Stanstead Abbotts

History

Name and origins

The earliest mention of Stanstead Abbotts found so far goes back to 693 - 709. In a charter of AD693 from Swaefred, King of Essex, giving some land in Nazing. Rob Bennett, one of Stanstead Abbotts history researchers, found the following charter for the endowment of a nunnery/monastic house, at Nazing, south of the village at the following website: Anglo-Saxons.net : S 65a He ran the text through a couple of translators and then re-wrote it for sense; the early part reads like A-S poetry! Here is his translation:

I the king have understood. I understood and urgently considered the nearness of my end. Nothing is steady in the affairs of man, nothing permanent. Only a good standing without blemish in the eyes of God. For this reason, for the remedy of my soul, I have to give you a fymme (farm?) of my land that is in Nazing, of which the land is part of an [enodmerese?], with all of my belongings. The fields of the woods and fisheries...Sadly the text at this point is damaged and fragmentary. However the last few words read in Latin: cuius terre terminibus est Stanhemstede in australi parte . This is difficult to translate though seems to say 'this landmark (or site) is in the southern part of Stanhemstede.

Archive: Barking

A.D. c. 693 x 709. Swæfred. king (of Essex), to Fymme; grant of 30 hides (manentes) in Nazeingbury, Essex. Latin.

We know the exact site of the nunnery from Archeological excavations and it's about 3.5 miles away from the centre of Stanstead Abbotts. What we have here is possibly the first reference to our area in a charter.

The village's name was recorded as "Stanstede" in the Domesday Book of 1086. 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.

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 generations.

The village

Once situated on the main A414, Stanstead Abbotts has many old buildings in its High Street, although many have now made way for newer residential properties. The village is on the Hertford East branch line, with trains from St Margarets station to Liverpool Street station. The main industry in the village used to be making ale but 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.

The Lee Valley Marina, part of the Lee Valley Park, is located to the south of the village on the River Lea.

The village was awarded the title "Best kept village in Hertfordshire – large village" in 1999.

Several bus routes run through or near the village, including buses to Harlow, Hunsdon, Hertford, Cheshunt, and Waltham Cross.

Sport and leisure

The village has a Scout Group, the 1st Stanstead Abbotts & St. Margaret's Scout Group.

Stanstead Abbotts has a Non-League football club St. Margaretsbury F.C., which plays at The Recreation Ground.

References

References

1. "Civil Parish population 2011". Office for National Statistics.
2. (28 April 2004). "Parish Headcount: Stanstead Abbots CP (Parish)". [[Office for National Statistics]].
3. (1912). "Parishes: Stanstead Abbots". British History Online.
4. Hertfordshire County Council. "Stanstead Abbots". Archaeology Data Service.
5. "St Andrews CE (VC) Primary School".
6. "Lee Valley Regional Park Authority - Stanstead Marina".
7. "standsteadabbots".
8. "The New River and the Lee".
9. "1st Stanstead Abbotts & St. Margaret's Scout Group".