The Great Bed of Ware is an extremely large oak four poster bed , carved with marquetry , that was originally housed in the White Hart Inn in Ware , England. Built by Hertfordshire carpenter Jonas Fosbrooke about 1590, the bed measures 3.38m long and 3.26m wide (ten by eleven feet) and can "reputedly... accommodate at least four couples". Many of those who have used the bed have carved their names into its posts.
41-861: Hoddesdon ( / ˈ h ɒ d z d ən / ) is a town in the Borough of Broxbourne , Hertfordshire , lying entirely within the London Metropolitan Area and Greater London Urban Area . The area is on the River Lea and the Lee Navigation along with the New River . Hoddesdon is the second most populated town in Broxbourne with a population of 42,253 according to the United Kingdom's 2011 census . It borders Ware to
82-619: A Friday market was added in the late 20th century. After the Second World War Hoddesdon increasingly became a dormitory town , forming part of the London commuter belt . Much of the town centre was demolished in the 1960s and 1970s, with the construction of the Tower Centre and Fawkon Walk shopping centres. The opening of a bypass in 1974 changed the nature of the town, with through traffic curtailed. Hoddesdon has
123-442: A fact referenced in the council's logo of a badger. The new district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor. Hertfordshire has a two-tier structure of local government, with the ten district councils (including Broxbourne Borough Council) providing district-level services, and Hertfordshire County Council providing county-level services. The first elections to
164-441: A large modern extension in 1986, which was formally opened on 10 December 1986 by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent . Since the last ward boundary changes in 2012 the council has comprised 30 councillors , with the borough being divided into 10 wards each electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, electing one councillor from each ward each time. Elections to Hertfordshire County Council are held in
205-491: A narrow road where Charles was supposed to be killed as he travelled from a horse meeting at Newmarket. By chance, according to the official narrative, the king's unexpectedly early departure in March foiled the plot. Ten weeks later, on 1 June, an informer's allegations prompted a government investigation. The subsequent history of Rye House has been considerably less dramatic. In 1870 the current owner, William Henry Teale, opened
246-478: A number of inns in the High Street date from this time. The monarch granted a royal charter in 1559/60, placing the town government under a bailiff, warden and eight assistants. The charter also established a free grammar school based on the site of the former hospital, and this was placed under the care of the corporation. Neither the borough nor the school flourished, however, and both had ceased to exist by
287-767: A pleasure garden, displaying the Great Bed of Ware , which he had recently acquired. It was such a popular destination for excursions from London that an extra station was built on the Liverpool Street to Hertford East line to serve it. By the early 20th century, however, the tourist trade had fallen off, and Rye House was demolished, apart from the Gatehouse; the Great Bed was moved to the Victoria & Albert Museum . Rye House Gatehouse still stands today, and
328-480: A red-brick mansion which still survives. Rawdon also provided the town with its first public water supply, flowing from a statue known as the "Samaritan Woman". In 1683 there was an alleged Whig conspiracy to assassinate or mount an insurrection against Charles II of England because of his pro-Roman Catholic policies. This plot was known as the Rye House Plot , named from Rye House at Hoddesdon, near which ran
369-422: A separate parish called Hoddesdon Rural, which became part of Ware Rural District . Hoddesdon Urban District Council came into being on 31 December 1894. On 1 April 1935 a County Review Order enlarged the urban district. The neighbouring parishes of Broxbourne , Hoddesdon Rural, and Wormley were all abolished, with most of their territory being absorbed into the parish and urban district of Hoddesdon. Parts of
410-661: A sizeable Italian community. Many Sicilian families emigrated to the Lea Valley in the 1950s and 60s to work in the nearby garden nurseries , and they and many of their descendants still live in the area. Since the 18th century the Lea Valley has had a reputation for fine produce from its market gardens and green houses. The owners and growers of the majority of the Lea Valley's cucumber farms come primarily from two villages in Sicily: Cianciana and Mussomeli. The Lee Valley Growers Association estimates that more than 70% of
451-599: A small part of Ringway 4 , part of the 1960s London Ringways scheme and the only part built north of London further east than Watford . Linking the town to the A10 , the A1170 Dinant Link Road has an overly large junction between the link road and the A10, and was built with space available to continue the road westward over the A10 as originally planned. Borough of Broxbourne The Borough of Broxbourne
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#1732776352129492-522: Is a local government district with borough status in Hertfordshire , England. Its council is based in Cheshunt . Other settlements in the borough include Broxbourne , Hoddesdon and Waltham Cross . The eastern boundary of the district is the River Lea . The borough covers 20 square miles (52 km ) in south east Hertfordshire , and had an estimated population of 99,000 in 2021. Much of
533-452: Is celebrated in June with a street procession , although nowadays it is a low-key festival since many of the participants are elderly. In 1951 Hoddesdon was the seemingly unlikely location for the eighth meeting of CIAM ( Congrès Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne ), referred to as CIAM 8, which was an international organization of the world's most significant architects and town planners of
