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Hoddesdon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hoddesdon | |
  Hoddesdon shown within Hertfordshire |
|
| Population | 20,250 [1]. |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | Broxbourne |
| Shire county | Hertfordshire |
| Region | East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HODDESDON |
| Dialling code | 01992 |
| Police | Hertfordshire |
| Fire | Hertfordshire |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| European Parliament | East of England |
| List of places: UK • England • Hertfordshire | |
Hoddesdon is a commuter town in the English county of Hertfordshire, situated in the Lea Valley. The town grew up as a coaching stop on the route between Cambridge and London. At its height during the Eighteenth century, more than 35 coaches a day would pass through the town.
The town saw a boom in the mid Twentieth century as gravel was mined from the area to be exhausted by the 1970s. The lakes and water pits left behind have been used for local leisure amenities. Today Hoddesdon has a little light industry but is mainly a dormitory town for commuters to London.
The town hosted the eighth Congres Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne in 1951.
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Hoddesdon is said to be a day's march from London and so was a handy resting place for armies and other travellers on their way north to Cambridge or the northern towns and cities. What is now the High Street was littered with inns. Brewing was an important industry for the area, especially in neighbouring towns Hertford and Ware. Trade in Hoddesdon was centered on the hops market each Thursday. As time went on, more and more hops were carried on the River Lea rather than the roads and the Wednesday meat market took predominance. The Wednesday market has survived in Hoddesdon and was joined in the late 20th century by a Friday market.
Until 1866, Hoddesdon was divided between the two civil parishes of Broxbourne and Great Amwell. The boundary between the two parishes ran through an archway in the town's High Street. When this building was demolished in the 1960s, a specially inscribed stone was set into the pavement marking the historic boundary. Part of Hoddesdon was created an urban district by the Local Government Act 1894, and the remainder becoming the parish of Hoddesdon Rural in the Ware Rural District. In 1937 a County Review Order enlarged the urban district by taking in the entire Hoddesdon Rural parish and parts of the parishes of Broxbourne, Great Amwell, Stanstead Abbotts and Wormley. The western boundary of the urban district was fixed by the track of the Roman Ermine Street. Hoddesdon's urban district status was abolished in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972, becoming part of the district of Broxbourne.
Hoddesdon High Street (much of it pedestrianised) has many shops, fast food outlets, pubs, estate agents, banks and a library. At the north of the High Street behind the Clock Tower is the "Tower Centre" shopping centre, which is known for its high turnover of stores. It is currently undergoing a major refurbishment, which is hoped will attract large national retailers. Fawkon Walk, to the west of the High Street, is also undergoing redevelopment, the first phase of which is now complete and comprised a new Aldi store. Sainsbury's, once in Fawkon Walk, occupies a new site to the east of the High Street. Other notable outlets in the town centre include Argos, Woolworths, Boots, two Lloyds pharmacies, Tesco, Ladbrokes and Caffè Nero.
Shops in Hoddesdon suffer from competition from the nearby Brookfield Centre in Cheshunt and the retail parks in Harlow. Since the 1990s a number of independent traders have moved out of the town and have been replaced with chains, although many independents still remain and the town still attracts many shoppers who also enjoy local restaurants such as Marcanato's or La Piazza, or a fast food snack at Starburger(or Starurger as it is now known) or Flames.
There are two local secondary schools - The John Warner School (a community, foundation comprehensive for 11-18 year olds) and Sheredes School (a community, comprehensive, for 11- 18). John Warner has specialist status in Science and Sheredes has a well regarded creative arts department. In 2007 the John Warner School received congratulations from Mr Jim Knight, Minister of State for Education for being placed 24th in the ‘100 most improved schools in the country’. This award is a combination of eight year's continuous improvement in examination results.