A1-The Great North Road
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Royston
Thence to Royston, where grasse
groweth,
Medes, flocks, fields, they plowman
soweth,
Where a pious Prince frequented,
Which observing, this I vented:
'since all flesh to Fate's a debter'
'Retchlesse wretch, why liv'st no
better?'
Richard Braithwaite,
Barnabees Journall, His Northern Journey, Third Part
The eastern route, the Old North Road, ran through Royston following closely
the line of the Roman Ermine Street. Approaching from the south, from
Buntingford, the road is now the A10 but this turns north-eastwards towards
Cambridge leaving the Old Road to continue towards Huntingdon as the
A1198. The A505, now bypassing the northern side of Royston, crosses
north road in about the same position as the Icknield Way did so long ago.
Royston was a medieval market town whose name may be linked to the 11th
century Lady Rohesia or Roisia to whom the Cross, marking the junction of Ermine
Street and the Icknield Way, is attributed. The stone, a glacial erratic,
which formed the base of the cross now stands adjacent to the ancient crossroads
at the northern end of the High Street. Being at the crossing of two
ancient roads, Royston is likely to have been a very early settlement.
Nearby, on Therfield Heath, are a Neolithic longbarrow and five bronze age
barrows.
Therfield Heath, an SSSI and one of the most
extensive remaining areas of chalk grassland in eastern England, is a 169
hectare nature reserve with a rich and varied flora, many birds and several
butterfly species. It borders the western side of the town, to the south
of Baldock Road.
The Bull Inn was in existence before the dissolution of the Priory by King
Henry VIII. Having room to stable over 100 horses, the Bull Inn started its own
twice weekly coach service to Ware in 1772 and 4 years later extended this to
include a coach to London.
There is an unusual black and white three-roofed building, restored in 1996,
which used to be the first garage in Royston. Called the Royston Motor
Company, with it's petrol pumps on the footpath dispensing Dominion and Pratt's
spirits, it operated during the early part of the
20th century. The building is now a
furniture shop.
On his journey south from Scotland after the death of Queen Elizabeth, King
James I stopped at Royston to hunt. He returned to Royston
thereafter, keeping a hunting lodge in Kneesworth Street, now known as the Old
Palace. Many other large buildings in the centre of town were the homes of
nobles at the King's court.
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Picture kindly supplied by Royston
Crow
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Beneath Melbourn Street is the Royston
Cave. Probably of medieval origin, it was lost and
rediscovered in 1742 when a millstone, found just beneath the
surface of the ground, was removed revealing a vertical shaft into the
chalk. Excavation of large amounts of rubble and refuse revealed the
cave walls to be decorated with religious and secular carvings.
Early medieval images of the Crucifixion, St Catherine, St Christopher
and St Lawrence have been identified. The cave's origin is uncertain
but theories range from a Roman Sepulchre, a hermitage, to a secret temple
used by the Knights Templar during their regular visits to Royston. There
are claims that that further caves lie, yet to be discovered, beneath
Royston's streets.
The cave is owned by the Town Council and opened for public visits by
the Royston and District History Society at weekends from Easter to the
end of September.
Jochen Duckeck provides a good description of Royston
Cave and includes a useful collection of further links.
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http://www.cambridgeshirehistory.com/People/coproliteindustry.html
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©Biff Vernon 2002, 2005