The Tunnels of Hertford -
The origins of Bayley Hall are not so clear. It appears in Spede’s map of 1611 and is referred to as the ‘manor house’. It is unclear exactly when the original house was built, who owned it or who lived in it.
One version gives the owner as Bayley from which it got its name and possibly built as a result of a charter from Elizabeth 1 recognising the establishment of a Town Hall for the provision of the Bailiff, an officer concerned with the maintenance of Hertford Castle.
From the charter: ‘The Town Hall shall be the common hall and council house, for the bailiff and chief burgesses, and they shall keep a court or convention there, where the greatest part of them in common council, shall consult and make constitutions, and do other things touching the government of the borough according to their discretion.’
Bayley Hall
Hertford Castle Shire Hall
It was possibly first constructed about the middle of the sixteenth century but the modern building dates from 1650 when Arthur Sparke who was then the Member of Parliament for Hertford employed Sir Thomas Clarke to pull down the old buildings and erect the present house on the foundations
Bayley Hall passed through many different owners until 1900 when it was purchased by William Cowper for the use of Hertford Grammar School. Possibly this became part of the Bayfordbury Estate which has long association with royalty, the Fansahwe’s declaring themselves for Charles during the Civil War which led to Bayfordbury Hall being sequestered by Parliament. It is also subject of another famous local legend, Katherine Ferrers, The Wicked Lady
Bayley Hall became the Headmasters House and boarding home for many of the schools pupils.
In 1904 William Cowper gave up many of his rights over the school’s affairs although one of the school houses is still named after him; and in return the school received maintenance from County Council and the Board of Education.
In 1930 the school moved to its present site in Pegs Lane and is now Richard Hale School. The Board of Education retained its right to sell Bayley Hall and it was used as local government offices.
In 1967 Bayfordbury Hall was also sold to Hertfordshire County Council and became
part of the University of Hertfordshire. In 2004 Bayfordbury and the estate was sold
by the County Council to Fairview Homes trading as Rialto. The property development
company was owned by multi-