Markyate, Hertfordshire
Markyate is a bustling village with around 3000 residents in north-west Hertfordshire adjacent to the border with Bedfordshire.
Formerly known under a number of different names over the years, such as Markyate Street and Mergyate, Markyate has been variously situated in the counties of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire due to county boundary changes.
Markyate is situated close to the source of the river Ver and on the Roman Road, Watling Street (now the A5).
Image Gallery of Markyate
The strategic location of Markyate has made it a popular staging post for travellers for 2000 years. Its position, on the main route between St Albans and Dunstable made it a major coaching stop on the London to Birmingham highway. At its height, Markyate had over 40 coaching inns and public houses. Centuries before, the Roman legions had marched the same route.
During the twelfth century a community of Benedictine nuns was established by Christina of Markyate. A manor house, Markyate Cell was later built on the ruins of the original priory in the 1530’s. Many changes and additions have been made to the house over the centuries, but parts of the original Tudor building remain intact. The most notorious former resident of Markyate Cell was the ‘Wicked Lady’ Lady Kathleen Ferrers. According to local legend she was unhappy in marriage to a repressive and bullying husband. She rebelled by dressing as a man, leaving the house via a secret stairway to the local farm stables from where she ventured out by night to become a highway robber. Her story has been told in two films, both titled ‘The Wicked Lady’. An interesting location, scenes from the film ‘The Dirty Dozen were also shot locally.
The Parish church of Markyate, St John the Baptist is situated in the grounds of Markyate cell. A modest village church, it has two war memorials commemorating local servicemen and women lost in the first and second world wars.
Today, the village remains a hub of activity, with numerous local shops and a good selection of pubs and restaurants to choose from.
There are a number of waymarked walks from Markyate village enabling visitors to enjoy the countryside of the Chilterns, an area of outstanding natural beauty. Please see the links below for maps and further details:
http://enquire.hertscc.gov.uk/cms/explore/walk/dacorum/markyate.htm
http://www.markyateparishcouncil.com/Services.htm
