Royston

Dick  Turpin's relationship with Royston

Royston is a traditional, small market town in North Hertfordshire.  Situated on the A10 approximately 40 miles north of London, and 16 miles south of Cambridge.  Royston originally straddled the two counties of Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, but the border was moved in September 1896.

Ermine Street, a major Roman road in England between London and York, ran north from Bishopsgate in London, through Ware, Royston, Godmanchester, and Ancaster to Lincoln and then on to York, crossing the River Humber at Brough.  It remained one of the great roads of England until modern times.  The Saxon name, Ermine Street is also applied to the Roman road from Silchester to Cirencester and Gloucester, crossing the River Thames just below Cricklade and descending the Cotswold escarpment at Birdlip.

Shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066, Lady Roisia erected a cross at the crossing of the two Roman roads - Ermine Street and Icknield Way.  A small settlement grew up around this crossroads until a number of Royal charters granted the Priory of the Order of St. Augustine (the Black Canons) market rights.  The Priory was dissolved by Henry VIII in the 16th Century and became the Parish Church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist.

In the 17th Century King James I was a frequent visitor to Royston, taking over much of the town.  He built a hunting lodge (locally known as the Palace).  It was whilst hunting at Royston that James signed the death warrant for Sir Walter Raleigh and the letter warning about the Gun Powder Plot was discovered.

In 1742, a unique bell-shaped cave was re-discovered.  Believed to have some religious significance and used by the Knights Templar, the Cave is open to the public during the summer months.

Royston Heath

Royston was once described as a 'Peter Pan' town, due to the fact that major development of the area never started until the 1950's.  However in 1968 the town centre was declared a conservation area which has lead to extensive preservation of Royston's historic character.  Royston grew up as an agricultural centre (with Barley & Malt being the main crops.)

Light industry was eventually introduced and since 1957 the largest employer in Royston has been Johnson Matthey - a London based precious metals refining company consisting of Specialist Chemical Production, Materials Technology and Catalytic Systems.  The world's first Catalytic Converter was invented here in Royston and JM are still world leaders in many fields.  Agriculture still plays an important role in the town, with D. Weatherhead Ltd being a major supplier.  Other notable industry and commerce in Royston are Tesco's, Woolworth's, Platignum and Ling Dynamic Systems.

Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Multi Media Mapping.