History Sawbridgeworth

entrance great hyde hall; known hyde hall when held jocelyn family in 16th , 17th centuries



print of hyde hall (1818) j. p. neale

the mansion , surrounding land acquired sir walter lawrence, master builder, in 1920s. in 1934, instituted walter lawrence trophy fastest century in county cricket. built cricket ground , pavilion in grounds great , of cricket world came play against sir walter s home team, included 3 sons: jim, guy , pat. sir walter had 2 daughters: molly , gipsy. great hyde hall sold in 1945 , became school. grade ii* listed building , has been divided housing.

much of town centre conservation area; many of buildings date tudor, stuart , georgian periods.

great st mary s church grade listed building; of special interest substantially unaltered large medieval parish church, typical of hertfordshire type, , outstanding collection of memorials of highest artistic quality . built in 13th century (although church on site existed in saxon times) , includes tudor tower containing clock bell (1664) , 8 ringing bells, oldest of dates 1749. unclear why great st mary s. ralph jocelyn of hyde hall, twice lord mayor of london, in 1464 , 1476, buried here; images of many of family , other locals have been engraved on brass, , hence church popular enthusiasts of brass rubbing. ghost of sir john jocelyn, known love of horses, reputed appear riding white horse on old carriage drive every 1 november.

the town s prosperity came maltings, of house antiques centres. among maltsters george fawbert , john barnard; in 1839 set fawbert , barnard charity fund local children , education, funding local infant school still exists today.

by time of norman conquest, or after, sawbridgeworth s rich farming land developed cultivation possible means available @ time: richest village community in county. is, then, hardly surprising many important medieval families had estates here. land divided among them, number of manors or distinct estates; lord of each manor had rights not on land on people farmed it. number of manors increased during middle ages, process of subinfeudation, granting out of part of existing manor new owner new manor created. many manors sprang original domesday book holding of de mandeville family. first came called sayesbury manor, de family inherited de mandeville s in 1189. many important people held these manors built houses hunting parks around them; when died tombs enriched parish church, today st mary s has 1 of finest collections of church monuments in country.

during second world war raf sawbridgeworth, not in civil parish, operated supermarine spitfires, westland lysanders, north american mustangs , de havilland mosquito, among other types - complete history of airfield, see book lysanders ....., paul doyle, published in 1995 forward airfield research publishing. walter lawrence & son ltd joinery works, located between canal , railway, built on 1,000 mosquito fuselage shells , wing skins de havilland during second world war. subsequently, reverted making joinery , doors building trade. joinery works closed in 1982 , houses built on site.

sawbridgeworth birthplace of composer bernard rose (1916–1996) , actor stephen greif (1944–).