Castle abandoned, the town in decline (16th to late 18th century) Berkhamsted

berkhamsted place 1832

in 16th century, town fell decline after abandonment of castle following death of cicely neville, duchess of york in 1495, , rise of nearby town of hemel hempstead (which granted charter of incorporation henry viii on 29 december 1539). berkhamsted castle passed through hands of 3 of henry viii s wives: catherine of aragon, anne boleyn , jane seymour. after dissolution of monasteries, henry viii bequeathed ashridge priory daughter elizabeth. priory became private residence during sister mary s reign. population of town in 1563 has been estimated @ 545. in 1580, castle ruins , park leased elizabeth sir edward carey, nominal rent of 1 red rose each year. stone castle used build berkhamsted place, local school, , other buildings in late 16th century. brewing , maltings noted 1 of town’s principal industries in reign of elizabeth. around 1583, new market house erected west of st peter s church @ end of middle row (alternatively named le shopperowe or graball row). market house destroyed in fire in 1854.

in 1612, berkhamsted place bought henry frederick, prince of wales £4,000. henry, died later year, bequeathed house brother charles (later king charles i), leased property tutor, thomas murray, , wife, mary murray, had been nurse , lady of privy chamber prince s mother. john norden wrote in 1616 making of malt principal trade of town. in 1618, james reaffirmed berkhamsted s borough status charter. following surveys in 1607 , 1612 duchy of cornwall enclosed 300 acres (121 ha) common (now known coldharbour farm) despite local opposition led rev thomas newman. in 1639 duchy again tried enclose further 400 acres (162 ha) of berkhamsted , northchurch commons prevented doing william edlyn of norcott. castle s park, had reached 1,252 acres (507 ha) in size 1627, broken on next 2 decades, shrinking 376 acres (152 ha), benefit of local farmers. in 1643, berkhamsted visited violent pestilential fever.

born in berkhamsted, colonel daniel axtell(1622 – 19 october 1660), baptist , grocer s apprentice, played zealous , prominent part in english civil war, both in england , in cromwellian conquest of ireland. participated lieutenant colonel in pride s purge of long parliament (december 1648), arguably military coup d état in english history, , commanded parliamentary guard @ trial of king charles @ westminster hall in 1649. during cromwell s protectorate, appropriated berkhamsted place. shortly after restoration, unrepentant axtell hanged, drawn , quartered regicide. after restoration of monarchy under charles ii, town lost charter given james , borough status. surveyor of hertfordshire recommended new tenant , army officers needed @ berkhamsted place govern people seduced of late new doctrine preacht unto them axtell , colleagues. estimated population of town in 1640 , in 1690s 1075 , 767, respectively. town centre of religious nonconformity 17th century: on quarter of town dissenters in second half of century, , in 1700, there 400 baptists recorded living in berkhamsted. 3 more shops mentioned in row next church, , parliamentary survey of 1653 suggests area near market house used butchery.