Bengeo
| Bengeo | |
| Hertfordshire | |
|---|---|
 Holy Trinity | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TL325135 |
| Location: | 51°48’14"N, 0°4’44"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Hertford |
| Postcode: | SG14 |
| Dialling code: | 01992 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | East Hertfordshire |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Hertford and Stortford |
Bengeo is an ancient parish in Hertfordshire which has become a northern suburb of the county town, Hertford. It is also an ecclesiastical parish.[1][2]
Bengeo stands on a rise between the River Beane and River Rib, overlooking Hartham Common.
Name
The name Bengeo is from Old English, taken to mean a spur or ridge (hoh) over the River Beane.[3]
In the Domesday Book of 1086, Bengeo is listed as "Belingehou".[4]
Geography
Bengeo is informally divided into upper Bengeo, which is the area at the top of the hill (Port Hill) leading out of Hertford town centre, and lower Bengeo.
Lower Bengeo is the area lying on the side of the hill and is centred on Byde Street. It has two pubs in Port Vale and also Mill Mead Primary School. Although the labels of 'upper' and 'lower' are occasionally used to describe parts of Bengeo, they are not official titles, and have no legal standing.
Bengeo is surrounded by countryside and has its own amenities including a Post Office, local shops, Bengeo Primary School, pubs and two churches.
Churches
The Church of Saint Leonard dates from the 12th century and is reckoned the oldest building in Hertford.[2] It served as the parish church of Bengeo until 1855, when the role passed to the new church of Holy Trinity, designed by Benjamin Ferrey.[5]
St Leonard's is still used for regular Sunday services in summer months, as well as hosting exhibitions and concerts.[6] It is Grade-I listed.[7]
Holy Trinity is a Victorian church standing in New Road. It was consecrated as the new parish church in 1855, built to accommodate the growth of Bengeo from a village into a large residential suburb. The church is in the neo-Gothic style and is now Grade-II listed.[8]
Notable buildings
Bengeo Hall, built in the late seventeenth century, was occupied by landscape painter Joshua Gosselin. It is now a Grade II* listed building.[9]
The prominent water tower is an early 1930s concrete structure, and has an array of aerials on the top, providing amongst other things a local television relay from the Crystal Palace transmitting station.
There are many listed buildings in Bengeo, some of great historic interest.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Bengeo) |
References
- ↑ Holy Trinity with Christ Church, Bengeo, The Church of England
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bengeo Parish, British History Online
- ↑ Tom Williamson, The origins of Hertfordshire], p65
- ↑ Bengeo in the Domesday Book, Documents Online, The National Archives
- ↑ St Leonard’s in the Past – Parish of Bengeo
- ↑ St. Leonard’s Festival Events programme 2009 – Parish of Bengeo
- ↑ National Heritage List 11605086: St Leonard’s, Bengeo
- ↑ National Heritage List 11604395: Holy Trinity, Bengeo
- ↑ Bengeo Hall, British Listed Buildings Online
