Hertford Rural District

The district had its origins in the Hertford Poor Law Union, which had been created in 1835.[2] In 1872 rural sanitary districts were established, giving public health and local government responsibilities to the existing boards of guardians of poor law unions for any parts of their district which did not have an existing urban authority. The Hertford Rural Sanitary District therefore covered the area of the Hertford Poor Law Union except for Hertford itself, which was a municipal borough. Under the Local Government Act 1894, rural sanitary districts became rural districts with effect from 28 December 1894.[3]

Hertford Rural District contained the following parishes:[1]

The council initially met at the Shire Hall in Hertford, as the predecessor rural sanitary authority had done.[4] Administrative office functions were carried out at 24 Castle Street, which was the offices of the solicitors who acted as clerks to the council.[5][6][7] By 1933 the council was using the adjoining house at 20 Castle Street as its offices.[8] The council remained at 20 Castle Street until 1950, when it bought to a large house called Wallfields on Pegs Lane and converted it to become its headquarters.[9] The council remained based at Wallfields until its abolition.

Hertford Rural District was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972. Most of the area became part of the new district of East Hertfordshire on 1 April 1974, with the exception being a small area on the old rural district's north-western edge which was transferred to Stevenage as it was within the designated area for Stevenage New Town.[10] The council's former offices at Wallfields were substantially extended to become the headquarters of East Hertfordshire District Council.[11]