Introduction to the walk and the first Inn the long gone Maidenhead Inn

This walk (about half a mile) starts at the Clock Tower and takes in the central part of the town. Two things have influenced Hoddesdon’s history: first, the town is situated about 20 miles from London on The Old North Road, a major route to the north, and second, it has been a market town since 1253. So it has had both through-traffic and local visits from traders in the surrounding area. The town has found it profitable to offer accommodation, food and drink, which has given rise to inns of various sizes and quality.

There were several inns in the triangle of land to the north of the Clock Tower but these were finally swept away when the area was redeveloped in the 1960s. The most notable was The Maidenhead which occupied the southern corner of the area. Now cross the road to The Star.