Cheshunt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cheshunt |
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     Clockwise from top: St Mary's Church, Cheshunt Library, Cheshunt station, Cheshunt Lock, and the Broxbourne Borough Council offices
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 Cheshunt
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| Population | 45,832 (Census 2011: Built-up area sub division) |
| OS grid reference | TL358021 |
| • London | 12 mi (19 km) |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WALTHAM CROSS |
| Postcode district | EN7, EN8 |
| Dialling code | 01992 |
| Police | Hertfordshire |
| Fire | Hertfordshire |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Cheshunt (/ˈtʃɛzənt/ CHEZ-ənt) is a town in Hertfordshire, England. It is about 21 kilometers (13 miles) north of Central London. The town sits near the River Lea and the Lee Navigation waterway.
Cheshunt is part of the Borough of Broxbourne. It includes a large section of the Lee Valley Park, which has lots of green spaces and the River Lee Country Park. Nearby towns include Broxbourne and Wormley to the north, Waltham Abbey to the east, and Waltham Cross and Enfield to the south.
Historically, Cheshunt was an old parish. It became an urban district in 1894. In 1974, Cheshunt joined with Hoddesdon to form the Borough of Broxbourne. At the 2011 census, Cheshunt had a population of 45,832 people.
Contents
Exploring Cheshunt's Past and Location
The Prime Meridian, an imaginary line that divides the Earth into east and west, passes just east of Cheshunt.
How Cheshunt Got Its Name
The town's name comes from the Old English word Cestrehunt. This name was recorded in the Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086. Cestre means "fort" or "castle" and comes from the Latin word castrum. So, Cheshunt likely means "castle by the hunt" or "fort in the hunting area." This history is even shown on the old town council's coat of arms.
Cheshunt Through the Ages
Cheshunt was an important stop on Ermine Street, a major Roman road leading north from London. After the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror gave the land of Cheshunt to Alan of Brittany.
The main church, St Mary the Virgin, was first mentioned in 1146. It was completely rebuilt between 1418 and 1448.
Royal Connections to Cheshunt
Queen Elizabeth I lived in Cheshunt as a princess. She stayed here after leaving Queen Catherine Parr's home in 1548. Later, as Queen, she visited the Cecil family at Theobalds Palace. King James I also lived at Theobalds and died there in 1625. Richard Cromwell, a former leader of England, also died in Cheshunt in 1712. Today, the historic palace site is Cedars Park.
Cheshunt's Railway Firsts
In 1825, Cheshunt had its own railway, the Cheshunt Railway. This 1.2-kilometer (0.75-mile) horse-drawn line ran from the High Street to the River Lea. It was the first railway line in Hertfordshire and the first passenger-carrying monorail ever!
Famous Links and Local Changes
The Bury Green area of Cheshunt was once home to the famous singer Cliff Richard. The car company Lotus Cars and the department store Debenhams used to have their main offices here. Tesco, a very large supermarket chain, had its headquarters in Cheshunt until 2016.
In 1957, there was a plan to make Cheshunt part of Greater London, but this idea was eventually dropped. The Metropolitan Police Service looked after Cheshunt until 2000. Now, the Hertfordshire Constabulary provides policing.
The Lee Valley Park
Cheshunt is located in the Lea Valley, which means it has great access to the Lee Valley Park. This large park is easy to get to from many points, including near the town's railway station.
A Wartime Story
On August 12, 1944, during World War II, a US bomber plane crashed near Cheshunt. All ten crew members died. The pilot, Lieutenant Ellis, bravely managed to avoid crashing into the town. A section of the B198 road is now named Lieutenant Ellis Way in his honor. A memorial was also built at the entrance to St Mary's School to remember the crew.
Temple Bar's Journey
Until 2004, the historic Temple Bar stood in Theobalds Park in Cheshunt. It had been moved from London many years before. This famous gateway has since been moved back to London. It now stands near St Paul's Cathedral.
