Pictures of Bishop's Stortford

About Bishop's Stortford

The urban sprawl of Hertfordshire hides many English gems. Such a one is this pleasant town where the Norman Bishop's of London had a castle. The castle gardens remain but King John destroyed most of the castle.

Walking around the town there is much to remind you of the town's history. Glance up from the modern shop fronts of today and you will get a glimpse of beautiful timber-frame buildings of Tudor England. The streets show a rich variety of architecture with elegant Georgian town houses and those solidly built in Victorian times.

This is the birthplace of Empire builder Cecil Rhodes who was born in 1853, the son of a vicar of Bishop's Stortford. Cecil Rhodes made a vast fortune from diamonds in South Africa. In the 1880's he founded the colony of Rhodesia, now known as Zambia and Zimbabwe. The vicarage where he was born is preserved as a museum of his life and times.

Trade in Bishop's Stortford did not begin to develop until the River Stort was made navigable in 1769. Following this the town began to advance its industries and became a central shopping and market area for the surrounding communities. It remains a pleasant market town with a lively, bustling atmosphere. There are many interesting places to visit including St.Michael's Church which is exceptionally spacious and has a spire that can been seen for miles around.

Now largely a commuter area for London, the town continues to attract a fair share of visitors who find comfortable hotel accommodation, a good choice of restaurants, inns and pubs, excellent shops with some specialist shops and galleries.

Places to visit include: Hatfield Forest (NT), St.Michael's Church, Cecil Rhodes Memorial Museum and Castle Gardens.