Joseph Lister, and his old school is now the Lord Lister Hotel.
There are 3 secondary schools in Hitchin
These include:
Hitchin is twinned with:
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Hitchin is a town with 30,000 inhabitants 35 miles north of London in the county of Hertfordshire. Hitchin is an old market town first mentioned 1,000 years ago.
Hitchin is a small historic market town in the north of Hertfordshire. It is twinned with the German town Bingen and the French town Nuits St Georges. Hitchin has its own character and several historic buildings can be found around the town centre, historic market place, Bancroft, Bucklersbury and Sun Street. Although this part of Hertfordshire is fairly heavily populated there is still plenty of scenery with rolling hills, lots of small villages and single track lanes to be found.
Girton College (Cambridge) was briefly sited in Hitchin before the University authorities decided female students could perhaps be permitted to reside within 30 miles of the older colleges. The building still stands, near the summit of Benslow Lane, but is of little distinction.
Frequent, generally fast, trains run to and from London, Stevenage, Cambridge and Peterborough. Station 15 mins walk from town centre. Service often disrupted in late evening/at weekends lately with bus substitution - check carefully if planning to travel with a bike.
The nearest main airport is Luton Airport about 15 minutes drive from Hitchin. Heathrow Airport is a 1 hour drive otherwise about 1.5 hours by train via London and the Heathrow Express. Coach 777 (Birmingham - Luton - Stansted airports) stops at Hitchin, as does coach 787 (Heathrow - Luton - Cambridge). Bus 700 runs to/from Stansted and 100 to/from Luton.
On foot, or nearby villages within easy reach by bike. Pleasant rides (with pubs at the far end) to Willian, Shillington, Charlton, Gosmore, Great/Little Wymondley, Ickleford, Pirton etc. Beyond Charlton the Red Lion at Preston (communally owned by the villagers) is worth visiting, but does not keep extended hours.
Also in the area is Knebworth (historic house and grounds) and Whipsnade zoo
Walk to top of Windmill Hill (end of Hermitage Road) for view over town. Lie down at top and roll down again, à la Samuel Johnson, or sledge if snowy. Walk out to Charlton (½ hour), have a drink or two at the Windmill, and find a different way back across the fields or via Gosmore. Very scenic wooded walk beside the river to Oughton Head (turn West from Bedford Road beyond West Mill estate). Various routes back, B655 not recommended due to narrowness and lack of footways. Go on a pub crawl, Hitchin has many pubs - even on halves most would be in a bad way trying to do them all - at least 3 pubs have 5 or more real ales (see pub section below).
There is a good selection of places to eat in Hitchin including pubs, cafes and the usual range of cuisines such as Italian, Indian, Chinese and Thai.
Hitchin is an excellent town for a real-ale crawl; the Sunrunner, Half Moon, and Nightingale will supply you with 15 to 20 ales between them, and several other pubs have a hand pump or two.
There are a number of acceptable small hotels and bed & breakfast type places to stay in and around Hitchin.
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   | Hitchin.Net - Hitchin.Net - Visit Hitchin, historic Hertfordshire market town |
| | Hitchin Comet Newspaper Online - North Herts & Mid Beds News from The Comet |
| | Rhythms of the World - Rhythms Of the World 09 - July 4th/5th |
| | Hitchin Football Club - Hitchin Town Football Club |
| | Hitchin Rugby Club - Hitchin Rugby Football Club |
| | Hitchin Blueharts Hockey Club - Hitchin Blueharts Hockey Club |
| | Hitchin Town Race Circuit & Image Library - Hitchin Race Circuit: rFactor GTR F1C F12K2 |
| | Hitchin Swimming Club - Hitchin Swimming Club::Home |
| | Hitchin Historical Society - The website of the Hitchin Historical Society |
| | Rhythms of the World - Rhythms Of the World 09 - July 4th/5th |
| | Hitchin Community Website - SG4 & SG5 Guide, Hitchin Guide, Offley Guide, Pirton Guide |
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