78-64 High Street – photo of buildings 78-66 High Street

The first building south of Conduit Lane dates from the 16th century. For many years it was a hardware shop, Hawards. It was run by W J Haward, a local entrepreneur in the mid 20th century, who had so many different interests in the town’s affairs that he was known as ‘Mr Hoddesdon’.

The next building is Stanboroughs, which was built in the early 17th century. The north wing, from evidence of dated rainwater heads, was added in 1637. Stanboroughs was the home of the Conservative Club from the early 20th century. In 2012 work started on archaeological investigations prior to the building a new clubhouse at the rear and conversion of the building to flats and a restaurant.

The red brick building with a white gable was purpose-built as a Post Office in 1893 by the local building firm, Hunts. Its architect was John Tregelles. He wrote the town’s first local history book called ‘A History of Hoddesdon’, in 1908. The Post Office closed here in 2018 and was re-situated to the Library.

Montague House, no. 68 High Street, red brick with white stone window frames and integral columns, was built in the early 18th century, with no. 70 next door added a little later. Care was taken to use similar materials and architectural features, making an almost symmetrical frontage. John Loudon McAdam, the road-building pioneer, lived at Montague House from 1827 until his death in 1836. There is a blue plaque commemorating him on the building.

The yellow brick house, no. 66, is late 18th century, and is owned by the chef, Gino D’Acampo. The next building, Hogges Hall, contains some remains – shaped beams and a doorway – of a 15th century hall. The name, surviving from an earlier time, may be a corruption of a Saxon or Danish personal name. One suggestion of the origin of the name Hoddesdon is that the first element may be a corruption of Hogge. From the mid-19th century Hogges Hall was the home of the Hunt family, who ran a very successful building business. Their local work included St. Catharine’s Estate in Broxbourne and St Cuthbert’s Church in Rye Park. One member of the family left Hoddesdon to run a stained glass company which produced work nationally, including some local commissions. Examples of their work can be seen in St Catherine & St Paul’s Church and in Hogges Hall itself. The upper lights of the middle landing windows are a set of small stained glass windows called ‘The Heads of Time’.

Continue to the last building before the junction of High Street and Charlton Way.