09 Feb 11 What to do in all Weathers in Hertfordshire
Cheshunt and Hertford are two of the most prominent towns in Hertfordshire and the weather in this area of the UK very much determines the activities available to visitors! As with everyone in the UK, the weather is always a common focal point for many conversations in Hertfordshire and there are plenty of things to do on the warm summers as well as the depths of the chilly winters!
Cheshunt and Hertford in the Summer
The summer in this part of the UK is at its warmest from May through to August and visitors can make use of a wide range of activities on offer whatever the weather! The summer sun can be tricky to predict but these are usually the most pleasant months and due to the area’s location close to London, many people will choose to make use of the public transport links and make their way to the capital to see the famous sights. Big Ben, the London Bridge, Tower Bridge, Westminster Bridge, Regents Park, London Zoo and places such as Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park are all great for exploring in the sun.
Cheshunt itself is home to a smaller range of attractions ideal for visiting in the summer and the local churches are always a great place to start. The buildings are beautiful and the stone work is very old giving the town a historically rich atmosphere. Capel Manor Gardens are found just two miles from Cheshunt and these gardens are where students from the College of Horticulture in London come to study. The gardens are home to many flowers and interesting designs while various animals also call Capel Manor home. Paradise Wildlife Park is found just three miles from Cheshunt and is an ideal place to visit with children. A range of enclosures can be viewed in the summer with lions, tigers, zebra, tapirs and reptiles all available for viewing. This makes for a perfect summers day out for all the family!
Hertford weather in the summer brings with it a wealth of visitors, as the largest town in the county is home to many things to see and do. Hertford Castle and the collection of local churches make for great viewing and they all have an intense architectural draw. There are endless bars and eateries to enjoy with a total of 25 pubs and clubs to make use of. The skatepark is popular with children in the summer months and this can be found in Hartham Common. Anyone looking to cool down may wish to take a trip to the swimming pool and this can also be used in the winter as it is based indoors and is fully heated. Forty Hall can be found around 45 minutes from Hertford and the estate is surrounded by woodland that is great for hiking. Children can enjoy feeding the local ducks and fish found in the assortment of lakes and ponds here and the house is great for exploring when the weather turns cooler in the winter.
Winter Blues in Hertfordshire
The Lowewood Museum is set in a Georgian building that dates back to the 1700s and the museum boasts an impressive collection of artifacts that attract many visitors during the winter and summer months. This indoor attraction is found just four miles from Cheshunt and makes for a pleasant trip out.
Hertford Museum is also a great place to visit in the cold winter and this is based in a 17th century house that has a Jacobean style knot garden that is well worth exploring. The Hertford Corn Exchange is a popular entertainment venue and if you are visiting on a cold winter’s day then this offers many warm activities to enjoy including dance and drama performances.
Cheshunt and Hertfordshire weather will determine what activities you can do at what time of the year but be prepared to be busy during a trip here, whatever time of the year you visit!
15 Nov 10 Industries in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a pretty county in the east of England and it is bordered by many important counties including Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Greater London. Hertfordshire’s prime location in the UK is part of its appeal for visitors and locals. Other appeals include the county’s historical roots and thriving industries and many come to get a taste of an older England that offers a pleasant and welcoming charm that is often lost in modern towns and cities. Hertfordshire business ranges from small, locally run businesses through to large corporations, with many headquarters for big companies based here.
Hertfordshire Business
The town of Hemel Hempstead is home to DSG International, which is one of the top consumer electronics retailers in the whole of Europe. Close by in the town of Cheshunt the headquarters for Tesco can be found and this plant offers many local job vacancies due to its sheer size. The headquarters for Roche can be found in the lovely city of Welwyn Garden City and this is a subsidiary of Hoffman-La Roche, a Swiss pharmaceutical company. Pure Digital, the makers of the DAB radio and Cereal Partners are located in Kings Langley while the base for the ever popular JD Wetherspoon is located in the large area of Watford.
Rickmansworth is also home to a few company headquarters with Comet and Skanska both located here and GlaxoSmithKline boasts plants in Stevenage and Ware. Hatfield has strong connections to the aircraft sector as the area is famous for being the place where the first ever commercial jet liner was created by a company called de Havilland. The site is now home to the University of Hertfordshire and Computacenter, Ocado and T-Mobile are all based in the university grounds. Hertfordshire is also home to EADS Astrium in Stevenage and the company is well known for its production of satellites. St. Albans boasts the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) headquarters and this trade association for community pharmacies in the UK is a large Hertfordshire business.
