BALDOCK, a market-town and parish in the hundred
of BROADWATER, county of HERTFORD, 18 miles
(N. by W.) from Hertford, and 37 (N. by W.) from
London, on the great north road, containing 1550 inhabitants.
This place, in the reign of Stephen, belonged
to the Knights Templars, to whom Gilbert, Earl of
Pembroke, gave the site, which, in a charter of confirmation
granted by his descendant William, is called
Baudoc, of which the present name is a variation}
though some antiquaries derive it from Balbec, supposing
the town to have been so called by the Templars,
in memory of the city of that name in Syria, from
which their order had been expelled by the Saracens.
The town is situated near the intersection of the great
north road and the Roman Iknield-street, between two
hills, which command an extensive view of a fine open
country: it consists principally of one street, the
houses in which are mostly ancient, interspersed with
several of modern erection, and is amply supplied with
water. A horticultural society, patronised by the nobility
and gentry in the neighbourhood, was established
in 1825. The trade is principally in malt, the land in
the vicinity being highly favourable to the growth of
barley: the fens and marsh land near the town form
an extensive grazing.district, and a great quantity of
cheese of a peculiar quality is made here 5 there is also
a very.large public brewery. The general market, which
was on Saturday, has been discontinued, and a market,
exclusively for the sale of straw-plat, is now held on
Friday. The fairs are on the. festivals of St. James, St.
Andrew, and St. Matthew, each continuing two days;
at the last a great quantity of cheese is sold. The
county magistrates hold a petty session on the first
Monday in every month: constables and other officera
are appointed at the court leet of the lord of the manor.
The living is a discharged rectory, in the archdeaconry
of Huntingdon,, and. diocese of Lincoln, rated iu .the
king's books at £10. 8. 9., endowed with £800 parliamentary
grant, and in the patronage of the Crown.
The church, dedicated to St. Mary, was built by the
Knights Templars, and nearly rebuilt in the early part
of the fifteenth century: it is a spacious structure,
partly in the Norman style, and partly in the later style
of English architecture, with an octagonal steeple rebuilt
a few years ago, and contains a finely carved oak
screen, part of the ancient rood-loft, and a very curious
font. There are places of worship for the Society
of Friends, Independents, and Wesleyan Methodists.
Almshouses for twelve aged widows were founded and,
endowed, in 1621, by Mr. John Winne. In cutting
through Baldock hill, to form a new turnpike road, a
great number of fossils, consisting of cornua ammonis,
sharks' teeth, &c,, were discovered.