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Stanstead Abbots
Adjacent Parishes: Broxbourne, Great Amwell, Hunsdon, Roydon (Essex), Stanstead St Margarets, Ware
Stanstead Abbots is in the Braughing Hundred and the Ware Union
Stanstead Abbots is a village, parish and railway station on the Great Eastern (Hertford) Railway and River Lea navigation, 22 miles from London, 2 south-east from Ware station, and a mile and a half north-east from Hoddesdon, in Braughing hundred and rural deanery, Ware union, Hertford county court district, archdeaconry of St Albans, and diocese of Rochester. The church of St James is situated on a commanding eminence, one mile east from the village; it was built in 1578, and is in the Early English style of architecture, and has a nave, porch, aisles, chancel, and square embattled tower containing 3 bells. The living is a vicarage, annual value £134, including 39 acres of glebe, with residence, in the gift of, and held by, the Rev. John William Thomas, M.A., of Merton College, Oxford.
Here are a Free Grammar and National Schools, the former founded in 1635 by Sir Edward Baesh, who was a native of this village; he left £20 yearly for the support of the master; he also endowed six almshouses for widows and decayed tradesmen, who now receive 4s. 6d. per week each; also the sum of £9 8s. yearly, for placing out poor boys belonging to the parish as apprentices.
There is a literary institute, with a library of 300 volumes. There is an Independent chapel. The population in 1861 was 980, and the parish contains 2,594 acres.
Post Office Directory, 1866
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A postcard of the River Lea and Bridge at Stanstead Abbotts, including the Rose and Crown public House. According to Hertfordshire Inns & Public Houses the Rose and Crown closed in 1964. (see Postcards of Hertfordshire Pubs) |
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St James Church, Stanstead Abbotts No publisher information but the frame is identical to the cards sold by R. W. Harradence, of Ware, at about the same date. Note (presumably recording when the card was obtained) dated 1909 |
Sited a mile away from its village, St James’ was the parish church for at least 700 years until St Andrew’s, nearer the centre, replaced it in 1882. Picturesque on its hilltop and largely ignored by the Victorians, it is a marvellously atmospheric church. The building dates from the 12th to the 16th centuries and the 15th century timbered porch is notable. Inside are unusually high Georgian box pews, a three-decker pulpit, texts, hatchments, old glass and monuments of many periods. It is now maintained by the Churches Conservation Trust. |
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St Andrew's Church St Andrew's replaced St James as the parish church in 1882. |
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Interior |
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High Street, Stanstead Abbotts The 1926 Kelly's Directory shows that Leonard Groom was a stationer and post office in the High Street. The Public house shown is the Pied Bull - and Mrs Ada Maria O'Neill is listed at the Pied Bull Hotel. |
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Easneye, Stanstead Abbots Posted 1906 |
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High Street, Stanstead Abbotts
Charles Martin, 39 Aldermanbury, London - No 1476 The 1902 Kelly's Directory records "Stevens Charles, Rose & Crown hotel, good accommodation for cyclists; parties catered for." |
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The Retreat |
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 Congregational Church, Stanstead Abbotts |
There is historical information on the village, together with photographs, on the web site Lee Valley Online
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In July 2003 HALS announced that they have acquired a significant collection of papers from the 13th to 19th century relating to properties owned by the Hankin family, maltsters and businessmen of Stanstead Abbots.
See also Vital Records
If you know of other books, websites, etc, relating to this place, please tell me.
Page updated November 2007