Industrial Losses
All in all, Hertfordshire enjoys a thriving industry with many businesses proving successful in the area, something largely due to the proximity with many prosperous counties. The loss of the aircraft manufacturing in Hatfield was a blow to the local region and the move came about due to land prices in Hatfield soaring, forcing companies to look elsewhere.
Recruitment and land prices are cheaper in other counties but the popularity of operating a business from Hertfordshire seemingly wins over the outgoings the majority of the time. Scammell used to be based in Watford but were forced to relocate to save money and DRG suffered the same fate when they were forced to rethink their location in Hemel Hempstead. Lucas were also based in Hemel Hempstead and moved when prices got too high but in general the price of the land is usually suitable for the great location offered by businesses wanting to be based Hertfordshire.
With so many main businesses based in the area, it is easy to see why it is famous for its industries. Any Hertfordshire business will understand the importance of being based in such a well-placed area and high rentals are a small price to pay for a successful business.
Being close to many other thriving counties, Hertfordshire is a popular location with business owners. Visit the Hertfordshire Mercury for the latest Hertfordshire business news.
Tags: Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire Business, Hertfordshire Mercury
14 Oct 10 A Sporting Look at Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a home county whose name may well have been based on a field sport, in this case the hunting of deer. The ‘Hert’ in question was almost certainly a hart or male deer, presumably fording one of the many rivers or streams in the county and a picture of an antlered deer is today the county emblem. Certainly, there are numerous Hertfordshire pubs carrying the name of The Sportsman, suggesting that this county has always been keen on its sports.
The Importance of Doing Sport
It can be very difficult for today’s schools to find enough time in their curriculum to run lengthy sports activities but the importance of doing some kind of sport is becoming ever more obvious as we enter a period when obesity is on the increase. There has also been much argument about the assumed harmful effects of kids competing in sport, especially when they don’t succeed but learning how to take defeat gracefully is a key social skill, as is focusing on how to improve your performance in future. Hertfordshire youth sports are taken very seriously in the county and it is refreshing to see so many young people taking such an interest in sports.
Famous Sportspeople from Hertfordshire
A number of famous and even perhaps slightly infamous sportspeople were originally born in Hertfordshire, including Vinnie Jones (footballer and now actor), Nick Faldo (golfer), Zara Phillips (horse riding) and Lewis Hamilton (F1 racing driver), to name but a few of them. This success in sport in the county is perhaps not surprising given the county’s current population of over one million but it has acted as a spur to younger people in Hertfordshire.
Hertfordshire Youth Sports
Other than surfing perhaps, Hertfordshire youth sports in this county cover more or less the whole sporting spectrum. Nowhere is this more evident than in the seriously competitive Hertfordshire Youth Games, an annual event that allows teams from schools across the county to compete in 10 different sports, ranging from netball, through to table tennis, then to badminton. There are numerous sports facilities in Hertfordshire and one is the £15m Hertfordshire Sports Village based in Hatfield at the University of Hertfordshire campus. Here, visitors can find a climbing wall, two swimming pools and a studio that offers a wide range of fitness enhancing exercises from Pilates through to yoga. Meanwhile, SportsAid is working with local businesses to support very talented young sportspeople in Hertfordshire to compete more effectively in the forthcoming 2012 Olympic Games.
Different Sports in Hertfordshire
North Hertfordshire District Council has joined a Childrens Trust Partnership to increase participation in sport and provide more opportunities for young people. Hertfordshire Tennis was formed some 20 years ago to provide school children with a chance to play the game and improve on their quality of play through competition and training. Twelve youth football clubs are also listed on one site on the internet but there are likely many more scattered across the county.
The Herts Sports Partnership is an organisation dedicated to co-ordinating sport in the county, bringing together expertise, resources and ideas. Also, Hertsmere Leisure has a number of sports and leisure centres in the county with opportunities for young people to participate in their preferred sport.
There are numerous facilities for young swimmers in the county with both public and private pools available. However, a government scheme to provide free facilities to children and the over 60s is struggling due to recent cost cutting by Councils. Of course, Hertfordshire’s reasonable proximity to London and good transport links also means that the county’s elite athletes and young sportspeople potentially have limited access to the best of the capital’s facilities when necessary to bring on and develop their full potential.
