Tucked underneath the urban centre of Hertford, Hertfordshire, lies the villages of Bayford and Brickendon, two picturesque villages characterised by their pastoral idyllic qualities and rural culture. Although only a few miles from the southerly edge of Hertford, the villages have their own unique identities and thriving communities. Both Bayford and Brickendon are known for their unique affluence within the local area, with both locales offering grand country estates with abundant acerage. Currently in Bayford, a £6 million 1600s mansion is currently on the market!

Both Bayford and Brickendon were recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book survey, although the manor of Bayford belonged to King William, whilst Brickendon was under ownership of the Holy Cross of Waltham Abbey. The abbots at Waltham Abbey owned the area of Brickendon until King Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries in the 1530s! Much of Bayford’s history is associated with the grand country estate of Bayfordbury, built between 1759 and 1762 for Sir William Baker. Now Bayfordbury is a Grade II* listed manor house.

In 1969, Hatfield Polytechnic (now the University of Hertfordshire), purchased land from the Bayfordbury estate, and formed the Bayfordbury Observatory. The observatory is one of the largest astronomical teaching observatories in the whole of the UK!

Both Bayford and Brickendon face significant challenges when it comes to housing development. Not simply just because of their village and ruralised landscapes, there are several protected Traveller pitching sites within the Bayford and Brickendon locale, which are under protection from the East Hertfordshire council and therefore cannot be developed upon. Due to its rural culture and nature, residents of Bayford and Brickendon are often resistant to new planning permissions that are seen to change the local character. Although at the moment, amongst the market of large dwellings, there is plenty of land being sold for private development means!