Hoddesdon & Yewlands

The centre of Hoddesdon, which includes the villages of Yewlands and Spitalbrook, is best known as an affluent and cosy commuter town. The A10 and nearby train stations make it easy to get into the city in under an hour. This being said, it’s a place with a strong sense of community. With a strong Italian population and influence, it’s got some of the best Italian food outside of Italy. Its popularity with families is no surprise considering the plethora of green public space and safe community feel.

The history of Hoddesdon begins in the Anglo-Saxon era when the neighbourhood was just a rural village. Its proximity to the city meant that it slowly grew into a market town, and was even granted an annual fair by King Henry III called the Feast of St Martins in 1253. Sadly, its local population was hit by the Black Death. Nevertheless, the community persevered, and by the 18th century, established itself as a key stagecoach town. Interestingly, the neighbourhood has a strong Italian influence and community because of the wave of Italian immigrants who came to the Lea Valley in the 1950s. The majority of the growers of the Cucumber Farms in the area come from two villages in Sicily – Cianciana and Mussomeli.

Italian TV Chef and one time winner of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! lives in the area in a Georgian, Grade 2-listed home. He’s recently been in trouble with the council for blocking a public path by his house.

Whilst the A10 is a great artery into the metropolis of Central London, it does bring issues of pollution and ecological concerns to the area. In relation to this, the journey into the city can sometimes be unreliable, much to the frustration of disgruntled commuters.

The first key development in this area is High Leigh Garden Village which is currently under construction in the east of the neighbourhood. It will create over 500 new homes, a new road, two primary schools, a hotel and commercial space. The second planned development was the proposal to create a billion pound incinerator which many local residents were pleased to hear was cancelled in 2019 after the government stepped into overrule the permission of the local council.The centre of Hoddesdon, which includes the villages of Yewlands and Spitalbrook, is best known as an affluent and cosy commuter town. The A10 and nearby train stations make it easy to get into the city in under an hour. This being said, it’s a place with a strong sense of community. With a strong Italian population and influence, it’s got some of the best Italian food outside of Italy. Its popularity with families is no surprise considering the plethora of green public space and safe community feel.

The history of Hoddesdon begins in the Anglo-Saxon era when the neighbourhood was just a rural village. Its proximity to the city meant that it slowly grew into a market town, and was even granted an annual fair by King Henry III called the Feast of St Martins in 1253. Sadly, its local population was hit by the Black Death. Nevertheless, the community persevered, and by the 18th century, established itself as a key stagecoach town. Interestingly, the neighbourhood has a strong Italian influence and community because of the wave of Italian immigrants who came to the Lea Valley in the 1950s. The majority of the growers of the Cucumber Farms in the area come from two villages in Sicily – Cianciana and Mussomeli.

Italian TV Chef and one time winner of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! lives in the area in a Georgian, Grade 2-listed home. He’s recently been in trouble with the council for blocking a public path by his house.

Whilst the A10 is a great artery into the metropolis of Central London, it does bring issues of pollution and ecological concerns to the area. In relation to this, the journey into the city can sometimes be unreliable, much to the frustration of disgruntled commuters.

The first key development in this area is High Leigh Garden Village which is currently under construction in the east of the neighbourhood. It will create over 500 new homes, a new road, two primary schools, a hotel and commercial space. The second planned development was the proposal to create a billion pound incinerator which many local residents were pleased to hear was cancelled in 2019 after the government stepped into overrule the permission of the local council.