Whether it be horse riding across the countryside or sailing on one of the county’s many lakes, there are countless opportunities for young people to have a go at a wide range of sports in Hertfordshire.
With names such as Zara Phillips and Lewis Hamilton to be born in Hertfordshire, this Home County takes its sports very seriously! Visit the Hertfordshire Mercury for the latest sports news, including the scoop on Hertfordshire youth sports.
Tags: Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire Mercury, Hertfordshire Youth Sports
12 Aug 10 The Rise of Hertford Town FC
Football in Hertfordshire is not as lacklustre as some people may think and although there are currently no Premiership teams in the county; the area still offers exciting football throughout the season with two professional teams and a host of non-league sides. For Hertford sports fans, there is of course the mighty Hertford Town FC to cheer on…
The Early Days
At the turn of the 20th century, football was a growing sport and was rapidly becoming popular across the region. Many towns had at least two or three teams that played in the area and so grew the local rivalry. Eager fans of Hertford sports had the choice of four teams: Hertford FC, Horns Club, Port Vale Rovers or Blue Cross.
It wasn’t long into the 1900s before two of these teams merged to become Hertford Town with Hertford FC and Port Vale Rovers choosing to become one leaving only three teams. For the following years these three teams had some of the fiercest rivalry in the area with the three continuingly fighting it out to be the best.
Eventually Hertford sports fans had to drop down to just two teams when in 1908, Blue Cross joined up with Hertford Town to become Hertford Town FC. This was the official date that the current club was formed as this is when they became a senior team. Just a season later, Horns Club lost their ground and joined forces with Hertford Town FC.
Pre WWII
In their first two seasons of the East Herts League, they took home the cup and narrowly missed out on the County League Cup by a solitary point. The team continued to play in this league until 1921 when the Hertfordshire team gained promotion into the Spartan League.
The next 18 years were a thrill for Hertford sports fans as the team flirted with winning the league and they made it into the Herts Senior Cup Final in 1934. For the start of 1939/40 season Hertford Town FC gained promotion to the Premier Spartan League but WWII postponed play and when it resumed in 1946/47 they were relegated and were pushed completely out of senior football the following year as their ground became unusable.
Post WWII
It was only a year break before the Hertfordshire team was back in the Spartan league Division One East and the following year they won the league and were promoted into the Spartan Premier League.
The 1960s was a good decade for Hertford Town FC as they won two consecutive Delphian League titles, one Herts Senior Cup Finals and two East Anglian Cup Finals but despite continued efforts the team could not fight their way into the Spartan Premier League.
The start of the 1973/74 season saw Hertford Town FC join the second tier of the Isthmian League. For the next 15 years, Hertford sports fans would saw their beloved team rise and fall with continuous relegations followed by promotions. In 1990 they made into the final of the Herts Senior Cup by beating league outfit Barnet and they went on to beat St Albans Town 2-0 in the final.
The Last 20 Years
For most of the 1990s, the Hertfordshire team would play in the third tier of the Isthmian League with just one fleeting season in the second tier before coming back down with a crash with their only success to speak of was making it to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup twice in this time.
The following years looked promising with a promotion to the new Division One North Ryman League in 2002. New management was brought in as well as some new players, but fate told the all-too familiar story and the team was knocked back down a league again.
In 2006, the team moved to the Spartan South Midland League and this has proved to be a good call as the team has settled in nicely with third place, scoring 122 goals claimed in the first year. In 2008, the team celebrated their 100-year anniversary but unfortunately finished fourth with no chance of promotion.
Hertfordshire is home to many sports teams, including Hertford FC. Hertford sports fans can catch up on the latest news and results from their favourite teams at the Hertfordshire Mercury website.
20 May 10 Flicks in Herts
When there is talk of Hertfordshire film theatres, the residents in Hertford reminisce of a time long ago when they actually had a cinema as it was in 1982 when the last motion picture was shown on the big screen here.
A history of Hertfordshire cinemas
Cinemas in Hertfordshire have been around since films began and it is a shame the county seat is not home to one of the bastions of the movie world. The last cinema in Hertford, The County Cinema, was pulled down shortly after closing and many protests followed. Alas these were to no avail as apart from the odd rumour of a new cinema; Hertford is still currently movie-less.
