Hoddesdon: Market History, Parks and Heritage

Hoddesdon combines market history and cultural attractions, with medieval sites, buildings spanning several centuries, Barclay Park and the Lowewood Museum. There is also a festival and a regular health walk. If you’re looking for a hotel in Hoddesdon, you can plan your travel dates around a specific event or focus on historical and museum-related attractions.

Market History and Buildings

Hoddesdon is an old market town mentioned in the Domesday Book; an annual fair has been held here since 1253. The Hoddesdon War Memorial stands prominently in the market square, an impressive, well-designed example of a typical Celtic cross memorial. The Hoddesdon Clock Tower was built by T Smith in 1835. The Parish Church of St Augustine dates from the 15th or 16th century and contains a 12th-century font. The town’s history thus brings together market tradition, a cross memorial, a clock tower and church architecture. Comparing the church with the font highlights the difference in age: the font is several centuries older than the building that houses it.

Medieval Site and Park History

Hoddesdon Park Wood moated site is designated a Scheduled Monument. It has well-preserved remains of a medieval rectangular enclosure surrounded by a moat. The rectangular shape and the moat are features that belong together. The site adds a different dimension to the town’s history than the tower and church: a defined medieval area rather than a single building.

Barclay Park became a public park in 1935. The grounds include a lake and a bridge commissioned from Pulham’s in the 1870s. Pulham’s was an internationally renowned local landscaping company. The bridge and the park’s status as a public park belong to different phases of its history: the bridge was commissioned in the 1870s, and the park became a public park in 1935.

Museum, Walk and Events

The Dobbs Weir car park in Hoddesdon is an alternative starting point for the River Lee Trail. If you’d like to start there, check the parking conditions before setting off, as they may change.

The Lowewood Museum collection covers geology, archaeology, social history, costumes, photography and art. This range connects the history of the earth and archaeology with social, historical and artistic themes. The museum also has a garden with a lawn and picnic tables. As maintenance work or events may occasionally affect access to the garden, check its current status before your visit.

For planning your dates, there are two different schedules to choose from: the Midsummer Festival takes place every two years and includes activities, shows, sports and attractions. The Hertfordshire Health Walk in Barclay Park is scheduled every other Thursday from 18 June 2026 to 17 June 2027. Check the specific event dates before travelling.

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