The Cross Keys Inn, whose cellars were partly under the Corn Exchange, was demolished and replaced by the building that housed Wilson's and a grocer's shop. The Cross Keys sign was initially preserved on top of the building but urgent repair work on the upper part in the 1950s resulted in its disappearance. Wilson's was replaced by the wine merchants Peter Dominic then Thresher, and the grocer's shop became the local branch of the National Provincial Bank, later the Leeds Building Society office. (HALS ref: DE/X1025/2/39/169)
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
These buildings stood on the site which was bequeathed, with the yard behind, to Hertford's Poor Estate, a local charity. It was decided by the charity to build a post office on the site and lease it to the government as a way of gaining income on their property. The high building on the right is the Dimsdale Hotel and next to it is the Talbot Arms, later rebuilt and now The Decorated Room. The shop of Mr Savage, cooper and basketmaker, was demolished to make way for the new Post Office. On the left of this picture is the entrance to Paradise Court. Such courts existed off all the main streets of the town (HALS Ref: DE/X1025/2/39/236)
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies/Mr Elsden
Fore Street was shown on early maps as ‘Highe Stret’ and is the town’s main thoroughfare, wider than any of the other old streets.
Images from the archives shown alongside photographs taken in 2010 show how it has evolved over time. Some things remain the same while others have changed beyond recognition.
Click on the thumbnails below to see full details in the captions and browse through the gallery.
This page was added on 18/03/2011.
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