The County Cinema opened its doors for the first time in 1932 and was the largest of three cinemas in Hertford. It was the second opening in a year after The Regent opened their doors for the first time. Sadly, The Regent lasted 11 years and stopped entertaining Hertfordshire film buffs in 1943.
The County had a good run and served the town folk for 50 years before the local council closed it down. The Castle Cinema first lit up the big screen in 1914 and had 45 great years serving the public. It closed briefly for a re-fit in 1946 so it could keep up with its newer neighbour and rival; The County Cinema.
Changing with the times…
For the younger cinematic audience, the show format just 40 years ago was vastly different to that found in today’s complexes. Back in the 1960s, a trip to the flicks was much like a night in front of television in comparison to today’s youngsters. The format would usually contain a news reel, a show (much like we would watch on TV), a short film and then the feature presentation.
Hertfordshire cinemas today
Hertfordshire film fans now have to spread their wings a little to catch a good film away from the town of Hertford. A short trip up to the Cineworld in Stevenage is a popular way to enjoy one of the fastest growing cinematic experiences in the UK. This large multi-screen complex caters for all ages with special children’s movies on offer as well watching the later blockbusters in the all new 3D effect.
For more cinemas in Hertfordshire, movie fanatics can head west along the A414 and into Hatfield where there is an Odeon located. The complex has nine screens and Hertfordshire film lovers will be happy to know this venue is also screening 3D movies when available.
Cinemas around the country are always changing with the times and attempting to keep up with the demand of their audiences. 3D is the latest trend to hit our screens but what is next on the horizon? There are many plans to bring a cinema back to the town of Hertford and while there are a few options for those willing to travel outside of the town; having a cinema to enjoy in Hertford would be something that many film fans are waiting for.
Though there is no cinema in Hertford, Hertfordshire film fans do not have to miss out on the latest blockbusters. Visit the Hertfordshire Mercury for the latest films to hit cinemas in Hertfordshire.
Tags: cinemas in Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire film, Hertfordshire Mercury
21 Apr 10 Where You Can Take Your children For Fun in Hertfordshire
There are many activities to do for a fantastic day out in Hertfordshire and they are suitable for all age groups.
Parents everywhere are currently frantically looking for a day out in Hertfordshire to entertain the family, as the Easter holidays are fast approaching. There are plenty of activities to immerse the kids in and there are lots of choices to suit all ages, budgets and hyper-activity levels!
What to do with the little ones…
The smaller kids under eight-years-old are usually fairly easy to entertain but are famous for boasting short attention spans! Hertfordshire attractions need to have plenty to keep the little ones amused and here are a few good choices to drain away their excess energy:
Paradise Wildlife Park, Broxbourne – Located just a few minutes north of Junction 25 of the M25, this visually stimulating park has exotic animals like tigers, monkeys and zebras as well a children’s play area and fun hands-on activities for a great day out in Hertfordshire.
Parents Paradise, Bushey – An indoor activity centre for children under the age of six with a ball pit and climbing equipment and soft apparatus for a half-day out in Hertfordshire. There is plenty of parking as well as a great little café that does hot and cold snacks and also a mezzanine area with sofas and flat screen TVs for the adults to sit back and enjoy.
Entertaining pre-teen kids
If you can drag your pre-teenage child away from their games console for a day out in Hertfordshire; there is an endless supply of active choices to enjoy. Among the usual suspects are the zoos and wildlife parks, but depending on their interests; by this age they may be looking for a little bit more.
Rollercity, Welwyn Garden City – Roller-skating is something most adults did when they were young and is not just great fun but it is also good exercise; something that many kids this age don’t get enough of.
Pots of Art Ceramic Studio, Hitchin and St Albans – This is ideal for creative children, as they can try out new skills as well as take something home at the end of the day that they can be proud of.
Leisureworld, Hemel Hempstead – This is one of the great Hertfordshire attractions as mums and dads can easily spend a good day here entertaining the kids and their friends. The swimming area, Aquasplash, has six slides and chutes as well as tropical themed pool. An ice skating rink is useful for cooling the kids down with, after they have worked up a sweat trying to beat their parents at a game of bowling in the Hotshots Bowling area upstairs.
