Royston, Hertfordshire
A Medieval Town
The Royston Heritage Group has been established to research the town’s origins and growth and to ensure that this knowledge is shared with everyone.
Although Royston is a medieval town, there is no mention of it in the Domesday Book; its origins are obscure, as are those of its earliest buildings.
The streets which follow Ermine Street, the Roman road, have many buildings which it is easy to imaging as having existed for generations. But how old are they? Was the Cross the first area to be developed or was the earliest building nearer to the south end of the High Street? Did the town develop along the old Icknield Way?
Royston is a growing community which is being developed to meet the needs of its population and there is a risk that much of its heritage could be lost.
Dating the Town’s Growth
Properties on the west side of King Street
In order to trace the town’s earliest buildings we need to obtain samples from the timber used to construct them.
But which buildings are likely provide the best evidence? Just because a building looks very old doesn’t necessarily mean it’s one of the earliest.
We asked our experts to look at the 161 Listed building in the town as these would be the most likely to provide the best evidence. 25 have been identified as good candidates.
We have been able to take cores from some of these where the owners and occupiers have given permission. In addition, we have asked our experts to examine the buildings from an architectural standpoint.
The 17th Century Surveys
Properties in Mulberry Court
Several surveys of Royston were conducted in the first half of the 17th Century. Their purpose is still subject to interpretation, but they may have been carried out to provide a more accurate understanding of the properties owned by the Manor or to help resolve any ownership disputes.
Our historians have been examining these surveys to get a better idea of who owned the town’s land or occupied its properties when these surveys were undertaken.
We plan to publish the results of this work alongside the picture we get of the town’s development from the timber samples taken from some of the buildings.
Properties in Mulberry Court
Supported by the Brian Leslie Racher 2004 Charitable Trust
The Royston Heritage Group is extremely grateful to the Trust for the support it has provided, without which much of the work carried out to date could not have been accomplished.
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