How Cheshunt is Governed
Cheshunt has two levels of local government. These are the Broxbourne Borough Council and the Hertfordshire County Council. Cheshunt does not have its own separate town council. It has been an "unparished area" since 1974. This means it is directly managed by the borough council.
The Urban District Council
| Cheshunt | |||
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| Local Board of Health District (1850–1894) Urban District (1894–1974) |
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| Population | |||
| • 1851 | 5,579 | ||
| • 1971 | 44,580 | ||
| History | |||
| • Created | 13 July 1850 | ||
| • Abolished | 31 March 1974 | ||
| • Succeeded by | Broxbourne | ||
| • HQ | Manor House, 22 Turners Hill, Cheshunt | ||
| Contained within | |||
| • County Council | Hertfordshire | ||
Historically, Cheshunt was part of the Hertford "hundred," which was an old way of dividing up a county. Waltham Cross was also part of the Cheshunt parish.
In 1850, Cheshunt formed a "local board of health" to manage local services. This board became the Cheshunt Urban District Council in 1894. The council first used St Mary's Hall as its offices. Around 1901, they moved to a house called the Manor House. Cheshunt's public library was built in the grounds of the Manor House in 1907.
The Cheshunt Urban District Council was given its own coat of arms in 1944. The Urban District was ended in 1974, and Cheshunt became part of the Borough of Broxbourne. The Manor House was later taken down in the 1980s.
Cheshunt's Industries and Economy
Cheshunt was well-known for being the home of Tesco, the UK's largest supermarket chain. Their head office was in Delamare Road for many years.
A large Tesco store called "Brookfield Farm" opened north of the town in 1983. It grew over time and became part of "The Brookfield Centre." In 2015, Tesco announced it would move its headquarters to Welwyn Garden City.
Car Racing History
In 1959, Colin Chapman moved his new Lotus car companies to Cheshunt. This included Lotus Cars and Team Lotus. Racing cars built here won two Formula One championships in 1963 and 1965. Lotus later moved to Norfolk in 1966.
Growing Under Glass
Until the late 1960s, a big part of Cheshunt's economy was its nursery industry. Many new ways of growing plants in glasshouses were developed here. Today, most of these glasshouses have been replaced by houses. You can often see this in road names like Rosedale. Some nurseries still exist to the west of the town.
The River Lee Navigation waterway runs east of Cheshunt. It was used for many years to transport flowers and crops to London markets.
Cheshunt Compound
A special fungicide called "Cheshunt Compound" was created at the Cheshunt Research Station. It was widely used by gardeners to protect plants. However, it is no longer sold or legal to use in the UK since 2010.
Gravel Pits and Nature
After World War II, a large area near the River Lea was used to dig for sand and gravel. This created many lakes that are now popular for fishing, birdwatchers, and nature lovers. This area is now part of the River Lee Country Park.
Famous People from Cheshunt
- Cliff Richard, a famous singer, musician, and actor.
- Laura Kenny, an Olympic Gold Medal cyclist.
- Queen Elizabeth I stayed here when she was younger.
- King James I lived and died at Theobalds Palace.
- Victoria Beckham, singer and fashion designer, went to St Mary's High School in Cheshunt.
- Michael Birch, who founded the social networking site Bebo.
- Cardinal Wolsey was given land in Cheshunt by King Henry VIII. You can still see ruins of his manor, Cheshunt Great House, in a small park.
- David Bentley, a footballer who played for Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
- Richard Cromwell died in Cheshunt.
- Lord Dobbs, a writer and politician.
- Linda Lusardi, a former model and actress, who lived in Cheshunt for a long time.
- Ryan Mason, a footballer and interim Tottenham Hotspur manager.
- Billy Joe Saunders, a professional boxer.
- Declan McKenna, a musician.
Education in Cheshunt
Cheshunt has four secondary schools: Goffs Academy, Goffs-Churchgate Academy, Haileybury Turnford, and St Mary's Church of England High School.