Other Hertfordshire attractions
The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead – A giant indoor snow slope awaits visitors all-year-round and the kids can enjoy lessons here as well as having some less serious fun! If they are already experienced, then it’s straight to the equipment shop and off they go. Parents can either join in the fun or sit in the ice cool café and watch the show.
Knebworth House, Gardens and Park, Knebworth – The old building set in stunning gardens makes for an ideal day out in Hertfordshire for all the family. It is set in a 250-acre country park and has the Dinosaur Trail where visitors can see life size dinosaur replicas among the redwood trees.
Fort Knebworth, Knebworth House – This giant outdoor adventure park for kids aged between four and 15 can have hours of fun here and there are also plenty of places to eat and drink in between playing.
There are many exciting things to do during a day out in Hertfordshire. Visit the Hertfordshire Mercury for all the information you will need about Hertfordshire attractions.
Tags: day out in Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire attractions, Hertfordshire Mercury
24 Mar 10 The Life of Pope Adrian IV
Pope Adrian IV remains the only Pope in history to have come from the UK and his birthplace in Hertfordshire is held in high regard by many who reside in the region. Born in 1100, he died in 1159 and was Pope from 1154 until his death. Pope Adrian IV, born Nicholas Breakspear, was born at Breakspear Farm in Abbots Langley and is so far the only Englishman to boast a place in the infamous papal chair.
Early years
He was educated in Abbey School in nearby St. Albans and his father was a monk. When Nicholas tried to follow his father into the monastery, the abbot advised that he was better focusing on his schooling before he would be considered eligible to become a monk. But Nicholas’ passion for joining a monastery saw him flee to Paris where he became a canon regular in St. Rufus, just a few miles from Arles. He worked his way up to prior status before being crowned abbot in 1145.
In 1949, Pope Eugene III (who reigned as Pope from 1145-1153) made Nicholas the cardinal bishop of Albano and from 1952-1954 he was sent to Scandinavia as papal legate where he was in charge of organising the affairs of the Norwegian archbishop of Nidaros. He assisted the archbishop to erect the Oslo Cathedral School in 1953 and the school still stands today. It is highly regarded as one of the most prestigious in the country.
Becoming Pope
In 1954, Nicholas went to Italy where he was inundated with great honours from Pope Anastasius IV, who reigned as Pope from 1153-54. Upon his death, Nicholas was elected to take over as Pope on December the 3rd, 1954 and his first mission was to take down the head of the anti-papal group that were based in Rome, Arnold of Brescia. This created much friction in Rome and the chaos culminated in the death of a cardinal and Nicholas swiftly put Rome under interdict in a bid to quell the trouble. The Senate (the City Council of Rome) extradited Arnold and Nicholas began his reign as Pope Adrian IV.
In 1155, Pope Adrian IV dealt with invasion of Italy by the Byzantine Emperor Manuel Comnenus by joining alliances with Manuel as the Papacy did not get on with the Normans of Scilly and the invasion was encouraged by the Pope. The allure of gold or threat of force saw many areas yield to the Papal and Byzantine forces who had by now also recruited the help of local rebels. Unfortunately for the Pope and his allies, the Sicilians were more resilient than what they first allowed for and soon launched numerous counter attacks that saw the removal of the Byzantine Army in 1158.
Pope Adrian IV demanded that a union between the east and west churches had to include the acceptance of the Pope’s religious authority over all Christians all over the world but neither church would accept his demands. Adrian was friendly to the Roman Church but still refused to honour Manuel with the valued title of ‘Augustus’ and this lead to the breakdown of communication between the two churches and they have remained on bad terms ever since.
Adrian’s death
In 1157, during the Diet of Besancon Adrian caused major upset and insult to Barbarossa after sending a letter through which the point was misconstrued. Barbarossa mistakenly accused the Pope of insinuating that he depended on him but the actual meaning of the Pope’s letter was simply lost in translation as he explained later. But the gap had been formed and Barbarossa refused to listen to explanations and when Pope Adrian IV decided to excommunicate Barbarossa he died in Anagni in September of 1159 after what some claim a freak accident after choking on a fly but others claim he died from quinsy.
Hertfordshire has a long and proud history and continues to be a busy and active region. Visit the Hertfordshire Mercury for all the latest local Hertfordshire news.
Tags: Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire Mercury, Local Hertfordshire
