Stanstead Abbotts Stadium

Stanstead Abbotts (alternatively Stanstead Abbots) is a village and civil parish in the district of East Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, England. At the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,983. It lies on the county boundary with Essex, and is situated approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) SSE of Ware, 4 miles (6.4 km) SE of Hertford, 2 miles (3.2 km) NNE of Hoddesdon and 5 miles (8.0 km) W of Harlow. The village is separated from the village of Stanstead St Margarets by the River Lea.

History

Name and origins

The village's name was recorded as "Stanstede" at the time of the Domesday Survey in the late eleventh century. In the twelfth century the manor passed to the abbot of Waltham Holy Cross. By the fourteenth century the suffix "Abbatis", "Abbotts" or "Abbot" formed part of the parish's name. The abbey continued possession of the manor until its dissolution in 1531.

The manor of Stanstead Abbotts was granted to Anne Boleyn and remained with the crown after her execution. In 1559 Queen Elizabeth granted it to Edward Baeshe and it remained in the Bashe family for several generations.