A religious college called Cheshunt College moved to Cheshunt in the 1790s. It later moved to Cambridge in 1905. From 1909 to 1968, the buildings were used by the Church of England's Bishop's College. Today, parts of the site are council offices.
Cheshunt Town Centre
The "Old Pond" area is in the heart of Cheshunt. It is home to many local shops and businesses. Roads from here lead to the M25 motorway and the A10 road.
The 242, 251, and 310 bus routes pass through the town centre. The Laura Trott Leisure Centre is also nearby.
Before the 2012 London Olympics, the Olympic Torch was carried near the Old Pond by local residents. After the Olympics, two postboxes at the Old Pond were painted gold to honor gold medal winner Laura Kenny.
Population Details
| Ethnic Groups | Cheshunt |
| White | 92.7% |
| Asian | 2.3% |
| Black | 4.2% |
| Other | 0.8% |
Sports and Activities in Cheshunt
Cheshunt has its own football club, Cheshunt F.C.. They play in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was founded in 1946. Iain Dowie, a famous player, played for them in the 1980s. F.C. Romania also plays in Cheshunt. Tottenham Hotspur F.C. has also used training grounds in Cheshunt.
The town also has long-standing rugby and cricket clubs. There is also a public 18-hole golf course.
Laura Trott Leisure Centre
The Grundy Park Leisure Centre was renamed the Laura Trott Leisure Centre after a £4 million upgrade. This was done to honor the Olympic gold medalist, Laura Trott (now Kenny). She attended the opening before competing in a cycling race that started in Cheshunt.
Other Sports Facilities
Cheshunt Community Sports Park has indoor and outdoor bowls courts. You can also find bowling facilities at Whit Hern Park (lawn bowls) and Cedars Park (boules).
The Cheshunt Hockey Club is based at Haileybury Turnford school.
Media in Cheshunt
Cheshunt is covered by BBC London and ITV London for television news. Local radio stations include BBC Three Counties Radio and Heart Hertfordshire. The town also has a local newspaper, the Cheshunt & Waltham Mercury.
Getting Around Cheshunt
Train Travel
Cheshunt Station is on both the National Rail and London Overground networks. Trains go south to Liverpool Street (via Tottenham Hale or Seven Sisters) and Stratford. Northbound trains go to Hertford East, Bishop's Stortford, and Cambridge. The station is in Transport For London's Travelcard Zone 8.
There are plans for a new train line called Crossrail 2. It would connect north-east London to south-west London and is proposed to stop at Cheshunt station.
Roads
Cheshunt is located on the A10 road, also known as the Great Cambridge Road. This road connects to Junction 25 of the M25 London Orbital Motorway, Central London, Hertford, and Cambridge. Other roads lead to Waltham Cross and Waltham Abbey.
Bus Services
Cheshunt has many bus services. Most buses go to Waltham Cross (where you can connect to north London and Essex), Hoddesdon, and Broxbourne. Buses also link Cheshunt to towns like Hertford, Harlow, Potters Bar, and Waltham Abbey.
Cycling Paths
The Sustrans National Cycle Route 1 passes through Cheshunt. This route connects Dover to Shetland. The Lee Valley Country Park has cycle-friendly paths along the River Lea. These paths connect cyclists and walkers to towns like Ware, Hoddesdon, Waltham Abbey, Tottenham, and Stratford.
In 2010, a new cycle bridge was built over the A10 road. It connects paths between Theobalds Lane and Lieutenant Ellis Way. This bridge is called the "Paul Cully Bridge."
Route of the cycle link and new bridge location.
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| Location | Hertfordshire |
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| Proposer | Sustrans |
| Cost estimate | £1.7 million |
| Geometry | KML |
Twin Town
Cheshunt is twinned with Stains, which is a town north of Paris in France.
Images for kids
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Cliff Richard performing in Sydney, Australia
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See also
In Spanish: Cheshunt para niños
