Hertford versus Hartford: How Hertfordshire’s county town compares to Chesire’s Hartford

Hertfordshire’s county town is known well here as a lovely market town. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, Hertford has plenty of shops, restaurants and a fantastic community spirit.

Up in the north, around 180 miles away, there is a village of (almost) the same name as Hertfordshire’s county town. Hartford, in Cheshire, is brimming with history just like our own Hertford. But how do the two spots really compare?

Hartford has an estimated population of 6,339, according to estimations from 2020. Meanwhile, Hertford is five times larger, with an estimated population of 29,606.

Read more: Inside the independent Ware book shop in Ware that’s home to a ‘Tardis of bookshelves’

The Cheshire village is very small geographically too, with a one way system running through the village. Yet it does have plenty of shops and cafés, and business is booming.

Our Hertford is renowned for its large number of restaurants and pubs, and the number continues to grow every year. There is also entertainment in the town at Hertford Theatre.

There are a number of Grade II listed buildings in the Cheshire village, including Hartford Hall Hotel which dates from the 16th century and Vale Royal Railway Viaduct, built in 1837.

Hertford is a historic town, with first records dating back to Saxon times. Perhaps the most notable building is Hertford Castle – while the castle itself no longer stands, the gatehouse remains to this day.

James I of Scotland was a prisoner at Hertford Castle, and Queen Elizabeth I spent much of her childhood at Hatfield House and Hertford Castle.

Cheshire’s Hartford is home to the River Weaver. A bridge – known as the Hertford Bridge or the Blue Bridge – carries the A556 road over the river. The river runs in a curving route anti-clockwise across west Cheshire.

Our Hertford lies at the confluence of four rivers – the Lee, Mimram, Beane and Rib. The main one in the town is the River Lee, which is a stunning Hertfordshire river. People take narrowboats down the river, and there is even a Hertford and Ware waterbus.

Cheshire’s Hartford is most noted for its schools. It is home to several schools including St. Nicholas Catholic High School, Hartford High School, Hartford Primary School St. Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School and Hartford Manor Community Primary School. There are also two schools for children with special education needs, and the private Grange School.

Hertford has plenty of schools too. Some of the best include Richard Hale School, Simon Balle All-Through School, the Chauncy School and the Sele School.

Hertfordshire is infamous for its expensive house prices. The average property in Hertford will cost you £451,154, according to Rightmove. By comparison, a property in Cheshire’s Hartford costs £357,976 on average – nearly a £100,000 difference between the two.

Would that be enough to convince you move to the Hartford up north? Both have fantastic community spirit and, while we are partial to our Hertford, we think both are wonderful spots which anyone would be lucky to call a home.

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