574-465: Is now a Grade 1 listed building. It is open to the public at weekends and bank holidays during the summer, featuring displays about the Plot and the early history of brick-building. The rest of the grass-covered site has the floor-plan of the house marked out. A new chapel of ease, dedicated to St Paul , was built in 1732. This was subsequently enlarged, and in 1844 become the parish church when Hoddesdon
615-582: Is twinned with the Sicilian city of Sutera . The borough of Broxbourne was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 , covering the area of two districts, which were both abolished at the same time: The new district was named Broxbourne after the old village of that name at the centre of the area. The village had been administratively part of Hoddesdon Urban District since 1935. The name Broxbourne means "badger's stream",
656-687: Is within the BBC London and ITV London region. Television signals are received from the Crystal Palace TV transmitter Local radio stations are BBC Three Counties Radio , Heart Hertfordshire and Mix 92.6 . The town is served by the local newspaper, Hoddesdon & Broxbourne Mercury which is published by the Hertfordshire Mercury . The nearest railway stations are Broxbourne Station and Rye House Station which offer frequent services to London. Hoddesdon contains
697-751: The News of the World ). Employing 200 people on a 23-acre (93,000 m ) site to produce 86,000 newspapers per hour on each of its twelve printing presses (a total capacity of over 1,000,000 newspapers per hour), the plant cost £350 million and replaced the News International press in Wapping . Great Bed of Ware Like many objects from that time, the bed is carved with patterns from European Renaissance art. Originally it would have been brightly painted, and traces of these colours can still be seen on
738-569: The 2024 election the composition of the council was as follows: The next election is due in 2026. The council is based at Bishops' College on Churchgate in Cheshunt . The building had been a college for training clergy and comprised an early eighteenth century house to which substantial extensions had been added in 1810 and 1871. The college closed in 1968 and the vacant building was bought in 1972 by Cheshunt Urban District Council. The building then passed to Broxbourne Borough Council on local government reorganisation in 1974. The council added
779-586: The 100 or so nurseries in the Lea Valley are now owned by Sicilian descendants, producing 75% of UK-grown cucumbers and 50% of its peppers in their glasshouses. Part of a wave of immigration to the UK after the Second World War, the Italian community has grown to become part of the fabric of the area, with migrants and their descendants still celebrating their rich Italian heritage. The Festival of San Antonio
820-553: The High Street. The Council Offices were formally opened on 21 December 1936, and remained the headquarters of the council until its abolition. Hoddesdon Urban District was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 , merging with Cheshunt Urban District on 1 April 1974 to become the Borough of Broxbourne. No successor parish was created for the town. The former offices of Hoddesdon Urban District Council were converted to residential use in 1988 and renamed Belvedere Court. In 2007
861-469: 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 years continuous improvement in examination results. As well as the array of shops in and around Hoddesdon, there are a number of leisure activities in the local area, including a gym in
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#1732776352129902-506: The Ware Rural Sanitary District from 1872. Under the Local Government Act 1894 rural sanitary districts were converted into rural districts , but before that Act came into force an order was made to convert Hoddesdon into an urban district. A new parish called "Hoddesdon Urban" was created from most of the old Hoddesdon parish and part of Great Amwell, whilst the sparsely populated western part of Hoddesdon became
943-634: The borough lies within the Metropolitan Green Belt which surrounds London . The western side of the borough is largely rural with extensive areas of woodland, whilst the eastern part, particularly between the A10 road and the River Lea, is generally urban. Most of the built-up parts of Broxbourne fall within the Greater London Urban Area . The Lee Valley Park lies on the borough's eastern boundary. The borough
984-441: The council were held in 1973, initially acting as a shadow authority until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. The Conservatives have held a majority of the seats on the council since 1974: The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Broxbourne, and is usually held by a different councillor each year. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council . The leaders since 1983 have been: Following
1025-571: The end of the century. In 1567 Sir William Cecil acquired the manor of Hoddesdonsbury and two years later Elizabeth granted him the neighbouring manor of Baas. From that date the Cecils maintained a connection with the town which is recorded by the naming of The Salisbury Arms (anciently the Black Lion Inn) ;: the title Marquess of Salisbury was granted to James Cecil in 1789. In 1622 Sir Marmaduke Rawdon built Rawdon House ,
1066-626: The figures on the bed-head. The design of the marquetry panels is derived from the work of Dutch artist Hans Vredeman de Vries (1527–1604) and the panels were probably made by English craftsmen working in London in the late Elizabethan period. The bed-hangings are modern re-creations of fabrics of the period. By the 19th century, the bed had been moved from the White Hart Inn to the Saracen's Head, another Ware inn. In 1870, William Henry Teale,
1107-473: The fourth year of the cycle when there are no borough council elections. The borough's wards are: The main industrial areas of the borough are around Waltham Cross and the Essex Road area of Hoddesdon . Park Plaza at Waltham Cross is home to the world's largest printing plant, which produces publications for News International including The Sun , The Times and The Sun on Sunday (formerly
1148-442: The mid-1400s have also been revealed, suggesting that The Star is older than previously thought. Hoddesdon has two tiers of local government, at district (borough) and county level: Broxbourne Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council . There has been no parish or town council for Hoddesdon since 1974. Hoddesdon was formerly classed as a hamlet within the parish of Broxbourne . A separate ecclesiastical parish of Hoddesdon
1189-461: The name is in the Domesday Book within the hundred of Hertford. Hoddesdon was situated about 20 miles (32 km) north of London on the main road to Cambridge and to the north. The road forked in the centre of the town, with the present High Street dividing into Amwell Street and Burford Street, both leading north to Ware . From an early date there were a large number of inns lining
1230-529: The north, Nazeing in Essex to the east, and Broxbourne to the south. The Prime Meridian passes just to the east of Hoddesdon. The town is served by Rye House railway station and nearby Broxbourne railway station . The name "Hoddesdon" is believed to be derived from a Saxon or Danish personal name combined with the Old English suffix "don", meaning a down or hill. The earliest historical reference to
1271-466: The owner of the Rye House , acquired the bed and put it to use in a pleasure garden . When interest in the garden waned in the 1920s, the bed was sold. In 1931, it was acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, which had previously turned down an opportunity to acquire the bed in 1865, describing it as a "coarse and mutilated relic in no wise appropriate as a new acquisition". In 2012,
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1312-551: The parishes of Great Amwell and Stanstead Abbotts were transferred into Hoddesdon at the same time. Much of the western boundary of the urban district then coincided with the track of the Roman Ermine Street . In its early years, Hoddesdon Urban District Council met at the Coffee Tavern Hall on Lord Street. In 1936 the council built itself a new building called Council Offices at the southern end of
1353-525: The streets to serve the needs of travellers. A market charter was granted to Robert Boxe, lord of the manor , in 1253. By the 14th century the Hospital of St Laud and St Anthony had been established in the south of Hoddesdon. The institution survived the dissolution of the monasteries , but had ceased to exist by the mid 16th century, although it is commemorated in the name of Spital Brook which divides Hoddesdon from Broxbourne. In 1336 William de la Marche
1394-570: The time. The participants gathered in the High Leigh country house in Hoddesdon to discuss the theme "The Heart of the City", a response to issues regarding cities badly damaged during World War Two. In 2007 Rye House Kart Raceway was taken over by two local family businessmen. It was recently described as the "Silverstone of Karting" by David Coulthard. The Book It Now diary based calendar system
1435-555: The town centre and the John Warner sports centre, a leisure centre on the outskirts of the town containing a swimming pool and children's activity centre. There is also a Non-League football club Hoddesdon Town F.C. , which plays at Lowfield, and a large go-kart track located in nearby Rye park. Around a mile north of the town is Rye House Stadium , home until recently of the Rye House Rockets speedway team. The town
1476-530: The town in about 1700. In 1803, William Christie established a brewery in the town, and it became a major employer and one of the largest breweries in England. The brewery continued in operation until 1928. Most of the brewery buildings were demolished in 1930, although part was converted into a cinema itself since demolished. Some remnants of the establishment remain in Brewery Road. By the mid-19th century
1517-495: The town still consisted principally of one street, and had a population of 1,743. Malt was being produced and transported to London via the River Lea . There were also a number of flour mills . Trade in Hoddesdon was centred on the hops market each Thursday. As time went on, more and more hops were carried on the river rather than the roads and the Wednesday meat market took predominance. The Wednesday market has survived and
1558-399: Was created a separate ecclesiastical parish. Previously the town had been divided between the two 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. Brewing was first established in
1599-547: Was created in 1844, but for civil purposes the town continued to straddle Broxbourne and Great Amwell parishes. The hamlet of Hoddesdon had its own overseers of the poor and from 1835 appointed its own guardians to the Ware Poor Law Union . As such, the hamlet of Hoddesdon became a civil parish on 10 August 1866 with the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act 1866. Hoddesdon was included in
1640-439: Was developed here in 2013. In 2014 JD Wetherspoon's first pub in Hoddesdon opened at the former Salisbury Arms on the High Street. During renovations at the renamed Star, a series of important 16th century wall paintings was uncovered. They are located on the north wall of the bar, with some additional detail found on one of the beams supporting the ceiling. The paintings depict half-figures and biblical verses. Roof beams dating to
1681-409: Was licensed to build a chapel of ease in the town. The building, known as St Katharine's Chapel, was used by pilgrims to the shrine at Walsingham . It survived until the 17th century, when it was demolished. In 1835, a single-storey building, known as Hoddesdon Town Hall , was built on the site: only the clock tower now survives. The town was considerably enlarged in the reign of Elizabeth I , and